Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
"I feel like my body could burst with happiness," I admit, unable to contain the sheer joy bubbling up inside me.
Violet raises a brow, her expression shifting into something more mischievous. "Good sex, huh?" she teases, her voice laced with amusement.
My eyes widen slightly at her bluntness, and I can feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. "Umm," is all I manage to stammer out, still caught off guard by how easily she cuts to the chase.
Violet steps closer, unwrapping her scarf and hanging it over the back of a nearby chair. "It’s okay," she says with a wink, leaning in as if we’re sharing a delicious secret. "You can tell me. Was it with Oliver, or the Atwood boy?"
My smile hits hard, and I can’t stop it from spreading like wildfire across my face. The memories of the past few days flash through my mind, and I feel a warmth flood my chest. "His name is Tripp," I finally confess, the name rolling off my tongue like a sweet melody. "And oh my god," I say, letting out a breathy laugh as I roll my eyes to the back of my head in exaggerated bliss. "So good."
Violet bursts out laughing, the sound filling the shop and wrapping around us like a cozy blanket. "I knew it!" she exclaims, her eyes twinkling with delight. "You’ve got that post-coital glow that no amount of makeup can replicate."
I can’t help but laugh along with her, the two of us caught in the joy of the moment. "It’s more than that," I admit, my voice softening as I think about Tripp. "It’s like… everything just clicked. It was fun, and exciting, and… real. I don’t know how to explain it."
Violet nods, her expression turning more thoughtful as she listens. "Sounds like he might be something special," she says gently, her eyes searching mine for confirmation.
I bite my lip, a mixture of hope and excitement swirling inside me. "Yeah," I whisper, almost to myself. "I think he might be."
The rest of the day passes by in a blur, the hours slipping through my fingers as I go through the motions at the shop. Customers come and go, books are shelved, and yet all I can think about is the clock ticking down the minutes until Tripp is back at my place. Every time I glance at the clock, a flutter of anticipation stirs in my chest, making it harder to focus on anything else.
The usual rhythm of the day feels different, like I’m on autopilot, my mind drifting back to the way Tripp’s arms felt wrapped around me, the sound of his laughter, the warmth of his smile. I catch myself daydreaming more than once, and by the time closing time rolls around, I’m practically buzzing with excitement.
As I lock up the shop and make my way back to my apartment, my steps feel lighter, quicker, as if I’m racing toward something I can’t wait to embrace. The anticipation builds with every step, until finally, I hear the familiar knock at my door.
When I open it, the sight of Tripp standing there, a playful grin on his face, makes my heart skip a beat. I can’t stop the smile that splits my face, so wide it almost hurts. It’s as if all the waiting, all the longing, melts away in an instant, replaced by pure, unfiltered happiness.
“Hey, you,” he says, his voice full of warmth as he steps inside, pulling me into a tight hug. I bury my face in his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of him, feeling like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
“Hey,” I reply, my voice muffled against him, but I know he can hear the smile in it. The rest of the world fades away, leaving just the two of us, wrapped up in this perfect moment.
Chapter 24
Tripp
When I left Millie’s apartment this morning it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I didn’t want to leave. I would’ve called out again, but she had a point that my family would send out a search party. Especially since I told Callum that I was sick.
I went home and took a quick shower trying to convince myself that a little time away from Millie wasn’t going to shatter me.
Once I got to work, I immediately wished I had fought harder to stay in the bubble that we had been wrapped in. My family is the best, but they also have zero boundaries.
I walk into Atta Boy like I hadn’t called out two days in a row, hopeful everything would just be like normal. Of course it wasn’t.
“Tripp, what happened? Callum said you called out because you were sick?” Anya asks as soon as she spots me walking in. Her eyes are wide with concern, and I can already feel the weight of the lie pressing down on me.