Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“She certainly has balls.”
“Is she in love with him?” I asked Andi.
“Fixated for sure. Possessive. Not sure if she knows how to love.” Andi frowned. “Please be careful, Mila.” She rubbed her head. “I told your dad I would watch out for you. You fall for the lead who has issues, and you anger his psycho agent. And you’re bringing home that same man who might be a bit obsessed with you. Van is going to kill me.”
“Not quite the bore you thought I was, am I?” I couldn’t help but quip.
She began to laugh. “Nope. So, you’re wearing the yellow, right?”
“Yep.”
“Okay. Let’s get you ready.”
At seven, Nick arrived. He came in, carrying a small bunch of flowers. He stopped when he saw me, and he stared. Swallowed. Stared again. Twirled his finger, silently asking me to do the same.
He came closer and kissed me. “You are breathtaking,” he murmured. “My God, Mila. You are stunning.”
“Thank you.” Feeling shy, I patted his lapel. “I like you in a suit.”
“I clean up well.”
“You both look nice, kids,” Andi said, a slight touch of sarcasm in her voice. “How are you getting to prom exactly?”
I laughed at her, taking the flowers from Nick and putting them in a large glass I took from the bar. I touched the petals of the flowers with a smile. I couldn’t recall the last time I had been given flowers by anyone outside my family.
“Downstairs in a nondescript black van waiting by the back door. I sat in the third row, and we went right past the paps coming in. They had no idea I was in there. The driver will take us to the restaurant and drop us off. Another car is already waiting there, and I’ll bring us home in it. I’ve already tipped the guard at the front, and I’ll text him as we approach so the gate will be open and I can drive right in. It’s not my car, so they won’t be looking for it.”
“You’ve done this before.”
“Too many times.” He scrubbed his face. “Not for dates, simply to live. See some friends. Grab a pizza. Go for a run. I have no idea what is so exciting about me walking or having dinner that they need to be so intrusive.”
“People are curious.”
“I wish they were more curious about curing cancer or listening about climate change. Not what I put on my plate or who I share a meal with.”
Andi nodded. “Still, going out is risky. For both of you.”
I picked up my shawl, and Nick hurried over to help me drape it around my shoulders.
“I just want to take Mila to my favorite place and have a meal with her. It shouldn’t have to be so difficult,” he said.
“It’s part of your life,” Andi replied.
“Thanks to MJ,” he snapped. “Her freaking love of notoriety. Wanting press all the time.”
Andi and I shared a glance. I begged her with my eyes not to say anything about MJ’s visit earlier. I didn’t want to tell Nick right now. I just wanted to enjoy a night with him.
“Shall we go?”
“Have fun,” Andi said with a smirk. “Don’t stay out too late.”
Nick held out his hand. “You ready?”
I slid my palm against his. “Yes.”
“It’s so pretty here,” I murmured, looking around the restaurant. We were tucked into a back room, the window overlooking the water. The sunset cast its brilliance on the waves, and the sky was lit with beautiful colors.
“Not as pretty as the woman I’m sitting with.”
I smiled at him. He was relaxed and handsome. Leaving the hotel was easy, the paps not even looking our way. The drive was quiet, although more than once, his mouth covered mine, devouring my lips and holding me close. I’d been pleased to discover my lipstick stood up to its name and was smudge-proof, even though Nick seemed determined to prove otherwise.
“I’m a little overdressed.”
He shook his head. “No. I love your dress.”
“You don’t hate yellow?”
He frowned. “No. It’s one of my favorite colors. So is red.” He touched my cheek. “And lately, gold.”
I felt the color flood my cheeks. He constantly told me how my eyes fascinated him.
He smiled, stroking my cheek. “I love how you react to my words, Mila. You make me feel so incredible.”
Unbidden, MJ’s words from earlier popped into my head. “You don’t think I can cure you, do you?” I asked. “That I’m some sort of therapy that will heal you?”
He sat back, looking shocked.
“Why would you ask that?” Then he frowned. “MJ. That sounds like the kind of shit she would spout.”
“She dropped by today.”
“Oh, you too?” he asked. “Spreading her joy everywhere.” He took a sip of his drink. “Tell me what she said. Let’s get this discussion over with so we can enjoy our night.”
I repeated the conversation, and his face darkened. “You aren’t a medicine, Mila. You stir something inside me. Feelings and emotions. You make me feel better because you make me feel better about myself. MJ is constantly telling me what is wrong with me. What I do that is incorrect. I think her favorite thing is to belittle me. You do the opposite. You point out what I do right. You bolster me.” He picked up my hand and kissed it. “Your touch soothes me, I admit. Being close to you makes me calmer. Knowing you’re around, I’m happier. But it was that way for my parents. I remember my dad telling my mom she was his center. She focused him.”