Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“I wonder who’s going to be next down the aisle,” Nalia says, and all eyes come to me.
“No, no way.” I hold my hands up. “I haven’t even been on a date in forever.”
“We’ll, I wouldn’t be upset if it was me.” Hanna sighs. “I’m ready to settle down and have some babies.”
“Really?” I ask, honestly surprised since she’s always seemed to love being single.
“Really, I just need to find a man who isn’t a complete player.” She shrugs.
“Well it’s not going to be me.” Willow shakes her head. “I’m enjoying this time in my life. What about you sis?” We all look at Nalia.
“If it happens it happens, but I’m not actively looking for someone.” She shrugs then holds up her cup. “Whoever it is cheers to the last girls standing.” We all laugh, then I bite my lip when I find Aiden’s gaze on me through the fire burning between us.
Seeing the look in his eyes, my heart starts to pound, and just like that, I can’t help but think I’m in trouble.
Chapter 5
May
MY EYES FLY open, and anxiety instantly fills my chest when I see early-morning light shining into my room, while hearing the doorbell go off and someone knock. Sitting up, I grab my cell off the side table next to my bed and check the time. It’s way past when I should have been awake, and right now, I should be heading to the airport. With a very unladylike curse, I toss the blanket back and rush out of my bedroom, past the kitchen, and go to the front door, swinging it open.
“I overslept,” I tell Aiden as I step back to let him inside. “I swear I’ll be ready in just a minute.” I spin away from him and run back through the house, leaving him standing there… realizing only when I get back to my room that I don’t have on pants and the cut-off shirt I’m wearing doesn’t cover much. With no time to really think about how embarrassed I should be that he saw me half-dressed, I load up my toothbrush and shove it in my mouth.
While brushing my teeth, I put on my jeans, then go back to the bathroom to spit and rinse, and then I rip a hairbrush through my hair before tying it up. After I change my shirt, I tuck my sleep clothes, brush, and toothbrush into my bag and zip it back up.
Last night, I might have stayed out on the beach with everyone way too late, but I did pack up all my stuff before I went to bed, so I at least don’t have to do that this morning. It doesn’t take me long to finish getting ready, and once I’m done, I grab my purse along with my winter coat I left unpacked and drag my suitcase with me out of the bedroom toward the living room.
“Sorry about that.” I meet Aiden in the kitchen area, and he unfolds from the barstool he was sitting on.
“Do you have everything?” he asks quietly, taking my suitcase from me.
“Yep.” I look around, trying to avoid meeting his gaze. I might not have had time earlier to think about him seeing me half-dressed, but I’m definitely thinking about it now. “And if I forgot anything, Willow can bring it to me when she comes back in a few days.”
“She’s staying that much longer than you?”
“Yeah, school starts Monday, and I have stuff I need to get done before then,” I tell him as we head toward the front door. “When do you go back?”
“My flight gets in Tuesday evening.” He lets us out of the house, and I see that he’s moved his car to our driveway. “I’m surprised the girls weren’t up to say goodbye.”
“I’m not.” I laugh. “They were all pretty out of it last night when we got back, and I don’t know what time they went to sleep. But when I went to bed, they were still in the kitchen, making pancakes.” I hear him chuckle as he opens the passenger door for me to get in.
“The guys did the same.” He holds the door until I’m seated, then slams it shut. I tuck my coat into my oversized purse at my feet, then put on my seatbelt as he places my bag in the trunk. When he slides in behind the wheel a minute later and turns on the engine, I cringe, seeing the time. “You’ll make your flight,” he assures like he’s read my mind.
“I can’t believe I overslept. I know I set my alarm. I don’t know why it didn’t go off.”
“Maybe it did and you didn’t hear it.”
“Maybe,” I agree as he backs out of the driveway. “All I know is if you hadn’t woken me up, I probably would have slept until noon. So thank goodness your alarm worked.”