Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“What’s the return policy on these babies?”
“Thirty days.”
“Do you have them in a seven and a half?”
“I think we do. Let me check.”
The salesclerk disappeared. I started to say I wasn’t buying shoes, when Wells pressed a finger to my lips, cutting me off. “In thirty days you’re either going to be miserable or getting laid. Either way, you need these. My treat. Just promise me, if you do wind up boning the boy-toy, you’ll wear these and nothing else.”
I figured it would be easier to come back and return them in a few days than argue right now, so I nodded and forced a smile. “Sure.”
A few minutes later, we were buckling into the car when my phone buzzed from my bag. I dug it out, read the text, and showed Wells the screen. “It’s Caitlin. She wants to stop over tonight.”
***
I paced the kitchen like an expectant father. When the doorbell rang a few minutes after seven, I had to wipe my sweaty hands on my pants to open the door.
“Hi.” I smiled and held my breath.
“Hey. Sorry I’m a little late.”
I stepped aside and showed my nerves by babbling. “You’re not late. I’m early. Well, I don’t mean I’m early to arrive since obviously I live here, but the food is almost ready. Or maybe not. I should probably go check.” I shut my eyes, feeling like an idiot, and power walked to the kitchen.
Caitlin followed. “Mmm… Do I smell your sauce?”
“I had some frozen, so I made breaded chicken cutlets, pounded thin, the way you like them.” I opened the oven door to see if the mozzarella I’d put on top had melted, and Caitlin peeked over my shoulder.
“Umm… Is there an army coming?”
I glanced at the two trays, noticing for the first time that there were probably a dozen cutlets cooking. I shook my head. “I may have gotten a little carried away.”
Caitlin chuckled. “You think?”
I was afraid to get my hopes up, but Caitlin seemed very much like herself, at least so far. I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. The chicken still had a few minutes to go, so I shut the oven door. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“I’d love one. Thanks.”
I busied myself pouring two glasses of chardonnay and passed one to Caitlin. We sat down next to each other at the kitchen island, and I tried to pretend I wasn’t gulping. But there was a giant elephant in the room, and I needed to muster the courage to address it or I’d go out of my mind trying to tap dance around it. So I took a deep breath. “Caitlin, I’m so sorry.”
She set her glass down. “No, Alex. It’s me who needs to apologize. I acted like a spoiled brat. And I regret that it took me this long to get my ass here and clear the air. I know you. You’ve probably been stressing.”
Hives had already broken out on my chest. That happened sometimes when I was upset. Caitlin zeroed in on them and shook her head. “Oh gosh. It’s worse than I thought. I haven’t seen you get that rash since Dad was diagnosed. I’m really an idiot for not coming over sooner.”
“You were in shock. We both were.”
“I’m sure I was at first, yes. But I acted possessive about something that happened a lifetime ago. It was immature of me.” She sipped her wine. “If I’m being perfectly honest, it wasn’t just about Brady. I think it took me this long because I didn’t want to admit something to myself.”
“What?”
Caitlin caught my eye. “I’ve always been a little jealous of you, Alex. It began when you started dating Dad, only I was too young to realize it back then.”
“It’s normal for a young girl to not want someone to come between her and her dad.”
She shook her head. “It was more than that. I wasn’t just jealous of the attention Dad gave you. I was jealous of you, Alex. You’re so beautiful and confident.”
“Oh gosh. I don’t hold a candle to you, Caitlin.”
She smiled sadly. “And that’s another thing that makes you so amazing. You have no clue what you look like or the effect you have on people. I remember when I was younger, when my friends would meet you, they would always comment how pretty and sweet you were. But it got worse when the boys who came around would say it.” Caitlin looked down and shook her head. “I used to tell everyone you’d had a shitload of plastic surgery.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, so I stayed quiet.
“Anyway, I thought I was past all that. But when I found out about Brady, it felt like I was thirteen with braces and acne all over again, and you were the beautiful stepmother.”