Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“It was bound to happen whenever and however we did this. People in this town love to get involved and have an opinion.” There’s a small chance I am experiencing a smidgeon of guilt for throwing him in the deep end. But like any and all feelings for the man—it will pass.
“Guess I’ll get another new number,” he says.
“Not a bad idea.”
He stares at me and I stare at him and nothing happens. He doesn’t say anything or do anything. It would seem his hard-won communication skills have regressed. But there’s nothing I can do about that.
I ignore the itching in my eyes. “You should probably go. It would be weird for you to still be here when the announcement has gone out.”
“Yeah,” he says, but he just stands there.
“This is what you wanted, right? Connor?”
“This was the plan.” He sighs. “We’re still friends, aren’t we?”
“Might be best to give each other some space for a while. For credibility.”
He nods. “Thanks, Riley. For everything.”
“Sure.”
Then he does it again. He stares at me for the longest moment. As if there’s something he wants to say. But apparently, he decides not to. Off he goes. Down my hallway, through my front doorway, and out of my life.
I open the door at nine that night with a bottle of wine in hand. Using a glass honestly seemed like too much trouble. There’s a purity of intent to drinking straight from the source in times of trouble. Something my poor sore heart has decided to admire.
Ava pushes past me demanding, “Why didn’t you answer your phone? I have been trying to call you for the last hour!”
“I turned it off. It was making too much noise and I found myself unable to meet its demands on this particular occasion.”
“Hello, Riley,” says Katja with a gentle smile.
“Hey. Drinks are in the fridge. Help yourselves.” I return to my prime position on the couch. So comfortable in my nest of cushions. Pride and Prejudice plays in silence on the screen. It’s not like I don’t know all of the words already. Just watching Lizzy and Darcy soothes my sad and sorry soul. “I already ate all of the cheese. But there should be some breakfast cereal in the pantry if you’re hungry. Might even be ice cream in the freezer.”
“Looks like you’ve had enough alcohol for all of us,” says Katja.
Ava stands with her hands on her hips. “What happened?”
“Hmm?” I down some wine. “What happened with what?”
“Why does everyone think you and Connor have broken up?”
“Because we have.”
“Why?” Ava barks.
I scowl. “It was his idea. Go shout at him.”
“He’s not my friend,” Ava says. “Not yet. But you are and you don’t have a lot of other people in town so talk to me.”
“It’s complicated.”
Katja sits next to me on the couch and picks up my hand. Her voice is far gentler than her girlfriend’s. “What happened, Riley? I saw you from up on the stage. You two seemed so happy together.”
“Yeah. We did, didn’t we? But then I guess we weren’t.”
“Lu said something about him wanting space?” asks Ava, using her inside voice this time.
I shake my head. “I honestly don’t know. He just…”
Lizzy and Darcy dance on screen and every other character in the movie disappears. No one else exists for them at that moment. It’s a beautifully symbolic scene. How attraction and emotions take over when you find the one. Reason doesn’t stand a chance against romance. She doesn’t like him, and he doesn’t want to like her, and yet they’re drawn to each other in a way they’re unable to resist.
“It’s my own fault really,” I say, still staring at the screen.
Katja strokes my hand. “Why do you think that?”
“My feelings got away from me. He’s so hot and funny and such a good listener and great in bed and…” I take a deep breath. “I knew it wasn’t, but it seemed so real there for a minute.”
“What do you mean, Riley?” asks Katja.
Shit. What the hell am I saying? “Nothing. Ignore me. I’m drunk.”
“You said it seemed real, but you knew it wasn’t?”
“Um. No, I—”
Katja cocks her head. “Wait a minute. Were you two just pretending to be together?”
“No, no, no. Don’t take it literally,” my mouth babbles. “You can’t do that. It’s not what I meant. What I was trying to say is, um, you know when you’re maybe seeing someone and like the feelings are fire and the sex is great, and you’re obsessed and all, but you’re not sure if, um, they’re on the same level as you with wanting to be with someone and that same sort of thing for instance?”
“What did you even just say?” asks Ava with a wrinkled nose.
“There’s no need to panic.” Katja pats my hand. “We won’t tell anyone you and Connor weren’t really dating.”