Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Are you finished?” Adam asked.
“No.” She stormed right up to him. “You are a horrible person, and I don’t even know why I have any feelings for you whatsoever. Do you want to know why you’re alone? Because you can’t see what is right under your nose, and that is why you are going to be alone.” She had every intention of hitting him, or better yet, just turning on her heel and leaving. That would have been a class act.
Only, she didn’t.
She was so close to him, and she looked at those lips, and this man she hated and wanted with an equal passion, and something just snapped. She grabbed the lapel of his jacket, and then pulled him down to kiss him. At first, Adam didn’t respond, not that she expected him to, but in a blink of an eye, he did. It was subtle, just the movement of his lips, as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her in close, and then gave her a real kiss she had spent most of her life dreaming about.
As quickly as it started, it ended.
Rachel didn’t linger to ask what it meant. The moment the kiss stopped, she turned and left. No questions.
Her lips tingled, and if anyone actually paid attention, they would see that they were also slightly swollen. She had just kissed Adam, and the most heady thing of all was that he had kissed her back.
****
“It’s time for us to head back,” Tabitha said.
“Yeah, I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to hang out much. You know, me being in a coma and all.”
Tabitha laughed. “I loved hanging out with you. It was like when you were going through your bitchy phase. You wouldn’t talk a lot then either. The only difference is, this time you didn’t complain.”
She was trying to keep a brave face on it, Daisy saw it and read right through it.
“Come here, give me a hug,” Daisy said.
Tabitha wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly. “Don’t do anything stupid like that, you hear me?”
“I won’t. I don’t think we’re going to be able to breathe out of turn.”
Her friend laughed. She didn’t let her go, and Daisy didn’t push her friend away. She had a feeling Tabitha needed this.
Time ticked by.
Anthony and Simon were not talking to one another, as they shook hands. With those two, words didn’t need to be spoken. She got it. They were still on struggling friend terms.
“I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you,” Tabitha said.
“Hey, hey, hey, come on.” Now Daisy pulled out of her stronghold. “Remember, you and I promised each other we were not going to be like this. Not now, not ever.” She cupped her friend’s face. “I get that you were worried. I’m fine now. I’m on the road to recovery.”
“And I was the fucked-up friend.”
“Stop it.”
“No, look at me, and look at you.” She sighed. “I’m a mess. You would have come to me, Daisy. We both know that.”
“And I think if you didn’t have kids, you would have been right here. I don’t want you putting me first. I never have. You have children, and they matter, Tabitha. I’d have loved to have seen Nathan, and your other one, what’s her name again?”
“Jade.”
“Yes, Jade. I know you care about me. We’re best friends and that is never going to change. Not now, not ever. I love you, and if you do put me before your kids, then you are not the mother I thought you were.”
She saw the tears in Tabitha’s eyes.
“You’re the greatest friend, you know that? Even when I should be the one telling you everything is going to be okay, you’re consoling me.”
“It is what makes me one hell of a friend. Now, stop worrying. Go and be with your kids. I’m here, and Anthony is taking care of me.”
“No, Daisy, the whole club is taking care of you, and I can see it.” Tabitha hugged her again. “I’ll call you.”
Anthony came to stand by her side. She held her hand up. The rest of the Chaos Bleeds crew were saying their goodbyes as well.
“You were being too kind to her,” Anthony said.
“Shut up. She has kids, and they are more important.”
“Are you telling me that if you and I had kids, it would determine how you would go see her?”
Daisy looked at him. “Kids change everything, Anthony. You know that. I don’t want her to put me above them. I had parents who did that. Who never put me first. Who forgot about me. I would never want to be the cause of a child not being first.”
“Okay, now you’re making me feel bad,” he said.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that because you’re feeling bad for being so mean to her?”