Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 126564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Hallie seemed to have found her path, her independence, and a way back to her family. I was happy for her, but also worried. Worried I had nothing to offer her anymore. She was done.
She’d pulled through. She didn’t need me anymore.
The taxi pulled up at the Sunset Boulevard joint. I got out, feeling like an idiot without an umbrella. It was still pissing wet, the rain falling from fat gray clouds like needles.
I jogged my way to the front door, pushing it open and shaking raindrops off myself like a dog. A girl with an array of piercings and tattoos at the counter stared at me blankly.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Glancing around me, I noticed the place was jam-packed.
“No.” I approached her, dumping my paws onto the counter between us. “I’m not here to get a tattoo.”
“Oh.” She yawned. “No soliciting, bro.”
“I’m here for Hallie Thorne.”
“And you are?” She cocked her head sideways.
Her nightmare.
“Her…friend.” Overstatement of the fucking century.
“Your name?”
“Ransom.”
“Cool name.”
I smiled cordially. “Can you tell her I’m here?”
“Oh, yeah. She isn’t here, Ransom.”
Now she was telling me this?
“When will she be here?”
She shrugged, pushing her bottom lip out. “No clue.”
I looked around me, calculating my next move. The place was crowded, the humidity rising.
“Will she be here today at all?” I tried again.
“Oh, yeah!” she said brightly, smiling up at me. “For sure, for sure. I just don’t know when she’ll be in.”
“I’ll wait, then.” I turned around to look for a seat, but there weren’t any available.
“That’s a good idea, but you’ll have to do it outside. Company rules.”
“Company?” I whirled around to sneer at her. “It’s a goddamn tattoo parlor, not JPMorgan.”
“Yeah, well, my boss doesn’t allow loitering. You’ll have to wait outside.”
“It’s raining sheets.” I gestured to the window, in case she hadn’t noticed.
“Sorry, dude.”
Karma was in the mood to fuck me real slow to candlelight today. I trudged outside, slamming the door on my way out. There was no knowing when Hallie would be here, and I didn’t want to scare her off by calling and asking.
To make matters worse, I couldn’t wait nearby. All the bars and restaurants around were still closed—it was too early—and there wasn’t a Starbucks in sight.
Pathetically, I found myself standing and waiting in the rain. I had no idea when she’d show up. If she’d show up. I just knew I had to try. I couldn’t continue existing meaninglessly. It was excruciating.
I also hadn’t fucked anyone in over seven months, and was pretty sure my balls were about to fall off.
I paced the street, back and forth. A new feeling I had yet to experience trickled into me as the hours ticked by: doubt.
It’s been too long.
It’s too soon to start trying.
She’s moved on.
This was unchartered territory for me, as I was usually sure of everything I did, down to my meals for the next month or two.
By hour four, I started getting really pissed off. The idiot kid at the reception must’ve been wrong. It was close to late afternoon and still no Hallie.
I marched back into the parlor, slapping my palms over her counter again. This time, I created two small ponds of water. I was soaking wet, to the fucking bone.
“When’s she coming?” I demanded.
The girl looked up from her iPad, completely unfazed. “Who?”
What a moron…
“Hallie,” I said through gritted teeth. “Hallie Thorne.”
“Oh.” She clapped her hands together. “Yeah, she’s been here for a while now, came in through the employee entrance.”
Back. Fucking. Door. Of course.
My eyes traveled up. I spotted her behind a dividing wall. She stood there, her scarlet hair swirled into a half-assed bun, sweeping the floor in simple denim and a bodysuit that highlighted her curves—and tattoos.
I wanted to hug her. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to—
“Sir? Sir? You’re dripping all over the floor. And you look…kind of blue? Purple? Are you okay?”
Was I okay? I couldn’t feel my toes or fingers, and my right ear was numb. Otherwise I was fine.
“Hallie!” I called out. The place was still packed, and I looked less than the dashing prince she deserved. She looked up and stopped whistling to the song playing in the background.
Her entire expression melted. I couldn’t tell what she was feeling. Was she happy? Sad? Annoyed to see me?
“What are you doing here?” She narrowed her eyes.
Shit. Annoyed, then.
“We need to talk.”
She leaned the broom against a wall and walked over to the reception desk. I was aware of the intrigued audience following our interaction.
“No, we don’t.” She leaned one hip against the counter.
The need to touch her charred my fingertips.
“Hallie—”
“I told you not to contact me.” Her face was still, but her voice quivered. It surprised me that she looked exactly as I remembered her. And yet, I couldn’t stop looking. Couldn’t get enough. Nothing made any sense.