Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
He turned away before I could respond and walked to the door so fast that I didn’t even get a chance to say good night back.
Watching him go with that slight slump in his shoulders and his head bowed did weird things to my chest. Made it feel heavy and empty all at once . . .
And it hit me after a few minutes that I might have officially hurt Javier’s feelings for the first time.
Twenty-Four
Octavia
“I think cream cheese is the best option for icing so far. And do you think we should go with red velvet or white cake?” Davina swiveled her eyes to mine as she licked her tasting fork.
“Cream cheese and red velvet,” I told her. “Definitely.”
She nodded in agreement, pushing her fork into the red velvet for another bite.
I looked to my left at Aleesa, who was sitting in a chair, with cake crumbs all over her mouth. Icing was glued to her fingers, and she began licking each one, with delighted eyes.
“Do you want a wipe, Leesa?” I asked, reaching for her mermaid backpack.
“No, no wipe. No, thank you.” Aleesa sucked each finger into her mouth while kicking her feet.
“Are you sure I can’t drive to Atlanta, find Luther, and beat his sorry A-S-S?” Davina eyed me, with flared nostrils, working herself up all over again.
I’d told her late last night about Luther showing up at Javier’s house, and I purposely did that because I didn’t want her dropping everything to come to me. She would have bailed on this entire cake tasting (that she had been wait-listed on for months) just to spend the whole morning in Atlanta with me. I’d refused to let her do that.
“You can try, but he’s not worth it.” I blew a sigh. “I’m going to file a restraining order when I get back.”
“Good.” She licked icing off her fork’s prongs. “Can’t believe the police had to get involved. Like, seriously? What was he thinking? What kind of man does that?”
“He’s not a man, Vina. He’s a child in a man’s body, who throws tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.”
“Facts.” She sighed. “Well, do you wanna tell me what else is wrong?”
“What do you mean?” I sat up taller in my chair. What was she hinting at? Did Javier talk to Deke and now she knew something? “I’m fine.”
“No, Tavia, you’re not. That dumbass showed up and shook you all up.”
“Yeah, and I’m over it. F-U-C-K him.” I glanced at Aleesa.
“So what else is bothering you?”
“Why would you think something else is bothering me?”
“Is it work?” she asked, ignoring my question.
“No, Vina.”
She was quiet a moment, studying me, looking for any tells. “Well, it has to be something. We’re at a popular bakery, and you’re not commenting on any of the designs? Aahing over the consistency of the icing? Ogling the cupcakes? That’s so unlike you.”
“I just had a long night, that’s all. I’m tired.”
“What were you doing?”
“Nothing,” I returned quickly. “I just couldn’t sleep. What’s with all the questions?”
She gave me a suspicious look. She was still searching me for lies. She then pointed at Aleesa with her fork. “Javier was okay with you bringing his precious?”
“Yeah, he was cool about it. He had a meeting with his manager today.” I picked up my fork and pierced the prongs through the moist chocolate cake.
Okay, sure. Vina was right. Something else was bothering me, but it wasn’t fuckboy Luther. I kept thinking about the night before, being in the hot tub with Javier. How he walked away. The disappointed look in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if we would be on good terms or not, but after seeing him this morning, it felt like we weren’t.
He’d given Aleesa a kiss, glanced at me with a forced smile, and then left the house. No Goodbye, See you later, or anything.
“Octavia, please look at me.” Damn it. Davina was once again using her big sister voice. It was clear she had an idea of what might’ve been wrong with me. And the crazy part about my sister was when she had a hunch, she was never wrong.
I reluctantly shifted my gaze to meet hers.
After studying me carefully for a beat, she looked across the room at the baker and wedding planner, who were deep in conversation, before leaning in closer to me.
“You did something with him, didn’t you?”
“With who?” I asked, playing dumb.
She scoffed. “You know who.” She bobbed her head at Aleesa. “Tell me what’s going on. I don’t like seeing you like this.”
I dropped my fork and slouched back in my chair. “Okay, fine. But I’m going to need you to not overreact.”
She threw her hands in the air. “I never overreact.”
“Yes, we did something.”
She gasped, eyes stretching wide. “Tavia!”
“Oh my gosh, I just told you not to overreact,” I countered.