Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Her eyes widen with gratitude. “Really? They’d talk to me about it?”
“I’m sure they would.”
She shares more about her mom and the treatment plan and keeps the conversation on a friendly note for the rest of the dinner. Our food arrives and we spend time catching up on each other’s lives, mostly on how our families are doing and our respective careers.
As the evening winds down, I realize that despite the emotional intensity Emily wrought, I’m glad I could be there for her as a friend.
I pay the bill and outside the restaurant, I give Emily a hug. “Stay strong, Em.”
She squeezes me briefly and steps back, tucking her hands in her coat pockets. “Thank you for listening to me, letting me rant, letting me hope for something but ever so gently letting me down. I’m happy you’re happy, Jack.”
“You’re very welcome. Keep me posted on your mom’s treatments.”
“I will.”
“Do you need me to walk you to your car or anything?” I ask.
She shakes her head, throwing her thumb over her shoulder. “I’m in a garage just across the street and down a block.”
I glance that way, noting that we’re in a good part of the city, well-lit with bustling sidewalk traffic. “Okay, then. Have a great night.”
“Good night,” she says. I wait with her at the next intersection for her to cross. She waves and then I turn for my hotel, ruminating over the conversation.
It’s all forgotten when my phone rings. Pulling it out of my back pocket, a thrill shoots through me at seeing Willa’s name. “Hey, you,” I answer. “How’s my favorite doctor?”
I’m treated to a husky laugh. “Your favorite doctor, huh? That’s romantic.”
Grinning, I step into the hotel lobby and move to an empty chair. “Well, I would have called you my favorite girlfriend, but I was afraid that would scare your relationship-averse spirit.”
“I’m not relationship averse,” she exclaims with a snort.
“I’ll amend my statement. You’re serious relationship averse.”
“That’s true,” she admits with a laugh but then drops her voice. “However, I think it’s obvious I can’t quite keep it casual with you.”
Another thrill… this time a bolt of happiness at such an admission. “Oh yeah? Tell me more.”
“Let’s just say you’ve managed to knock some walls down in a very short time.”
“Came in like a wrecking ball, huh?” I ask.
There’s a moment of silence before she asks incredulously, “You didn’t just quote Miley Cyrus, did you?”
“I did, but rest assured, that’s about the only line I can quote to you. The rest of the song doesn’t apply to us.”
Willa laughs again. “That’s good to know.”
“What are you doing right now?” I ask, glancing around at the empty lobby. I’m sure some of the guys went out tonight while others probably just got room service. I consider heading to my room but I’m too comfortable right here.
“I’m lying in my bed.”
That piques my interest. “What are you wearing?”
“Hold on a second,” she says, and my heart speeds up as I sit straighter in my chair. My phone chimes with an incoming text and I pull it from my ear, knowing she’s sent a picture.
I laugh when I see it, studying it for a moment before bringing the phone back up. “You’re adorable. I particularly like the green mud mask and the ratty Guns N’ Roses T-shirt.”
“Not the sexiest I could come up with but it’s comfy and my face will glow after.”
“You always glow,” I say.
Willa sighs. “And that’s why the walls are coming down.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I end up staying in the lobby talking to her for another twenty minutes, about everything and nothing important. It’s only after I hang up, grab my room key at the lobby desk and head into the elevator that I realize she didn’t ask me what I did for dinner tonight and I didn’t volunteer that I went out with Emily.
It honestly didn’t cross my mind while we were talking but it’s weighing on me now. I consider calling her, telling her everything because she should know. But it’s also late and after I parted ways with Emily tonight, I doubt we’ll ever talk again. We spent the majority of our meal speaking as only friends and I felt the distance in our hug goodbye. She wasn’t trying to hold on at all.
I decide not to bother Willa with this but resolve that if my ex calls again, I’ll let her know what’s going on. Hell, if Em continues to reach out, I’m probably going to need Willa’s advice on how to handle it but that’s a problem I won’t go looking for. I’m going to assume it’s over.
CHAPTER 16
Willa
I never quite understood the phenomenon but I swear the ice smells fresher and crisper just after the Zamboni finishes its job. The chatter of excited children and parents surrounds us, and rather than my normal dread over screwing things up, I’m enjoying the anticipation of today’s game. Obviously, that has everything to do with King helping me out and nothing to do with my increasing knowledge and skills.