Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Thank you for making this and for carrying me up here and massaging me and running me a bath,” I said, rambling. “I’d probably still be outside asleep in my car if it weren’t for you.”
Jonathan smiled softly, clearly seeing I was still frazzled as he lifted a spoonful of soup to his mouth. “Any time, love.”
The endearment did something funny to my chest. Jonathan seemed relaxed and at ease, but I still felt bad because he’d just given me the best orgasm of my life, and I’d changed my mind about having sex, essentially leaving him with blue balls. Though I didn’t get any resentful vibes or sense that he was holding it against me. The opposite, in fact. Jonathan looked satiated and happy to be sharing a meal with me.
We ate in quiet, and when I rose to clear the table, Jonathan instructed me to go lie down and watch some TV while he cleaned up. I didn’t argue because I was still physically exhausted from the week I’d had.
A little while later, I was watching a documentary about chimpanzees on the Discovery Channel when Jonathan came over, pressed a kiss to my temple and told me he’d see me tomorrow before letting himself out. My heart felt all swishy in my chest as I stared at his departing figure, full of longing. I wished he’d stayed and watched the documentary. Maybe pulled me into his arms to snuggle. I found myself craving his company in simple, mundane ways.
The next morning as I got ready for work, my eyes latched on the box containing the earrings Jonathan had bought for me. I’d told him I couldn’t accept them, but he’d been adamant about not taking them back. Walking to the counter, I picked up the box and opened it, admiring the pretty stones. There was something about the shape and design that made me feel like Jonathan hadn’t just picked any pair of earrings. He’d picked these ones in particular because he thought they’d suit me. Then I thought of how he cared for me last night, even being a gentleman and graciously pulling the brakes when I’d changed my mind about sex.
How was it that the man I’d first considered to be one of the worst people I’d ever met was somehow turning out to be one of the best?
Not intending to wear them but merely wanting to see what they looked like on, I removed the earrings from the box, put them on, then went to the mirror to admire them. They really were gorgeous. The sparkle of the diamonds somehow made my eyes look more vibrant. It was as I stared at my reflection that my phone vibrated with a text from Mam.
Mam: Ada, I’ve decided I’m going to come visit for Christmas. Frances mentioned your new apartment has a spare bedroom, so I take it you don’t mind me staying with you. My flight gets in early on the twenty-third.
Reading the message, my stomach plummeted. I was definitely not in the right headspace to host my mother for Christmas, but like always, her message was an announcement of what she intended to do rather than a question asking if I minded her staying with me.
Not needing the stress right then, I put her visit to the back of my mind and headed out to my car. When I arrived at work, Cathal was in reception chatting with Sally. He glanced at me as I walked by, then seemed to do a double take before hurrying to catch up with me.
“Hey, Ada.”
I glanced at him. “Cathal.”
He ran a hand through his wavy, sandy brown hair. “So, um, I just wanted to apologise for what happened when I spoke to you at the quiz night the other week. I was out of line.”
“Uh huh, well, thank you, but it’s all good.”
“I butted my nose in where it didn’t belong, and after meeting Jonathan, he seems like a decent bloke. I think I was just concerned for you and overreacting.”
“Yeah, I get it, but you don’t need to worry about me. Listen, I have a bunch of stuff to do today, so—”
“No, of course. I was just wondering if you’d let me take you to lunch to make up for me being such an arsehole?”
I stopped walking and cast him a look. “Lunch?”
He shot me a smile that was half sheepish, half charming. “It’s the least I can do.” His eyes flashed to my ears, and I frowned. Why was he …? I lifted my hand and fingered my earlobe, suddenly realising I was still wearing the earrings. Mam’s text had distracted me and I’d forgotten to take them off. Cathal seemed oddly interested in them, and he noticed that I’d noticed. He cleared his throat.
“It’s nice to see you’ve been treating yourself with your inheritance. If anyone deserves it, it’s you, especially after all the crap your dad put you through when you were younger.” I’d never regretted revealing details of my childhood to someone more than I did at that moment. There was just something about his statement that infuriated me, like inheriting any sum of money could ever make up for what I’d gone through or what I’d lost when Dad and Leonora had died.