Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“Good morning,” Autumn says, joining me in our shared office space. She’s the manager and I’m the assistant manager of the Safe Haven Animal Shelter. That’s how we met, and we’ve been best friends ever since.
“Hey.” I smile and go back to the volunteer schedule I’ve been working on.
“Any phone calls today?” she asks with a grin.
“Ugh,” I groan, sitting back in my chair. “No. I’m hoping he got the hint.”
“You know, Jeremy said he asked him for your number yesterday before they all went home.”
That has me sitting up a little straighter. “Please tell me he didn’t give it to him.”
“Nope, but he did tell him your last name and where you worked.”
“Well, that solves that mystery.” Yesterday, we both racked our brains as to how he figured it out. I should have known it was Jeremy. I was too flustered to even consider him.
“He told him if he wanted your number, he had to work for it.”
“Great. That’s all I need is Jeremy encouraging him. Tell him next time, he can tell Landon I’m not interested.”
“He says he’s staying out of it from now on. He gave him what he needed to find you. The rest is up to him.”
“He’ll get bored soon. I mean, he’s Landon Barker after all. He can have any woman he wants, and he’s not going to wait around on me.”
“You never know. You could be the one to change him.” Autumn shrugs like the words that just came out of her mouth are not the most unrealistic she’s ever spoken.
“I don’t want to change him. That never works. He is who he is, and that’s not a bad thing. He’s just not for me.”
“How do you know who he is?” She raises her eyebrows.
“Fine. I don’t know him. I have a perception of him, and it’s not one I feel works well with who I am. How’s that?”
“You’re being judgey.”
“Like you didn’t judge Jeremy.”
“Oh, I did. I admit that. You’re forgetting something,” she says, standing from her desk that faces mine.
“Tell me, ole wise one. What could I possibly be forgetting?” I ask, amused. I can only imagine what she’s going to throw at me next.
“What you’re forgetting, my dear Tess, is that yes, I judged Jeremy, but I also married him.” She raises her left hand and wiggles her ring finger that houses her wedding band and engagement ring. Not that they’re easy to miss.
“So you found your unicorn. Not all of us are that lucky. And you didn’t change him. He changed because of you. To be better. There’s a difference.”
“I agree with you. But how do you know that Landon won’t be the same way? How do you know he’s not already a commitment guy? Because of a few tabloids? Come on, Tessa, you know better than to believe everything you read in those things or online. Hell, talk to Jeremy. He can give you his firsthand experiences.”
I admit she has a point, but it’s all too much. He’s too much. He’s this gorgeous, professional athlete, and I’m the girl next door who helps run an animal shelter. He might not be bored now because of the chase, but he will be. Eventually. I’m saving us both the drama and potential heartache that’s surely inevitable.
“I don’t,” I say when I realize she’s watching me still, waiting for an answer. “I have to go with my gut on this one, and my gut tells me that Landon Barker has heartbreak written all over him.”
Autumn shakes her head. “Girl, I’ve been where you are. Sometimes you just have to take the risk.”
“I’ve never been much of a risk-taker.”
“Just promise you’ll keep an open mind.”
“Sure, whatever, but it’s a moot point. I made it clear that day at the field, and both times he called yesterday, that I wasn’t interested. I’m sure he’s tucked his tail between his legs and moved on to the next willing and able woman. Lord knows there are plenty in line to volley for his attention.”
No sooner than the words leave my mouth, the chime over the door alerts us to a visitor. Standing from my chair, I walk down the hall to the reception area. There I find a woman holding a planter of flowers. “Hi, I have a delivery for a Tessa Deaton.”
No, he didn’t. “I’m Tessa.” I step closer and accept the planter, placing it on the reception desk.
“Sign here, please.” She hands me a clipboard, and I scrawl my signature across the page. “Thank you. Have a nice one,” she says, and is gone as fast as she arrived.
“Flowers?” Autumn asks, wearing a grin. “I wonder who they’re from?” She’s being coy; we both know damn well who they’re from. No one sends me flowers. Ever. As in, I’ve never received flowers before in my entire life. Sure, a corsage for prom when I was in high school, but never like this. It’s amazing what it does to brighten your mood. The quarterback is persistent, I’ll give him that. He’s good at the game, and although the flowers are a pleasant surprise, I’m not playing. Nope, my ass will remain on the bench. At least when it comes to him.