Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
I notice my brother, cousin, and the twins standing in a group. Something serious looks like it’s going down, but out of spite, I try not to look in their direction in case Ford thinks I’m looking for him.
“Do you have next weekend free?” Matthew asks. We’re on our third drink, and he’s told me stories about work and his family, peppering in questions about me as well. At least he isn’t showing me stupid fucking thirst traps like the last guy I went on a date with.
“It’s the weekend, so I have it off.”
“Good. Would you like to go see a movie with me?”
Ivy and Posie suddenly pretend they’re interested in something else.
He’s so different from the man I had sex with only an hour ago, the one who can’t give me anything past that. Matthew actively shows interest in more. A small pang of guilt hits my core. Am I a terrible person for fucking Ford and then organizing a date with someone else?
Then I think of what Ivy would say. She’d most likely encourage me to see both at the same time, not knowing one of the men is Ford. So, I throw caution to the wind.
I smile at him. “Like a date?”
“Sure. We can go to dinner afterward as well.”
“Yes, that would be nice. But I don’t do horror movies; my life is already a shit show,” I tell him.
Ivy laughs and mumbles, “Isn’t that the truth.”
Dutton joins us, and Posie puts her drink down, concern marring her expression. “Everything okay?”
I ignore whatever Matthew is saying because whatever is happening seems pretty serious.
Posie nods at something Dutton says, and then she smiles at me and Ivy. “Ready?”
I look over to Ivy, who nods, agreeing that she’s ready to go home too. We could stay if we wanted, but I’m more than happy to leave. Tonight has been eventful, to say the least.
“If you need a ride, I can take you home,” Matthew offers. A guttural noise escapes my brother, and I shoot him a glare.
“It’s fine; she’s coming with us,” Dutton says pointedly. I can tell Matthew is trying not to smirk. He’s not a killer, but he might be ballsy enough to survive a few nights with Dutton and his crew. I can only imagine Dutton’s reaction if he were here only a few minutes before to hear us organizing a date.
Matthew’s agreeable, however, giving a curt and respectful nod to Dutton.
Eli, Jewel, Hawke, and Ford make their way to the exit, and it infuriates me that Ford doesn’t look my way. I know I was the one who ended things, but I want…
I cut that thought off. I can’t keep going around in circles with this shit.
I’ve made up my mind, and I have to stick to it.
It was only ever sex.
Matthew hands me a card and leans over to whisper in my ear, “Text me. We’ll sort details out for tomorrow.”
He pulls back, and I can feel the fire at my back as my brother is basically being held back by Posie. I’d consider it comical if I didn’t wish he would have this glimmer of restraint around a different man.
But I smile at Matthew and tell him I can’t wait.
I need to move on from my fixation. Perhaps Ford’s use of the term “addiction” is the right word.
Ivy, Dutton, Posie, and I take our leave. When we’re outside, I notice the others’ cars are already gone.
A sadness tugs at my stomach, and all I want to do is cry. I grit my teeth instead because Ford doesn’t deserve my tears. And just like that, we’re done, and I’m going on a date with another guy.
Posie moves between Ivy and me, clasping our hands. “He’s good, right? I did good?” She’s drunk, and my brother glares at me, most likely because Posie is giving us attention and not him.
She’s so proud of herself, but it’s Ivy who I notice studying me intently.
I fake a smile. “You did, but I’ll be sure to take it slow.”
“Good,” Dutton interrupts. “Would hate to kill him already.”
“Oh, stop!” Posie says and throws herself at him. I can’t help but admire them and this playful nature she seems to bring out in him. I couldn’t be happier for him, and yet it makes me miss something I’ve never had.
Ivy falls into step beside me and whispers, “Are you sure? If you’re not into him, you don’t have to go.”
“He was nice,” I say, defending Matthew.
She eyes me but doesn’t say anything else. And I’m grateful for that because the last thing I want is to be pressed about the Matthew situation when my thoughts are on the man who has sworn not to give me any more than he thinks he can. And I was the fool for falling for the dangling carrot yet again.