Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“Jesus. You’re horrible for my fucking ego, Ree.”
Darn. I really love it when he calls me Ree. No one has ever given me a nickname before, and it’s cute when he says it.
“Sorry.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.” Relief I have no reason to feel sweeps over me. “But I had one back in Tennessee.”
“Did you break up because you were moving to Florida?”
“No. She broke up with me long before that because I was an idiot.”
“Oh.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” He places his menu on the table, giving me his undivided attention. I shake my head. “When was your last relationship?”
Damn, I should have thought about how my question might be turned around on me. “A few months before I moved here,” I say, thankful that I don’t need to say more because the waitress shows up to take our orders.
“Okay,” he starts when she wanders off a minute later. All hope of getting out of this conversation crashes and burns when he asks, “What happened with your ex?”
“You go first.”
He leans back in his chair, studying me with an odd look. “I let my ego take up space in our relationship.” I frown at him, not sure what that means. “She told me she wasn’t comfortable with the amount of female attention I get, and I ignored her.”
“Did you cheat on her?” I can’t help the anger that seeps into my tone. And if he says yes, I will get up and walk away from this table without letting him explain.
“Fuck no. I would never have hurt her like that.” He scrubs his fingers through his hair. “I was just a shitty boyfriend. I see it now, but at the time, I thought she was just insecure. And she was, but not for the reason I assumed. I didn’t give her the attention she needed to let her know she was a priority. I didn’t make her feel safe. I didn’t tell women no when they wanted a picture or avoid the flirting that sometimes goes along with that. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I knew it wasn’t going anywhere and thought it was innocent.” He shakes his head. “Like I said, my ego took up a lot of room in our relationship.”
I chew the inside of my cheek now, understanding why his whole demeanor changed when women approached him.
“Now, you tell me what happened with your ex.”
“I found out that he was sleeping with my soon-to-be stepsister.”
His eyes widen. “He what?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Yeah, Ree, it is a big fucking deal. What the fuck?”
“Okay, you’re right, it is a big deal.” I let out a breath. “He was my best friend, and I don’t mean that in the way some people talk about their partners. I mean, we were best friends since we were little, and only got together a couple of months before he slept with her, and I moved. I…” I shake my head. “It’s funny.”
“What is?”
“I knew before we even got together that a relationship between us wouldn’t work. I knew from watching him date that I was nothing like the other women he had been with. But he was so adamant that he wanted to be in a relationship with me that I got scared and gave in because I didn’t want to lose him.” I shake my head. “Then I lost him anyway.”
“How were you different than the other women he dated?”
“They were all beautiful and peppy cheerleaders or sorority girls. That just isn’t me.”
“You’re gorgeous, Ree.” I give him a doubt-filled look, and not because I’m vying for a compliment. I don’t think I’m ugly, but gorgeous is not a word anyone has ever used to describe me. I’ve been cute since I was little. “The first time I saw you, I thought you were beautiful. And in a world filled with sorority girls, you stand out because you’re just you with your nerdy books and ability to be brutally honest and funny as fuck.”
“Thank you.” It seems like a stupid reply, but the words slip off the tip of my tongue while my heart flutters behind my rib cage.
Darn. When his gaze softens like it did just now, it’s hard to remember why I shouldn’t want more than just his friendship.
“I have a question.”
“Okay.” I pick up my water and take a sip.
“Do you work next weekend, or can you take off?”
“I don’t work Saturday or Sunday. It’s my one weekend off this month.”
“Perfect. Do you want to go with me to New York?”
“New York?” My brows drag together.
“I have a fundraiser I need to attend Saturday night, and I need a date.”
“And you want me to go with you? As your date?”
“There is no one else I’d want to go with. And if you don’t go with me, I’m going alone.”