Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Wasn’t that the dream? To find someone who would move mountains for you.
Evening, Natalie. Are you packed and ready to go?
I was packed and ready to cancel.
Blah.
I responded after wheeling my luggage to the hallway.
I’m packed. And I have my helpful list of snacks and advice in my purse. :)
He’d emailed it earlier, and I was so grateful. These trips tended to be stressful, and I was used to ordering room service or DoorDashing my butt off.
For this trip, I was going to do things differently. I’d order ingredients to make a big salad instead, and I’d called my hotel to make sure I had a fridge in my room.
I wandered aimlessly around my living room while I waited for Ethan to reply. I had one more workout in the morning and then a couple conference calls. Gray had kindly offered to drive me to Seattle, but now that my car was working again, I would just leave it in the short-term lot. I’d be back by Tuesday.
The flowers in the windows looked a little sad, so I grabbed the watering can under the sink in the kitchen and went to give them water.
Whoa.
I stopped short when I spotted Ethan across the street, holding the door to the gym. He wasn’t alone.
The blinds were partially closed, so I felt I could snoop.
Was he flirting with that woman?
My stomach knotted with unease, not unlike the time he’d told me about his crappy dates. I didn’t freaking like him or anything—not in that way—but my jealousy wanted to call me a big fat liar.
He couldn’t be flirting with her. She was a big girl too. His charming smile had to be firmly in place because he was simply running a business. Right?
Don’t flirt with her, you manwhore!
Oh my God, what was wrong with me?
The woman laughed at something he’d said, and she was laying it on thick. She twirled her fucking hair and touched his arm.
He soaked it up.
At least he wasn’t flexing in front of her. I hadn’t seen him shirtless all week, come to think of it.
Wrap it up. Ethan, you have a text to reply to.
“Uaargh.” I did a whole-body shudder-cringe-shake and walked away from the window. This wasn’t me. I didn’t get jealous. I had no reason to be jealous! Ethan was single. I was single. I had two dating apps and everything! I didn’t even know for sure if they were flirting down there—and even if they were, good for them. “Gah.” Unable to help myself, I hurried back to the window and sucked in a breath. For some unknown reason, I had to know how this was going to end.
On the one hand, if something happened—if I caught them exchanging numbers or…whatever, then I’d know Ethan was, well, also into bigger women. Right? Not that it mattered to me, obviously, but a girl could be curious. And then on the other hand…if they parted ways and—
“No fucking way.” I peered closer between the blinds. The woman was fucking going for it. She took a step toward him and trailed a finger up his biceps—you bitch—and Ethan glanced down at her hand.
He smirked and lifted his stare to her face again, and he replied to her. My God, what I wouldn’t give to be able to hear him.
I pushed two blinds apart with my fingers and narrowed my eyes.
The woman suddenly dropped her hand and—wait, was she pouting?
Had Ethan turned her down?
He must’ve, because she nodded, no longer looking very happy, before she offered a forced smile and walked off.
Yeah, you keep walking, girl.
I had serious problems.
“That’s fine, but I already have plans for my next line,” I said, walking out of the bathroom. “I went over things with Linda and Shauna at lunch, and we’re thinking a spring release before Easter.”
I was going to get my delicate maple leaves and spring blossoms in silver and gold.
“Oh, that’s great! I’m meeting with Linda tomorrow when she lands, so she can fill me in,” Jocelyn answered. “And the release for the holiday collection?”
Collection was a stretch. I had seven pieces launching in a collaboration with Macy’s. “November twenty-fifth,” I said. I tightened the towel around my chest and walked over to the bed where I kept my bags. “Oh, by the way, could you send me a new soldering block? I’ll be getting my studio ready as soon as I get the keys in a couple of weeks, so I want to be good to go ASAP.” There was only so much I could design at home.
“No problem. I’ll ship it first thing on Monday.”
“Thank you, honey.” I picked out my pajamas for my exciting Saturday night of ordering room service and watching movies. “Now, log out of the system and enjoy your weekend. I’m sorry things got so hectic down here today.”