Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
I’ve thought about returning home and starting something else. If not for Elise and Maggie, I would have. They have been my support system, just as they promised.
“I mean, I’m cool with that. I know you could use someone to get your mind off Trevor.”
“Elise,” I hiss.
“You and Monroe broke up?” Cody asks, turning from Elise to scan my face with his eyes. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. It’s complicated. I don’t know where things stand. We haven’t spoken,” I murmur.
“My offer still stands if you need someone to talk to. Are you guys heading back home for the holidays?”
“Ugh, unfortunately, that’s the plan. That’s the last place I want to be right now.”
Cody rubs the back of his neck. “I have to stick around here until the last minute. I’m not sure I’ll even make it back in time for Thanksgiving. Which sucks because all my friends are heading out.”
“I’m only going back because Cakes is going home. If I had a place of my own to stay here, I’d hide until the New Year.”
“Really?” Cody says with a bit of excitement that I catch before he reins it in and clears his throat.
I look between the two, wondering if Elise gets that Cody is totally crushing on her. They would make such a gorgeous couple. His next words confirm my suspicions.
“My roommate won’t be needing his room until the New Year. You’re more than welcome to come stay with me. That is if you don’t mind sharing an apartment with me for a few weeks,” he says with a deep-red blush.
“How much?” Elise chirps.
Cody shakes his head. “It’s my Christmas gift to you. No charge at all. It’s better than being alone.”
“Okey dokey, we’ll swing by so I can take a look at the space tomorrow and then I’ll let you know,” Elise says.
“Cool, I’ll invite everyone over for drinks. You can see the place and meet my friends. This is great. It feels good to have someone from home around.”
“Yeah, I guess having you guys around does make me feel a lot better,” I say.
“Maybe taking the job I was just offered won’t be so bad,” Cody croons with a slight smile.
“You were offered a job?” Elise and I squeal in unison.
“Yeah, six figures,” he replies and scratches the back of his neck.
“What’s stopping you?” Elise asks.
“I still have a year to go of school and New York would have to become my home base. I’m already so darn homesick. I’m also not sure if this is the direction I want to go in.”
“New York looks good on you though,” Elise says and bites her lip.
She then glances at me and her slight smile falls. I lift a brow at her, but she shakes her head at me. Right then our waitress arrives.
Um. Interesting.
CHAPTER 40
Betrayal?
Trevor
Six weeks later…
“Is Cakes coming home for Christmas?” Cliff asks as we walk into the jewelry store with my mama.
She’s looking for a gift for Ann for Christmas. I can’t believe how tall she and Brad have gotten in the few months I’ve been away. I’ll be happy to be back home soon.
I can’t believe my little brother and sister are headed to junior high next year. My parents are sending Brad to football camp for the summer and they got him a quarterback coach as his Christmas gift. I know he’s going to love that.
“Agatha said she came in this morning. Olivia Billings picked the kids up from the airport,” my mother says before I can answer.
“As in Cody Billings’s mother?” I ask with narrowed eyes.
“You know any other Olivia Billings?” she says with a lifted brow.
“No.”
“Well, they flew in together. I think it’s nice Cakes has friends in New York. I don’t think she’s been adjusting well from what Agatha and Darla say.”
“She got the deal though, didn’t she?”
“She sure did. They’ve just been stalling or something. She’s been a bit down about that.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“Trevor Paul Monroe, bless your heart. Do I or the Galveston women look like we’re going to stop talking to each other over two grown-behind men squabbling? We talk about you kids all the time.”
“Isn’t that Cody over there?” Cliff says, pointing with his chin.
I look over at the counter to see the clerk placing a jewelry box in a bag for Cody. She then hands it over. “Good luck. She’ll love your choice. Stop fretting, sugar,” the clerk says and winks at him.
“Thanks for all your help,” he says.
When he turns to leave and spots me, he stops in his tracks. I fold my arms across my chest. I have a million questions.
Why the fuck did he and Lynn fly in together? Is that why she hasn’t called me once since she’s been in New York? My stomach begins to feel sour.