Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
I nodded and stabbed some more salad with my fork. “You know more than me. Do you know that the Catholics wave large green leaves, uh…palm leaves—that’s it. Anyway, they wave them around on a Sunday that they call Palm Sunday while walking into the church behind the priest.” I stuck the forkful in my mouth.
A small laugh bubbled out of her. It was sweet and feminine. Nothing like mine. Yep, no similarities at all.
“I didn’t know that, no.”
I finished chewing and swallowed. “Are you gonna stand there, or are you waiting on me to tell you that you can get what you need? Or have a seat. Or get food. Because in case you missed the memo, this is your house. You don’t need me to tell you it’s okay.”
She scrunched her nose. “I just…well, I’m…I feel awkward. With you.”
I nodded and took a drink, then reached for the stool beside me. “Yeah, well, we fucked the same guy,” I told her. “Sit down. Have some salad.”
Her eyes dropped to the stool, and then she walked over to it and had a seat. She was an obedient one. The thought that Jude would have liked her, too, hit me, and I winced. Not going there.
“Uh, maybe I should just get my food and go,” Halo said.
I snapped out of my internal hell. “No. Sorry. Honestly, whatever facial expression I was making just now was not about you. I’ve had some revelations about Crosby and me. It wasn’t real love. Sure, we loved each other. But I love every guy in that room, Bane excluded—no offense, but he’s just an ass. Anyway, we are a family. I love them. But just like those guys, I wasn’t in love with Crosby. He was just all I knew. He was comfortable…” I paused and took a drink. “And, well, he met you and felt things. Things he hadn’t felt before and realized it. What he felt for you was strong. It rocked him. Lit up his world. Changed the way he saw life. It was more exciting. There was a warmth in his chest that had been cold.”
Halo shook her head. “I don’t think it was like that. He was still with you. I was just something different.”
I laughed. “Trust me, it was. It just took me feeling those things for someone to realize it. I hadn’t known what we were missing until I had it with someone else. But seeing as I am not as lovable as you seem to be, I am still not the first choice.”
I saw the flicker of emotion in her eyes. Seriously, what color blue was that? And those slate-colored rings around them were fantastic.
“I imagined you many times, and this was never what I thought you’d be like,” Halo said.
I raised both eyebrows. ““What? Did you picture horns and a forked tongue?”
She laughed louder this time, and her eyes twinkled. They effing twinkled. I guessed if your boyfriend was gonna cheat on you, then at least it was someone who looked like her. If I were into girls, I’d be crushing on her. That was probably the vodka talking again.
“Not exactly. I had…well, I expected you to be gorgeous. That wasn’t a surprise. But I thought you’d have a haughty, elitist way about you.” She grimaced as she said it. “Instead, you’re charming and funny. You have a confidence that isn’t intimidating, but draws others’ attention. I mean, in a fascinating way. Does that make sense?”
I took the stick with olives from my glass, then looked at her. “You’re married with a kid, and I’m not into girls. And even if I were, I’d be scared of Bane. Sorry, but it’s not gonna happen for us.”
This time, she tilted her head back as she laughed, placing her hand on her stomach.
I was kinda funny. Funnier with the vodka. I ate another olive as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Okay, I wasn’t that funny. But then she did live with Bane, and he was a bore. Poor girl was deprived.
Speak of the devil…
I watched as Bane’s large form filled the doorway.
Yes, hurry and save your woman from my clutches.
I rolled my eyes. He glared at me, then took three long-ass strides to Halo. His hand was on her shoulder, turning her to look at him.
I gave him a smug look when he took in the big grin on her face. His gaze flicked to me, then back to her. The expression on his face was powerful as he gazed at her like she was the only thing he ever wanted to look at again. A pang of jealousy had me tipping back my glass and finishing off my drink. Not that I wanted Bane to look at me that way. Ew. Just that no one ever had. I didn’t inspire it in men.