Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
After Christian paid for his items, they worked their way through the mall. They stopped in the food court and grabbed a quick bite to eat before getting back to their journey. As soon as they were on the road, Christian’s phone rang. He groaned when he saw his ex’s name on the screen.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?”
“Nope,” he said. “She’s mad because I won’t pay to have the roof fixed at her condo.”
“Doesn’t she have insurance?”
He nodded and sighed when the ringing stopped. “According to her, it’s not her responsibility.”
“But it’s yours?”
He nodded. “She’s delusional.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“Six months ago. We live and work on opposite sides of town and I cut off her friends when I left. I didn’t care for any of the husbands.”
“Do you really live near Central Park?”
“Yeah,” he told her. “I wasn’t joking about what I want to do to you there. There’s a view of the park from my living room window. Just imagine your tits pressed against the glass and me taking you from behind.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“You might be worse than me,” she said to him. After a short pause she decided to tackle the subject that’s been at the forefront of her mind. “Can I ask you something that’s been nagging at me?”
“You can ask me anything,” he told her.
“How come you had a condom with you?”
She waited to see if some kind of regret or avoidance crossed his face, but there was none. “I’ve seen a couple of women since my divorce.”
“When was the last time you were with someone?”
“Last week,” he told her. “I was supposed to see her last night, but I texted when we got on our first flight and told her I couldn’t see her anymore.”
“Right before Christmas, that’s harsh.”
Christian frowned. “I’m not a liar and I have no intentions of seeing her after the holidays. I’m hoping I’ll be busy romancing someone else.” He glanced at her hopefully.
“Anyone I know?” he laughed.
“Meh.” She shrugged and then giggled. “I’m glad you didn’t lie to her.”
“That’s not who I am, babe.”
Holly leaned across the console and kissed his cheek. She settled back in her seat and surmised that everything had happened for a reason. They were meant to be in the airport at the same time, and they were meant to be stranded. She was sure if they had flown to New York City without any of the delays, they would’ve gone their separate ways, and maybe he’d come into the store to see her, or maybe not. Now, she was sure he would spend as much time as possible with her until they had to go back to their respective jobs and homes.
The idea of a long-distance relationship didn’t excite her, but she would do what she could to make it work. She often had Wednesdays off and if that meant she took the red-eye from Miami to New York and spent Wednesday with Christian, she could be back in Miami by game time on Thursday. She also hoped she’d be able to make the overnight trip even when she had to travel to games the next day. And if Christian came to see her, they’d be able to work things out. Although she also feared someone would have to give up their job, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
When they were an hour away from North Pole, she texted her mom to let her know their ETA. Christian handed Holly his phone and asked her to text his mom as well. She did, and she thought about putting her number in Christian’s phone, but then decided not to. If he wanted her number, he’d ask her for it. It wasn’t like he didn’t know where to find her. Plus, her parents still had their landline, he could call her the old-fashioned way. Or he could sneak over like he used to. Either way, if he wanted to talk to her, he knew where she’d be.
Christian exited the Interstate and Holly’s heart dropped. What if Christian got home and decided she wasn’t worth the hassle because of her job or where she lived? She knew better than to think like that, and besides, Christian had already said he wanted to be with her. Holly needed to trust the process and let things fall into place.
“Do you remember where my parents live?” she asked with a laugh.
Christian pretended to think and then laughed right along with her. “I think I can find it.”
Turn after turn, her heart sank into her stomach. She told herself to stop thinking the worst would happen. This time, there was no Skye to take him away from her. Christian was hers as long as she wanted him.
Christian pulled into the Saints’ driveway and shut the Tahoe off. He glanced at Holly and smiled before leaning over the console. He cupped her check and pulled her in for a kiss. “Next year at this time, we’ll have to decide where we’re staying.”