Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“This is why we don’t eat at your house,” Shelby deadpans, “this right here.”
“Guys,” I finally say softly. “This can’t happen. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had and I can’t do that to him.”
“Maybe it was just meant to happen,” Shelby says. “Look at Ace and me. Best friends for so long and then, boom. You’re about to walk down the aisle with another man to find out he’s cheating on you and then you’re on your honeymoon with your best friend.” I smile. “Best thing I ever did.”
“Oh, we know, you keep saying it all the time,” the girls all say.
“Remember that butt dial once?” Clarabella reminds us. “Always you,” she moans. “Good God, I wore earplugs for a month.”
“All I’m going to say is,” Addison interjects, “everything happens for a reason.”
I think about her words, and when I get buzzed that my client is here, I sign off with them by blowing them kisses. I take off my necklace and then my ring, slipping it on the chain and then putting it back on my neck before I walk out and start the day.
Time flies by with my appointments being back-to-back, since I missed a day. I don’t have time to do anything, let alone eat. So when I get Cici and I walk into the house, my feet are throbbing. My head is aching, my stomach is making all sorts of noise, and the only thing I actually want is a nice glass of wine. I swear my mouth drools when I put Cici on her mat in the living room before walking over to the kitchen and dumping our bags. Pulling open the fridge, I grab a half-empty bottle of wine. “You know what the best thing is?” I look over at Cici, who is playing with one of her teethers. “That first sip.” I pour myself a glass and then take that first sip. “Delicious.”
I take another sip when the front door opens. “Hello,” he greets, and Cici turns her head toward his voice and gets all excited, making me roll my eyes. “There she is.” He doesn’t even take off his jacket before he walks over to her and picks her up. “How was your day?” he asks, burying his face in her neck before turning my way. His smile is still on his face, but his eyes light up just a touch more. “Is this a party?” He looks at me and to the glass of wine.
“Nope.” I finish the glass. “It’s just been a day.”
“Yeah,” he agrees, walking into the kitchen. “Do you want me to handle dinner?”
No, my head screams, I want you to get your ass over here and kiss me and maybe, perhaps, eat me for dinner. “Sure,” I answer quickly before I word vomit all my thoughts. “I’ll handle Cici, you order me a burger.”
I walk over to the freezer and look at the choices. “What do you want? Some pasta or grilled chicken with peas and carrots?”
“Say pasta,” Levi urges, making me laugh, “say pasta.”
“Pasta it is,” I say, taking it out. He looks over at me and smirks, and the whole night is spent with us laughing and almost tippy-toeing around each other. When I’m at the sink, he walks over and gently touches my lower back. When I sit down and he has to get up to get something, he touches my shoulder lightly. It’s got me on the fucking edge, and when I finally get Cici down, he’s coming out of the shower.
“She down?” he asks, but all I can focus on is the two little drops of water that have fallen from his hair onto his chest. All I want to do is lean forward and lick him, fucking lick him.
“Yeah,” I reply, avoiding looking at his eyes, because I’m pretty sure I’m blushing again and he hasn’t said a word. “I’m going to get in the shower.”
He nods at me and I’d be lying if I said I don’t spend extra time in there. When I finally walk out, the lights are off in the room and he’s sleeping with his back to me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Levi
Soft bells fill my dream until they become just a touch louder. My eyes, heavy with sleep, open slowly. I’m on my stomach with my face toward my nightstand. “Wait, is that my alarm?” I hear a grumble from beside me and get up on my elbows. “Oh my God.” I turn from my stomach to my back. “That’s my alarm.”
“Why is it still ringing?” I look over at Eva, who is lying on her side, looking at me, this time with one eye open. “Do you need instructions on how to shut it off?”
“Eva.” I twist my body to turn it off. “It’s six thirty.”
“Thanks for the news flash,” she huffs, closing her eye.