Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
“Oh! I almost forgot,” Chiara said as I was walking them to the elevator. “Here.” She handed me a heavy, black metal credit card. “It’s Ocean’s. Tell him we said thanks and give him a kiss for us, please.”
“Okay, boo. Thanks for today. I had fun.”
“Me too!’ Chiara hugged me tightly before dashing into the elevator like the apartment was on fire. “Call us when you’re ready to shop for your wedding dress!” she yelled just before the doors closed and the elevator descended.
I went back to my room to relax for a little while, but instead ended up going through all the receipts of everything I bought today with Ocean’s money. I started to mentally tally the total until I had a number.
“Oh, my God,” I softly wailed as I quietly freaked out. “I spent half a million dollars. How the fuck am I going to explain that to Ocean?”
Now I knew why Priscilla, Niamh, and Chiara were so quick to rush out of here. They’d each only purchased a single item for themselves—a diamond necklace for Priscilla, a Birkin bag for Chiara that made her smile softly when the sale associate told her she was allowed to buy one (I didn’t get it), and a pair of strappy heels for Niamh that cost the price of a used car—but the receipts for their items weren’t here, meaning I’d racked up the five hundred thousand bill on my own.
“Shit, shit, shit! Maybe I can take it all back.”
I stared at Ocean’s credit card like it was evil before shoving it under my pillow out of sight.
This was all Ocean’s cousins’ fault.
They kept showing me pretty things, and after a while, I just nodded along and stopped looking at the price tags because they made me sick to my stomach.
Needing to take my mind off the impending huge fight I was going to have later, I decided to throw on one of my new bathing suits and try out the heated indoor pool. Again, I couldn’t help but feel the crushing weight of my loneliness as I thought about the time Hunter and I both called out sick from work and drove for twenty hours down to Miami because she wanted to go to the beach. It was one of my favorite memories. I had even let the bitch talk me into parasailing.
A moment later, I was sobbing quietly with my head resting against the edge of the pool.
I missed Hunter, but I wanted her to be safe. I wanted my brother to live. I had to find a way to go on without them both, but I didn’t know how. It was much easier when I wasn’t left alone—when Ocean was here to distract and tempt and dote on me.
God, I missed him right now.
My body began to rock as the water lapped against the pool wall, and, startled, I turned to find the source of the motion: a fully clothed Ocean striding through the water toward me.
“Ocean! Your suit!”
“Fuck this suit,” he said with a slight growl. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” I rushed to say.
Ocean looked far from convinced as he pulled me into him. “You were crying, Coby. What happened? My cousins do something?”
“No, of course not,” I said with a sniffle. “I had a great time.”
Ocean exhaled and rubbed a hand down my back. The feel of him was so strong and soothing that I couldn’t help but close my eyes. “Why won’t you tell me why you were crying?”
“Just homesick. That’s all.” Unconsciously, I rubbed my snotty nose on his tie before realizing what I’d done and cringing as I peered up at him. “Sorry.”
Ocean’s only response was to dip his head expectantly. I eagerly rose onto my toes and let him kiss me until all feelings of hopelessness faded. “Come on,” he said, pulling away when I started to rub myself against him.
It was only then that I noticed we weren’t alone. Abel stood sentry by the door with his gaze locked straight ahead. I looked to the right and the left of him, as well as behind, but there was no one else in the pool room.
“Where’s Hunter?” I asked after Ocean climbed out of the pool and then helped me out. “Did you find her?”
“Actually, she found me,” he answered cryptically.
I frowned at that even as my heart sped up. “Is she here?”
“No. She escaped before I could reach her.”
“Oh.” A confusing mix of relief and disappointment rushed me at once. I wanted to see Hunter, but I didn’t want her forced into anything. Ocean didn’t seem too hellbent on asking permission.
“I’m sorry, mo aingeal.”
Waving him off, I grabbed my towel from one of the loungers and wrapped it around myself. “How was your day?”
He rocked his head. “Could have gone better, but it’s ending with you, so I won’t complain,” he said as he lifted my hand and kissed it.