Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 52133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“Alright…you got me. Poor choice of words on my part. In this case you’d be presenting new information that would result in a possible extension. So, I still stand by what I said earlier. We create our own fate.”
“Well, I maintain that my luck sucks lately, and I don’t think that will change in court today. I’m not expecting a Christmas miracle.”
“How you present yourself is everything, Meredith. If I’ve learned anything as an attorney, it’s that. Now that you know what you may be entitled to, that throws a monkey wrench into the whole situation. If you make them believe you’re confident in your estimation of when you moved in, I’d be willing to bet things will go in your favor.”
His attitude was definitely motivating.
I tilted my head. “You really do believe that people can take their fate into their own hands, don’t you?”
“A hundred percent. Mind over matter.”
I paused, debating whether to ask my next question. “What can I do for you?”
He squinted. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve done some good things for me in such a short amount of time…helped me rip up that photo once and for all and made me aware of this loophole that could possibly save my behind. I owe you. Seriously…what can I do for you, Adam?”
He blinked a few times and didn’t answer. I was starting to think that maybe that question sounded suggestive. Then something a little more PG than where my mind was going occurred to me.
I snapped my fingers. “Wait! I’ve got it.”
He lifted his brow. “This doesn’t involve you grabbing my crotch again, does it?”
See? He had taken my question the wrong way.
“No, wiseass.”
He winked. “What is it?”
“You said your mother is always on your back about not having a girlfriend. Why don’t you pretend you’re dating me?”
“You gonna come home with me or something?” He chuckled. “I think I saw a movie like that once. A date dragged me to it.”
“No. I won’t be coming to Ohio. But we can take some photos and make it look like we’re in a relationship.”
He was amused. “You’re suggesting that I do what you did with that photo of Tucker? Lie about being in a relationship?”
“Well, in this case, it would be harmless. You wouldn’t be hanging onto an unhealthy memory…just fabricating a story to get your mom off your back for a bit. You could even say it’s new, that we’re just casually hanging out.”
“You’re asking me to lie to my mother…”
“Well…yeah, bu—”
“That’s brilliant, actually.” He scratched his scruff.
Relieved that he liked my idea, I grinned. “Yeah?”
“Yep. I may not even use it, but what the heck…I’ll keep a photo on hand for an emergency if the nagging gets to be too much.”
“Perfect!” I beamed. “Okay, grab your phone.”
“Are you good at selfies?” he asked.
“Oh, yeah. I’m the selfie queen.”
Over the next several minutes, I snapped a ton of photos of us together. The driver was looking at us through the rearview mirror like we were nuts.
I leaned my head into Adam’s and smiled wide. In some of the shots, we stuck out our tongues, acted goofy. We truly looked like a happy couple who had been together for a while.
Adam smelled so incredibly good. He was wearing some kind of masculine musk that made my hormones rejoice. Joy to the World! I found myself not wanting to stop posing for photos just so I would have an excuse to smell him, be close to him.
At one point, he wrapped his arm around me, and chills ran down my spine as I felt the side of his hard body against mine.
God, Meredith. That’s pathetic that you’re resorting to cheap thrills now.
Clearing my throat, I reluctantly pulled away. “I think we have enough.”
“You sure?” His eyes lingered on mine. Time seemed to stand still, and I got the sense that maybe he’d been enjoying the contact as much as I’d been. Or perhaps that was wishful thinking.
For a moment I became mesmerized by the reflection of the streetlights in his glasses as he continued to stare at me. Maybe I wasn’t imagining the attraction. He had called me beautiful, complimented my smile. I’d assumed he was just pulling my chain, but maybe there was something there.
Anxiety started to build within me. This ride would be over soon. We’d be going our separate ways.
Would I ever see him again?
I realized I was still holding his phone. “I’m just going to send myself a few of the photos,” I said.
“Alright,” he said as he watched me program my number into his contacts. I messaged myself the entire set of pictures we had taken. I suppose that was a great excuse to make sure I left him with my number.
After handing him back his phone, I asked, “Do you mind if I post one of these to Instagram?”