Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“That’s too bad.” She tilted her head. “Wasn’t she a bit young for you? Looked like someone’s daughter.”
“She’s almost twenty and mature for her age.”
I had to laugh at myself, now using the same justifications Blair had used with me—that I’d ignored, always insisting she was still a teenager.
Langley rolled her eyes. “You know, all you men are the same.”
My eyes widened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Only interested in one thing.”
“I’m not sure that’s any of your business. And you don’t need to lump all men together, either. Sometimes we just want companionship and chemistry. That doesn’t always come in the same boring, predictable, age-appropriate package.”
She grimaced. “Are you calling me boring?”
“Of course not. Just saying you shouldn’t be so quick to judge other people’s choices. My comment had nothing to do with you.”
She hung her head. “I’m sorry. You’re right. My ex left me for a younger woman, and I think I might be a little traumatized by that.”
I relaxed my shoulders and forced myself to take a breath. “Damn. I’m sorry. That certainly explains your reaction.”
Langley glanced back over at her parents. “I thought this vacation would do me good, but it’s only made me sadder. I have so many great memories here. And seeing you… It really brought a lot of them to the forefront.” She looked down. “Those days are gone. I know that. But my time here reminds me that I’ve wasted so many years of my life.”
While I felt bad for her, I didn’t have the headspace to handle this conversation properly right now. But before I could apologize and say goodbye, she continued.
“And I guess I was a little let down that you weren’t interested in me.”
I nodded, trying to be sympathetic. “Don’t take it personally. Please.”
She shrugged. “Okay.”
“Look, I have to run…” I told her. “Keep your head up. Things will get better in time. You just need to ride out the storm.”
I wasn’t sure I believed my own advice, but I figured I’d try to leave her on a positive note, even if it was bullshit. I did wish her the best.
“Take care, Langley.”
“Bye,” she murmured as I walked away.
Back upstairs, I sat on the edge of my bed and forced myself to eat the bagel. I hadn’t even gotten coffee. I knew my head wasn’t screwed on straight if I’d forgotten something I was usually addicted to. Addicted. That’s how I felt right now. Like I was having withdrawals from Blair.
What a depressing fucking day this was going to be. I wondered if I should just check out early myself, since every damn corner of this place would now remind me of Blair—all the things we did and all the things we didn’t do.
My cell phone rang, and my heart leaped until I remembered Blair never had my number. It was my mother.
“Hey, Mom,” I droned.
“Hi, honey. You still at Midnight Key?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “For now. I was supposed to be here until tomorrow, but now I’m not so sure. Might take off early.”
“Why is that?”
I tugged at my hair. “I don’t really wanna get into it.”
“Terry Munson told me her daughter ran into you there.”
Shit. Big mouth Langley.
I lay back on the bed and sighed. “She did, did she?”
“Yes.”
My mother fell silent, and I knew she was holding back.
I rolled my eyes. “What else did she tell you?”
“She said you were quite cozy with someone half your age.”
I shook my head. “She should mind her own business.”
“So it’s true?”
“I did meet someone who’s younger, yeah. A sweet person who deserves better than to be reduced to her age. Nothing happened between us, if that’s what you’re getting at. It was mostly innocent. We had fun together. That was all. She got my mind off my troubles for a bit. And now she’s checked out. The story ends there.”
That did pretty much sum it up, even if the reality was much more complex in my mind.
“How old was she?”
“Almost twenty.” There I go again.
“Well, you know I was around that age when I met your father,” Mom said. “But people don’t settle down so young these days. If she were the right person for you, though, I wouldn’t discourage it just because she’s young.”
That didn’t make me feel any better about my decisions. I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“Are you going through some kind of midlife crisis?”
I had to laugh at that. “I’m not mid-life, Mom.”
“Not yet, at least.” She paused. “Anyway, what’s wrong with Langley? She’s always liked you.”
Langley was the furthest thing from what I wanted.
“There’s nothing wrong with her. I’m just not interested.”
“You’ve always been picky.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being selective.”
“Have you been in touch with Taylor?”
“No, but I plan to call him when I get home. If you speak to him, don’t mention that I’m here. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea and think I chose to come to the Keys rather than visit him. I just needed to clear my head before I came home.”