Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Oh.” Her mouth bobs open and closed. “Hi, uh, Polly. Welcome back.”
“Thanks.” For the first time since walking in here, I look around and feel my anger from earlier fill me up all over again. “Melissa?”
“Yes?”
“What in the actual fuck?”
“I know it’s a little messy, and I planned to have it cleaned up before you got back, but with Grace quitting—oh, she quit, by the way—and now Jessica’s out, too—”
“Why is Jessica out?”
“Her dad died.” Melissa cringes and then shrugs. “She’s taking leave until after the funeral next week. So, it’s just been Katie and me figuring things out—”
I hold up a hand, stopping her from saying any more.
Suddenly, the bell above the door dings, and I turn to find Ryan striding in, looking fresh and perfect, with no sign of jet lag anywhere to be found.
“Hey, babe,” he says with a grin and leans in to kiss me. When he pulls back, his eyes narrow. “That bad?”
“Yeah, I think so. Listen, about your car.” I wince and feel close to tears, but suck them in. I’m so mad and embarrassed and tired. “I spilled my coffee inside, and I sopped up most of the mess, but it’s going to need a detail. I’m so sorry, Ryan. I told you that I’m not to be trusted with nice things.”
“Stop,” he says and drags his fingertips down my jawline. I want to lean into him. I want to go home with him and cuddle up on the couch and just be. “It was an accident, which could happen to anyone. I’ll take care of it.”
He’s totally calm, as if the fact that I spilled coffee all over that incredible leather interior doesn’t bother him at all.
“That’s it?”
“What did you expect? That I’d scream at you?” he asks and shakes his head. “It happens, no biggie. I’ll call you later.”
He kisses me once more, and then he’s gone, and I didn’t even get the chance to tell him that I think my phone was a casualty in the Polly versus Coffee war.
With a sigh, I turn back to Melissa, who’s managed to pull herself together. Something doesn’t feel right here, and I’m determined to get to the bottom of it. I have a feeling that I have some long days ahead of me.
“Come on,” I say with a weary sigh. “We have work to do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
RYAN
“Poor Polly,” Mom says, shaking her head, after I just told everyone about how my girl accidentally spilled her coffee in my car. We’re all out at Remington and Erin’s place for family dinner, and I’ve been giving everyone a quick rundown of what happened when we were in Paris and after we got home. “I bet she was beside herself.”
“I felt bad for her,” I agree, and take a sip of my beer. “I assured her that it was fine, and it’s been cleaned since then, but she was pretty upset. Personally, I kind of thought it was funny.”
“It’s just a car,” Holly speaks up. “I spill stuff all the time, and my mom and dad always say that it can be cleaned up.”
“That’s right,” Erin says and leans over to kiss Holly on the head. “Sometimes, things get spilled. No biggie. But the important thing is that you two had a fabulous time. I haven’t seen Polly since you got back.”
“I did,” Summer volunteers. “Briefly. She was…tired.”
Summer stares down at her plate and starts shoveling in the food, as if she already regrets saying as much as she did, and now it’s my life’s mission to find out what’s going on.
I haven’t heard from Polly at all over the past few days since I picked up the car. She’s not returning my calls or texts, and it’s driving me fucking crazy.
“When’s your next home game, Jake?” Brady asks my kid, who sits up tall and smiles like a loon.
“This Friday,” he says. “It would be cool if you guys wanted to come.”
“We’ll all be there,” my dad replies and winks at Jake. “You’ll have the loudest cheering section BVHS has ever seen.”
“Legit,” Jake says with a wide smile. “I’m starting this week and everything.”
“Because you’re brilliantly talented,” Millie says. “And they’d be stupid not to start you.”
“Well, duh.” Jake grins at my sister, and I want to hug her to thank her for being so awesome to my boy.
They’re all amazing with him.
“Hey, Jake,” Johnny says, “can we go out back and toss the ball after dinner?”
“Me, too!” Holly insists.
“Sure,” Jake says. “I could use some practice anyway.”
The kids, excited at the prospect of playing outside after dinner, hurry through their meal, and when we’re all done eating, are excused from the table.
“I’ll call you in for dessert in a bit,” Erin calls after them as the back door slams behind them. “I love Jake. He’s so good with the kids.”