Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 116231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“I mean, you did sleep with his sister right before you went on the ice the other day. You literally had a part of you in me.”
He groans, “That isn’t helping, Kylie.” His voice is low and sounds like he’s growling. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Or you can text me, that is good also.”
“Speak soon,” he says and disconnects the phone at the same time the oven beeps.
I shake my head and walk over, putting the pizza in the oven. When I close the oven door, I pick up the phone and call Lexi.
She answers after three rings. “Hey,” she answers breathlessly.
“Am I interrupting you?” I ask, knowing for sure she isn’t having sex.
“No.” She laughs. “I was running after Jefferson,” she says of the cat my brother has, who she has adopted as her own now. “She doesn’t want to play with the toy I bought her.”
“You know she hates people,” I remind her.
“I’m not people, I’m her mom.” Her voice is tight and a bit insulted.
“I have a question for you,” I start. “I just got invited to this retreat.”
“Okay,” she says.
“It’s next week, Monday to Wednesday.” I wait for her to say something. “I can’t go, right? It’s in the middle of the week.”
She laughs. “Why are you calling me? I’m not your boss, you’re my boss.” I roll my eyes at that. “Do you want to go?”
“It’s in the middle of the week, I have work,” I try to make an excuse.
“Technically, it’s the start of the week.” She must sense that I’ve rolled my eyes at her, when she snorts, “You can take two days off.” I inhale when she says that. “You can take four days off. The question is, do you want to go to this retreat and who are you going with?”
“A friend of a friend,” I reply, not even knowing what I can say.
“What friend of a friend?” she counters back. “Do I know these friends of friends?”
“You don’t know him.” I close my eyes. “Them, you don’t know them.”
She laughs. “You’re going on a date for three days.”
“It’s not a date. Friends don’t date. They socialize, which can then sometimes lead to banging. Besides, it’s a retreat,” I repeat between clenched teeth, “and I haven’t decided yet.”
“Where did you meet this friend of a friend?” She’s teasing me now and I can hear the snicker in her voice.
“I’m not—” I shake my head. “I have to go.”
“It’s okay for you to date,” she says softly. “There is nothing wrong with—”
I stop her from saying more. “I know, it’s just I have to work.”
“Have a good time at your retreat, and if you want to talk about it, I’m always here waiting with open ears.”
“Good to know,” I reply, hanging up on her. I look at the oven and then exhale, picking up the phone and bringing up his name.
Me:
Fine, I’ll go.
“What are you doing?” I ask myself as the oven beeps, telling me the pizza is done. I open it and see how sad it looks and then take it out, leaving it on the counter before ordering sushi.
Five days later I’m zipping up my bag, the nerves in my stomach on a whole other level. I’m expecting him to call me when he’s downstairs, but he’s Knox. Instead of calling me, he’s at my door, ringing my bell. I shake my head, walking to the front door and opening it. He smiles so big as soon as he sees me, coming right in and grabbing my face in both his hands. “Hi,” he says right before he kisses me.
“Hi,” I reply when he lets me go. It’s been a week since I’ve seen him, between him going on a road trip and then having his kids. Along with me working extra to make up for the days I am taking off, we’ve been busy on both ends.
Plus if I’m being honest, I was ghosting him just a bit, tying to come up with excuses to not go on this retreat.Even until I opened the door I was thinking about ways to back out. But with one stupid-ass kiss I forgot all my excuses, including the one where I have to watch my brother’s cat.
“Are you packed?” he asks and I nod my head.
“My bag is on the bed,” I mention and he walks right in. I check out his ass in the track pants he’s wearing.
“This is a big bag for three days.” I hear him say and then see him walk out with the bag in his hand.
“I had to pack a couple of evening outfits since you won’t tell me where we are going.” I fold my arms over my chest.
“Let’s go.” He stops in front of me, kissing my lips quickly as I grab my travel bag.
“Are you excited?” he asks and I shrug.