Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Hi! This is Chloe Ricci speaking.”
There’s a soft chuckle on the other end of the line and then an equally formal reply. “Hello. This is Luke Allen.”
I stutter to a stop. “Luke.”
“Hey.”
My entire body buzzes with nervous energy. I peel off from the center of the sidewalk and huddle against the building as I press my phone closer to my ear.
“Hi. Is everything okay? Is Harper having a good birthday?”
“Yeah, she’s actually with my mom in the kitchen. They’re making a birthday cake.”
Jealousy lances through me.
“That’s so fun. You’ll have to text me a picture after.”
“She’s been complaining some about the fact that it won’t turn out as good as if you’d helped her with it. I told her maybe you could make her one when we get back on Sunday.”
“Yes!” I cringe then modulate my tone, trying to sound a bit more normal when I repeat, “Yes. I can. Of course. I actually just picked up a little gift for her too.”
I look down at the present.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“No, I know. It’s not like huge or anything. Don’t worry, I didn’t splurge and get her the Barbie Dreamhouse.” I laugh. “Wait, did you?”
“Nah. I thought about it, but I want her to earn it. Settled on a bright pink Barbie convertible instead. Ken’s been spinning out in it all morning.”
I smile just thinking about her opening his gift. “I bet she loves it.”
There’s a short pause and then we both speak at once.
“Is that why you were—”
“Harper wanted me to—”
We laugh and he continues, “I was saying, Harper wanted me to call and check up on you.”
“Harper?”
I deflate a little at the thought. I guess a part of me was hoping he was missing me as much as I’m missing him, but maybe it’s just Harper.
“Yeah, she’s been worried about your finger.”
“Oh! It’s better, actually. I haven’t even been needing to take anything for pain. Tell Harper I’ll be more than ready to make that cake with her by the time she gets back.”
“Good.”
“And is she enjoying Texas?” I ask, continuing this weird game we’re playing where we speak through his daughter and act as if our feelings don’t factor in at all.
“Yeah, she’s been out on the four-wheeler all morning. Yesterday she rode a horse.”
“Horse? I thought you said they don’t live on a ranch…”
“We don’t, but my parents have a few horses on their property.”
“You see how that kind of sounds like a ranch?”
I can hear the smile in his voice when he replies, “That just goes to show how little you know about working ranches. We don’t breed any animals here.”
“But you have horses—”
“Chloe?”
My name doesn’t come through the phone. I recognize the male voice behind me before I even turn around.
Miles is frozen on the sidewalk a few feet away from me clutching a to-go cup of coffee from the cafe he likes down the street. He looks like he’s headed to the restaurant; he’s already wearing his chef’s coat. He blinks, then blinks again, staring at me like he’s seeing a ghost.
“God, Chloe.” He rushes forward and engulfs me in a hug before I even have the wherewithal to step away from him. “I missed you,” he sighs. “Holy shit, I missed you so much.”
I’m half a second delayed. I can’t keep up as he steps back to hold me at arm’s length.
“You’re as beautiful as ever. Tell me you’re coming to the restaurant. We can talk. Please, let’s talk.”
He already has a hand wrapped possessively around my forearm so he can lead me down the sidewalk.
I shake my head and look down at my phone, but just as I do, the call ends.
Luke must have heard Miles, or at the very least, our muffled conversation. I feel sick wondering what he must be thinking.
Miles starts tugging me toward the restaurant, taking advantage of the fact that my head is slightly scattered. Should I call Luke back? Text him?
“No.”
The word bursts out of me.
I shake off Miles’ grip and step aside. “No. I’m not going to Fig & Olive.”
He looks wounded by my harsh tone, but I can’t seem to find the will to soften it.
“Isn’t that why you’re here, though? You were right by the restaurant.”
I hold up Harper’s present. “It was pure coincidence.”
“No.” His eyes take on a desperate sheen and he steps toward me again. “Please. Don’t you want to talk?”
Talk?
How do I put this mildly? That would be hell no.
In fact, it sounds like the absolute last thing I want to do. Sitting down and having to hear all the reasons he’s come up with to justify the fact that he cheated on me? I can think of a thousand sufferings I would rather endure, including re-slicing my finger.
“There’s really nothing we need to talk about. I got my last paycheck, thank you for that. When I need a letter of recommendation, I’ll reach out to Leslie.”