Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 121887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“Around nine thirty.”
Holy shmoly!
Not only was there no way to squeeze in even a small part of my morning ritual (again!), it was a hair wash day and I only had an hour and fifteen minutes to get ready.
I scrambled off his lap and raced to the bathroom, my head screaming, my stomach churning, my lips crying, “It’s a hair wash day!”
Such was my haste, I slammed the door behind me accidentally, and my headache didn’t thank me for it.
I was rinsing off my facewash when there was a knock at the door.
“Yeah?” I called.
Javi walked in carrying a glass filled with cloudy water and ice.
He set it on the bathroom vanity.
“IV hydration,” he said. “Drink it dry. It’ll help with the hangover. I’ll bring you coffee and a bagel after you shower.”
Oh my God!
Constantly getting more amazing!
He went back out, closing the door behind him.
Totally amazing.
I sucked back the drink, and it took until after my shower to realize, astoundingly, I felt a whole lot better.
After coffee and a bagel, believe it or not, I was fit as a fiddle.
Yes.
I was sensing Javier “Mountain” Montoya was so amazing…
He was downright perfect.
THIRTEEN
“SISTERS ARE DOIN’ IT FOR THEMSELVES”
(EURYTHMICS/ARETHA FRANKLIN)
I sure was glad Javi cured my hangover, because that meant we could make out in his truck before he dropped me off at work, and I wouldn’t gag or worse, throw up all over him.
I bounced inside, waving behind me the whole way, while Javi grinned at me the whole way.
I hummed through storing my bag in my locker and putting on my server apron.
Then I bounced through the kitchen, singing, “Hi, Lucia!”
She was salting something in a big pot, so, as per protocol, she ignored me.
I hit The Surf Club and immediately had five pairs of friend eyes on me.
I would understand why when Jessie begged, “Please tell me Javi didn’t take it there last night. You were totally wasted.”
And my good mood evaporated.
“We haven’t known him for very long,” I began, “but has he once given you the impression he was that guy?”
“Fuck, I fucked up again,” Jessie muttered.
“Uh…yeah,” I agreed. “And for the record, if he did take it there, I would have been okay with it because I want it, and he wants it, but he didn’t. I mean, I tried. I was all over him when we got back to his place. He shut me in his bathroom with my toiletries and his tee, and by the time I got ready for bed, I was also ready to pass out, which was what I did.”
“He had to shut you in his bathroom?” Shanti asked, her voice shaking with laughter.
I refused to be embarrassed by that and just nodded.
“How sweet,” Willow cooed.
“Totally,” I agreed, then turned squinty eyes on Jessie.
“You attacked him?” she asked.
“I tried,” I replied.
Her lips curled up in a smile.
I rolled my eyes.
“You know, I might be girlie, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak and need to be protected,” I kept at her. “And Javi might be a big guy, but that doesn’t mean he’s a predator.”
Now Jessie looked like she was getting mad. “I didn’t say he was a predator.”
“No, but you get what I mean. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all grown up,” I retorted.
Jessie planted her hands on her hips. “Do not stand there and be mad at me for worrying about you when not too long ago, you were mad at me. And, I’ll add, you threw a fair amount of attitude when I didn’t share something with you that was mine to share when and if I wanted to share it, and you did that because you were worried about me,” Jessie returned.
Bah!
She had me there.
We did a friend face off.
This lasted all of two seconds before Raye inched up and said, “My favorite part about last night, outside of learning Alexis and Jacob are engaged, was Javi carrying you out of the courtyard like you were a football.”
Everyone laughed.
Yeah, including me, because it was funny, but also it was Javi Sweet.
“My favorite part was you telling Martha you loved her, and then spending ten minutes trying to make her tell you she loved you back,” Luna put in.
“Oh yeah, that was good too,” Raye said.
We all laughed at that as well.
By the by, Martha never caved.
I still knew she loved me.
Just…in her way.
“Women!”
At that, we all jumped and looked to see Tex just in from the coffee cubby, glowering at us.
He had to say no more. Everyone got to work, me trailing Raye behind the bar.
She was eyeing me speculatively. “Are you not hungover?”
“Javi gave me some hydration thing. It works miracles.”
“I need to find out what that is.”
“I’ll ask Javi.”
She smiled.
I noted, “No one has said anything about the Kev/Trev situation.”
She became all business and nodded. “Yeah, we need a confab about that. For once, he’s not returning Willow’s calls. After straightening up your pad, Luna, Willow and I swung by his place last night, but he wasn’t there. Cap nor Eric are sharing anything they’re learning. Titus says we’re welcome at his garage anytime, but if he knows something about this sitch, he refuses to say. And Arthur also doesn’t know anything.”