Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“You mean like an accidental pregnancy?” I chuckle. “He’s going to run for the hills.”
“Then he can stay up there with the rest of the chickens. You’ll do just fine without him.” She waves her hand dismissively.
She always makes things sound easier than they are. Then again, at her age, she’s seen and done a lot, and lived through a lot, always coming out on the other side.
“There’s also the thing about Mom. Her cancer? She was thirty-one when she died.”
“No need to remind me, dear.” A dark cloud passes across her face before it’s gone in the next instant.
Gigi was stoic about Mom’s passing. We can’t control these things. It was just her time, she’d tell me. But sometimes, late at night, I’d hear her crying.
“What if it’s hereditary?” My checkups have always come back clear, but that doesn’t mean the next one will. My doctor suggested genetic testing and to not wait too long to have children, in case the worst case happens and I’m facing treatments and surgeries. “What if this is my shot?”
“It’s fair of you to consider that. It’s a worry.” She nods in agreement. “But I don’t recommend making big decisions based on what-ifs. Better to have solid footing.”
The last thing I have is solid footing. “Please don’t say anything. I’m not ready for people to know. Not until I’ve figured out what I’m doing about this giant mistake.”
“It’s no one’s business until you’re ready to make it theirs.” She reaches out to squeeze my knee. “And it may be a mistake, but that doesn’t mean it won’t also lead into a wonderful thing. My marriage was a colossal disaster, but I got your mother out of it. She fell for an idiot, but we all got you out of it.” Her face lights up. “For what it’s worth, you’ll make a wonderful mother, Sloane.”
Her validation brings me a wave of comfort I didn’t know I needed. “You really think so?”
“Of course I do. I’ve always thought so. And, selfishly, I hope I get to see it happen. But only if you’re ready. The good thing is you have some time to get ready if that’s the path you decide to take.”
I let out a huge sigh of relief. My problem isn’t solved, but Gigi always knows just what to say to lift the weight off my chest, even if only temporarily. “Ronan invited me to dinner tonight.”
“Well, that’s a good start.”
I give her a knowing look. “At the hotel, with his boss, who doesn’t know Ronan is inviting me.”
“You mean, Henry Wolf?” She hoots. “This Ronan fellow may be handsome, but he doesn’t seem too bright.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what he’s thinking, honestly. But it gets better, Gigi. Henry warned him to stay away from me because of all the problems I caused. And now Ronan wants to bring me there, even though Henry Wolf will probably fire him for cavorting with the enemy.”
“Let’s pray the child gets your brains.” She breaks off a chunk of her macadamia scone. “Did Ronan say why he wants to bring you into the lion’s den, so to speak?”
“Just that he wants them to get to know me. He doesn’t seem to like Henry, but he’s good friends with Abbi Wolf, Henry’s wife. It’s her he wants me to meet.”
“Introducing you to his friends. That says something.”
“I guess.” You don’t introduce the new woman to your close female friends if she’s just a casual fuck. Is this Ronan’s way of proving he has feelings for me?
But what will Abbi Wolf think about the crazy rooster commune lady who plastered all sorts of unsavory posters, including headlines that dragged her? Does she know about those? Which reminds me … Talk of Abbi Wolf and Alaska last night has stirred up dust in the far recesses of my memory. I can’t quite remember why it all sounds so familiar, and the only thing I can think of is that I likely read something in an article. I need to go mining for information again.
Gigi watches me quietly as she nibbles away.
“So, what do I do about dinner?”
“Do you want to go?”
“No.”
She arches a wrinkled eyebrow.
I could never get a lie past Gigi. “I mean, I want to know Ronan better, especially given our situation.”
“That he has no clue about,” she chips in.
“Right.” In a public setting where our clothes have to stay on. Then again, Starfish Island is pretty public, and that didn’t stop us. “But it’s the hotel. Aren’t I being a giant hypocrite by showing up there now, after everything?”
“Why? You were invited.”
“Not by Henry Wolf. He doesn’t know what Ronan’s planning.”
“Maybe he’ll have no idea who you are.”
“I guess there is that possibility.” I’ve never met the man; he never involved himself in any of the council meetings. Unless Ronan makes a point of introducing me as the crazy rooster commune lady, I could be completely incognito, just arm candy. “I could pretend I’m someone else.” Am I that good of an actress, though? Likely not.