Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“What’s happening at work?” Audrey asks her. “I’m sure that’s not boring.”
“No, not boring,” Gianna says. “But not exciting in a good way. Remember the guy who I saw last weekend?”
“The guy screwing the other guy’s wife?” I ask, pouring my vinaigrette on my salad.
She nods. “Yes. Him. Well, I made it clear that we weren’t a match and told him—nicely, of course—to be on his merry way. He’s called, texted, and emailed me daily. I’ve blocked him on everything I can block him on, but he’s now making fake Social accounts to message me.”
“Are you safe?” Audrey asks, concerned.
“Yeah, I don’t like the sound of this,” I say, exchanging a worried glance with Audrey.
“It’s fine. I threatened him with a restraining order yesterday and haven’t heard from him since. Speaking of emails,” Gianna says. “Did you get mine about the extension for your column response, Astrid?”
I nod, trying to spear a crouton. “Yeah. I’ve been working on it, but I won’t rush until you tell me when you need it.”
“Perfect.”
Chessie swings by and drops off our check. I slide it next to my plate so I can ensure my friends let me pay the tab. Not only is it my turn, but I’m now making double my income thanks to Renn. If Joe comes through for me, my financial life just might be salvageable.
And, if the stars align, my personal life might be salvageable, too.
“Guess who I met in Sugar Creek, Audrey,” I ask.
She lifts brow, taking a drink of her lemonade.
“A fighter. He’s one of Gray’s friends. Brooks something.”
“I’ll have to ask Drew if he knows him,” she says. “Speaking of which, I’ve decided that I don’t want to wait until the Cape to make my move on Seth. I’m going to pop up in Boston and ask him to dinner and make a go at it. Do you think that’s a bad plan?”
Gianna leans forward and laughs. “No, it’s not a bad idea. It’s a great one.”
“And we’re here for you every step of the way,” I say. “Tell us when you need us and we’ll help you pick outfits, go with you to get your nails done—whatever you need.”
Audrey sits taller, her smile touching the corners of her eyes. “Thank you, guys. I love you so much.”
“Love you, too, Auddie,” Gianna and I say.
I sit back with my lemonade and listen to my friends go back and forth about whether Audrey needs to go shopping before her big Cape Cod weekend. It brings a smile to my lips. We have been there for each other through thick and thin. We’ve cheered each other on, held each other when we’ve cried, and shared more laughs than I could ever count. They’re a cheat code for life.
For a long while, I truly believed that if I had to survive the rest of my life with only Gianna and Audrey, I could be happy. And I still firmly believe that. They’re the greatest friends.
But if there’s something this weekend’s shown me, it’s that I love being with someone who is there for me in ways that they can’t—ways that I didn’t realize were so important. Someone who can shield me from the world when I need it, even if I won’t admit it. Someone with the biggest heart who cares for me in the smallest, most intimate ways, and gives amazing orgasms. Let’s never underestimate the power of the big O. I didn’t realize I needed that until Gray.
Gray’s presence in my life brings a whole new level of fulfillment. I didn’t understand how it felt to have someone want to know you, to ask questions, and to be patient enough to hear the answers. Being in his arms, in his sphere, colors my world differently … and sometimes my knees and breasts and lips.
I blush and turn back to my salad as Gianna starts one of her famous work stories.
Maybe Audrey is right. Maybe it’s okay to hope for something more. And if it’s not, I might be screwed.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Gray
“Not too bad, Adler. Not too bad,” I say, turning a full circle between my living room and kitchen.
It took me a while this morning to get up and moving. My body is sore everywhere from the game yesterday, a barn burner against our division rivals. Ridge came through for us in the end and led us to a win, but we’re all paying the price for the physicality of the match today.
That has not, however, stopped Nico and Ridge from blowing up the group chat. It’s so obnoxious that even I’ve had enough. I left it last night but had been added back by the time I woke up this morning. Fools.
I gather the wad of charging cords off the kitchen island and tuck them into a drawer. It’s not exactly as organized as Astrid would have it, but at least they’re out of sight. If I leave them out, or have anything out of place, she’ll stress about it when she gets here and start trying to fix it—and that’s not why she’s here.