Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Ana asks as if she can hear my thoughts.
“Nothing. I just …” I take a deep breath, questioning if I’m ready to put myself out there, knowing once I do, there’s no going back. “I recently got out of a relationship where he was … possessive,” I say, giving her a half truth. “He pushed all my friends away … at least the ones I had left after having a baby when the rest of my friends were still in the partying stage of life. Watching and listening to you two reminded me of how much I miss that.”
Ana sobers, then places her hand on my leg. “You’re not alone anymore. You know that, right? You have Ryder and me …”
“And me,” Paige says, sauntering back into the living room, obviously having had heard us. “I got you a drink anyway,” she says. “Figured you could use it.”
“Thanks.” I take a sip of the white wine. It’s crisp and fruity and refreshing. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a downer.”
“By opening up?” Ana shakes her head. “That’s what friends are for. And to be honest, I don’t have many.”
“Same,” Paige agrees. “I moved too much to make any real ties … until I met Ana.”
Ana lifts her daughter onto her chest and burps her, then moves her to the bassinet that’s right next to the couch. She whines for a second and then falls back asleep.
“You know what we need?” Paige says.
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell us,” Ana deadpans.
“A girls’ night!”
“Um, in case you forgot, I just gave birth.” Ana points from her stomach to the sleeping baby.
“Not at a club,” Paige clarifies. “A stay-at-home girls’ night … like a slumber party! We can watch cheesy rom-coms, eat junk food, gossip about boys, and drink.” Before Ana can argue, Paige adds, “You can pump and dump for one night.”
“Okay. That actually sounds like fun,” Ana says after a moment, her face lighting up. “What do you think?” she asks me. “You up for a girls’ night?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I shake my head. “I have Violet and …”
“Julian can watch her,” Ana says. “What’s one more kid?” She laughs.
“Maybe …” It’s not that I don’t want to, but … “It would have to be on the weekend.”
“What would have to be on the weekend?” Ryder asks, strolling into the house in nothing but his board shorts. His hair is wet, and a few droplets of water are lingering on his shoulders and chest as several slide down his muscular torso, disappearing into his—
A throat clearing breaks me from the thoughts, and when I glance up, I find Ryder smirking and both Ana and Paige grinning.
“Huh?” I ask, having no clue what was said.
The women crack up laughing while Ryder chuckles, and I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something.
“What?” I ask in confusion.
“I asked, what would have to be on the weekend?” Ryder says with a smirk.
“Our girls’ night,” Ana answers for me. “We’re going to have a slumber party.”
“With alcohol, junk food, and lots of gossip,” Paige adds.
“Sounds like fun,” Ryder says with a chuckle. “As long as you’re not discussing this month’s book without me.” He glares teasingly at Ana and Paige.
“We wouldn’t dream of it,” Ana says. “Don’t forget, it’s your turn to pick the book for next month.”
“And it’d better be spicy,” Paige adds, waggling her brows.
“I already know which one I’m picking,” Ryder says, then looks at me. “You should join us since you’re reading the book as well.”
He winks at me, and I swear my panties nearly combust. I don’t know what’s sexier—a man who reads romance or a man who is so unashamed that he’s part of a book club.
“Oh, you’re reading the book?” Ana asks me.
“Yep,” Ryder says, “and she’s loving it.”
“Then, you definitely have to come! We have an online book club, but this month, we’re going to discuss it live with the group.”
“Sounds like fun,” I tell them, not mentioning that I don’t have any social media.
Brian would give me shit about it, to the point that it was easier to just delete it than deal with him.
“Now, what were you saying about your girls’ night?” Ryder asks.
“I was telling Kira that she can bring Violet and Julian can keep an eye on her,” Ana says. “We have plenty of beds …”
“What?” Ryder glances at me in confusion. “Why the hell would Julian need to watch her? She knows me a helluva lot better than him. She can stay with Addie and me and sleep in her own bed.”
“You wouldn’t mind?” I ask despite the fact that he sounded almost offended that I hadn’t asked him to begin with. But I don’t want to assume.
“Why would I mind?” he asks incredulously.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I mean, I work for you. It’s my job to watch your daughter, not the other way around.”