Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Christ, she’s so brash. I couldn’t get hard for this spoiled bitch even if I wanted to. But I also can’t afford to piss her off and have her gunning for me. There’s only one way out of this.
“Look,” I say softly. “You’re absolutely stunning, Cassidy.” A lie, but a necessary one. And it’s going to be followed by another one. “I’d love to do what you’re asking, and more, but I can’t because I have a girlfriend.”
Her lips part in shock. “What? No, you don’t. I asked around.”
I’m in deep now, but my only choice is to keep spinning this tale until I can get her to believe it.
“We’ve kept it under wraps for a while now,” I say. “For a good reason, actually.”
Cassidy gives me an expectant look. “Okay, what? Who is this so-called girlfriend, Pax?”
Shit. It feels wrong to make the woman I’m secretly crazy about part of this lie, but I can’t think of anyone else. Since the moment I met her, that’s been the case. Even though I haven’t seen her in a while, I think of her all the time.
“It’s Kylie Thomas. She’s Pike’s sister, and we’ve kept it under wraps because we didn’t want him to know at first.”
Cassidy is taken aback. Hell, I am, too. I had no idea when I walked into this meeting that I was going to need to come up with a lie about why I can’t be Cassidy’s fuckboy.
“I don’t care,” she says, shrugging. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
I walk over to the door, speaking over my shoulder. “I’m not that kind of guy. I don’t cheat. I’ll see you around.”
Before she can answer, I open the door and walk out. Shawna’s not at her desk, which is good because I’m not up for small talk.
I need to talk to Pike—and maybe Kylie, too—as soon as possible.
Chapter Four
Kylie
“So anyway, I’m riding a rocket to Mars this weekend. Should be a good time.”
My brother nods, his gaze firmly fixed on his girlfriend Indie’s ass as she walks to the other side of their backyard pool. “Uh-huh, sounds good.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I say, shaking my head.
“Huh?” He looks at me, confused.
“Oh, now you want to join the conversation?”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
I sigh softly, too tired to bicker with him. “Nothing important. I’m going to make Jasmine get out and dry off. We need to get home.”
“Actually, can you stay for a little bit?” Pike asks. “Pax texted me this afternoon and said he wanted to come over and talk to us. I told him you were coming over tonight and I think he’s on his way now.”
I furrow my brow, confused. “Your teammate Pax?”
“Yep.”
“Why would he want to talk to me?”
Pike shrugs. “No idea. I didn’t ask. You want to swim until he gets here?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Pike, do a cannonball!” Nolan cries, and Jasmine joins in.
My brother is easily convinced, and he splashes everything within a ten-foot radius when he cannonballs into the pool—including me.
Who has the energy to do cannonballs at seven thirty at night? I’ve been working all day and I’m ready for a shower and bed, in that order. I already stopped at home and ate—there’s nothing like my mom’s homemade spaghetti and garlic bread to make me want to curl up and sleep. My mom dropped Jasmine off at Pike’s earlier, and I was hoping to just pick her up, make a quick stop for some ice cream, and then call it a night.
Instead, I sit down and watch Pike, Indie, and the kids swim. Pike flips the kids into the water, making them squeal with delight, and then doesn’t even call them out for cheating at Marco Polo. I never would have imagined him embracing the role of father figure like he has with Nolan. Sadly, Nolan’s father is in prison, so Pike is the only man in his life. He’s a natural, and he’s happier than I’ve ever seen him. He and Indie are so in love. I’m thrilled for them, but when I see a secret look pass between them, I feel a pang of longing.
It's been hard to adjust to my new normal, though I put on a good face for everyone around me. When Eric was on life support, I had already lost the husband I knew. I knew the loving, supportive, goofy man I’d fallen in love with would likely never return. He was still physically present, though, and I was still devoted to him. I went to the nursing home to see him every day when we lived in Kansas City, and once we moved to Las Vegas I was able to drop by his room and check on him often during my workdays. I was involved in his care, always making sure he was getting what he needed.