Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“How many are you up to?” I ask. She looks at me, and I can see her eyes light up.
“Seventy-seven,” she replies. “Do you know how many people that is?” I try not to laugh. “That’s like a lot. The max is a hundred, so I’m happy it’s almost there.”
“Where are you going to put them all?” I ask and her whole face now lights up.
“We are going to close the bar for the day and do welcome cocktails in the bar. Then I’m going to have one side of the room cleared out and, on the other side, fit long tables down one wall to do a tasting menu. We are going to offer them chances to walk around. I want to get some of the pictures from back in the day set up all around with little facts about the company.”
“You did this?” I ask, shocked about how creative she’s been. “All these ideas?”
“Yes.” She laughs as she takes another bite of her burger. “I’ve been going crazy trying to get all the things here, and everyone, of course, is like cash only since we’re behind on some accounts, but we're catching up,” she says, avoiding my eyes. “Thankfully, I have some money left, but it’s all gone after this.” She takes a deep breath. “The next step is probably selling the house.” She trails off, and I get angry. “That’s like the last thing I want to do. I don’t think I’m going to have to do it. Business has picked up so much, but I can see the sky from under the water.”
“Your father isn’t going to let you sell your house,” I say, trying not to sound angry or tense.
“My father isn’t going to know.” She shrugs. “I have to do what I have to do, Charlie. He’s not getting better, and I can’t have anything happen to him and have him, you know…” She can’t say the words. “Worry that we’re going to lose the business.”
“Your father doesn’t give a shit about that, and you know it.” I sit up. “He cares that you are taken care of.”
“I’ll be fine,” she states, not sounding as convincing as she wants to be. “It’ll be fine.”
“It will, baby,” I assure her softly and then look over to see Brady standing there with a plate.
“You order this?” he asks of the plate in his hand.
“I did.” I reach for the plate. “I’ll pay when I come out front,” I say, and he looks at the two of us.
“I think we owe you anyway,” he replies, turning and walking out of the room.
“How do I get a ticket to this event?” I finally ask the question I’ve been dying to ask for the last two weeks since she started talking to me about it. Each day I would wait for her to ask me or wait to see if I saw anything on how to purchase tickets, but nothing.
“You want to come to the event?” She picks up her burger as I pick up mine. This is as close as we’ve gotten to having dinner together since that one night.
“Of course, I want to come to the event. I want to support you.”
“Um…” She’s not sure what to say. “The tickets are expensive, and you’ve already tried the new blend.”
“Autumn,” I say her name, “do you not want me there?” I try not to let it get to me, but I’m getting really pissed at the thought.
“I didn’t say that,” she says calmly.
“You also didn’t not say it.” I pick up my burger, trying not to let it get to me.
“Fine, I’ll give you a ticket,” she concedes softly, opening the drawer beside her and taking out something from her desk and handing it to me. “You get the first ticket.”
She places the ticket in front of me, and I see that it’s black and gold. “No, I’ll buy a ticket,” I say. “I’ll pay Brady if you don’t want to take my money.”
“If I fight with you, will I win?” she asks.
“Baby,” I call her the nickname I’ve been calling her more and more in private, “the only time you will win a fight is if we’re fighting about which bed to sleep in.” Her cheeks get pink as she looks at the door to make sure it’s just the two of us. “Or what position you want me to fuck you in.” She laughs. “Besides, I want two tickets.”
“You’re going to bring a date?” she asks. I can see the color drain out of her face, and I just stare at her.
“I don’t know if Emmett will want to be called my date,” I deadpan, without telling her there is no one I’m going to be fucking dating but her. “Is that okay?”
“Yes,” she answers, the color coming back into her face as she closes her eyes. “I really need for this to work,” she admits. “I’m exhausted.”