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)
“But she did not bother giving you one, did she?” I shot back. “Because she knew which one of us loved her most, no matter what she felt inside. She did not choose you, Rafael, and even if she were still alive, she would not choose you.”
He said nothing to that, but I could tell my words hit him like a ton of bricks. His shoulders slumped, and the frown he wore melted away. Looking at him now, he looked like a sad little boy that had no one to love, and no one to love him back.
“Like I said before, I do not ever want to hear from you again.” I gripped the doorknob and gave it a twist. “And if you ever put your hands on my girlfriend again, I will rip you to fucking pieces.”
Fifty
Javier
After dealing with Rafael, I went to the nearest grocery store to pick up a cake and took it home. After dealing with so much bullshit, we deserved to celebrate.
As Octavia cooked and Aleesa built a tower with magnetic tiles, I could not remember the last time I had felt so at peace. I kept thinking about my future, as well as Octavia’s.
She had told me all about Luther being arrested, and I could tell that had brought her a lot of relief. There were times when I sometimes forgot to say I was coming toward her, but she would not get startled or panic. She would smile . . . perhaps because she knew this was a safe place for her now.
I sat on one of the barstools below the island counter, watching Octavia move from the stove to different countertops.
“—so I’ll probably do brunch with Naomi tomorrow, and I can take Leesa so you aren’t too worried about anything.” Octavia paused on peeling a potato as she looked at me. “What?” she laughed.
“Nothing,” I said, smiling. “I just can’t stop staring at you. That’s all.”
She bit her bottom lip to fight a smile, returning to her potato.
“Enjoy your brunch with your friend. I can look after Aleesa.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Besides, you owe Naomi for ruining lunch with her.”
She laughed as she started dicing one of the potatoes. “The crazy thing is she will never let me live that down. She was so proud of me but pissed because she really wanted to try the cod.”
“Well, next time she is here, tell her lunch at Venicio’s is on me.”
Octavia grinned. “She’ll love that. Oh—by the way. Davina and Deke are doing a wedding rehearsal soon, and Aleesa really needs to get that dress tailored. Javier, she is going to look so freaking cute.”
“Oh, absolutely.” I turned my gaze to Aleesa, who was now destroying her magnetic tower and making roaring noises. “She will be the cutest one there.”
“How do you feel, being best man and all?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I got off the stool and walked around the counter to wash my hands at the sink. “I am just happy for Deke. Happy that he’s happy. He deserves it.”
“Yeah, he does. And so does Davina. She’s so nervous, and she swears after losing one marriage that she’s some cursed wife.”
I broke out in a laugh as I picked up a carrot and started peeling it.
“Javier, you don’t have to do that,” she said, watching as I went to work.
“I know. But I want to.”
She looked up at me with bright brown eyes. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course, amor.”
“I’m really happy here. With you.”
I paused on peeling the carrot to give her a careful look. “I am glad that you are happy. Hell, I’m glad that you are still here.”
“Oh, trust me, baby,” she said, picking up a cutting board full of diced potatoes, “I’m not going anywhere unless you fire me.”
“Please stop saying that.” I laughed. “You are not the nanny anymore.”
“It’ll take some getting used to this new girlfriend title.”
I placed the peeler and carrot down before turning and standing behind her. After she dumped the potatoes into boiling water, I held her shoulders and brought my mouth down to her shoulder.
She sighed as I placed a kiss there, then tilted her head just a bit to expose her neck. I kissed my way up and didn’t stop until I reached her jawline.
“Will this help you get used to it?” I whispered in her ear.
She twisted around, and I lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her slowly. Her tongue coaxed my mouth open wider. I could taste citrus on her tongue from the orange she’d eaten not too long ago.
It was so easy to lose track of time with her. We made out in the kitchen for several seconds before Aleesa yelled, “EW!”
I huffed a laugh as Octavia did, then glanced over my shoulder at my daughter. She was standing on the couch and looking at me now, cupping her mouth with hunched shoulders, as if me kissing her Tava was the grossest thing in the world.