Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77120 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77120 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
He wouldn’t.
Would he?
He and I certainly don’t have any kind of relationship.
Guests are starting to trickle out now, as it’s nearing midnight.
Stephen stifles a yawn. “I should probably get going, Tabitha.”
I nod. “I’m pretty tired myself.” I look around. “Looks like the bride and groom have already disappeared.”
“As well they should,” Stephen says.
I rise and walk with him.
Instead of going through the house, we walk around the perimeter of the property.
I take the time to say some words from my heart. “Thank you for being my date yesterday and today. It was nice to have someone here with me.”
“Even if I’m not your person,” he says.
“Yeah, even so.” I offer a smile, and it’s genuine. “You’re a heck of a massage therapist, though.”
“Am I?” He cocks his head. “You haven’t seemed relaxed at all today.”
“Probably not, but that’s not your fault. I may not understand the benefits of Reiki, but I’ve always loved a good hands-on massage, and you were great at that.”
“You know, part of touch therapy is—”
I stop, turn toward him, and place two fingers against his mouth. “Let’s not go there again.”
“I suppose I have kind of taken over the conversations both nights,” he says. “I just believe so much in wellness and the holistic way of life. So I talk about it a lot.”
“I think you could probably talk to Sage and Gina about it. They both seemed very interested.”
He nods. “They did. I didn’t get to talk to them at all tonight.”
“They were busy being bridal attendants, and they’re also family. It’s hard for family to socialize with other guests at a wedding. There’s just so many people they’re obligated to catch up with first.”
“True.” We make it to the front of the house, and to Stephen’s car. “Believe it or not, I did have a good time with you, Tabitha.”
I grab his hand and give it a gentle squeeze. “I did too. I should apologize. I truly wanted to invite you, and I thought… I don’t know. I think things may have been different if…”
“If you weren’t in love with someone else,” he finishes for me.
I shake my head. “I’m not in love with anyone, Stephen.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”
“Of course I’m sure. The person in question and I hardly know each other.”
“But you do love him,” Stephen says. “I can tell by your aura.”
I can’t help a soft chuckle. “And what exactly is my aura telling you?”
“That stormy red and gray is soft around the edges, warm in a way that doesn’t have anything to do with me or this wedding. There’s a light there—someone else’s light—and it flickers every time you smile, every time you try not to think about him. You might not have said it, but your energy already has. You’re in love with someone else.”
Is he right?
I blink, trying to keep my face neutral, but my mind’s a tornado.
In love? With Henry?
That’s ridiculous.
We barely know each other. Only in the biblical sense. A few fucks, sure. Quick and amazing.
But that’s not love.
It can’t be.
Still, when I think about him, my stomach flips. My chest tightens. It’s not just attraction. It’s something else. A pull. Like gravity shifted and decided he’s the new center of my universe.
Stephen’s aura talk is a bunch of mumbo jumbo.
But still… He picked up on the fact that my heart was in an uproar. That I’d fucked someone who was also a guest at the wedding.
I don’t even know what Henry’s favorite food is. I don’t know whether he prefers sunrise to sunset. Vanilla to chocolate. But I’ve seen the way he looks when he thinks no one’s watching. I’ve heard the quiet in his voice when he’s trying not to fall apart.
Maybe it’s not love.
But it’s close enough to scare me.
So all I say is, “Good night, Stephen.”
He nods. “Good night. I’ll see you around, Tabitha. Come in for a massage when you’re back in town.”
I return to the back where the festivities continue to wind down.
I don’t see Henry, so I walk to my place to gather my things. Gina and Brianna have gone, but Sage is still mingling with the guests who are still around.
I grab my evening bag and my phone, and—
Then I notice it.
A text.
From this afternoon.
It’s from one of my professors at medical school. I was trying to get into his surgical seminar this summer, but I got waitlisted because priority was given to third-and fourth-year med students.
Tabitha, great news. We had a cancellation, so there’s room for you in the class. If you’re still interested and available, I’ll see you Monday!
Monday.
Two days from now.
I was planning to leave tomorrow anyway, except…
Part of me was hoping Henry and I…
No.
Not going there.
This is an amazing opportunity, and it’s fully paid by a grant.
I can’t pass it up.