Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
There’s no way to avoid the truth—I’m a coward and I’m running. It doesn’t matter if I’ve picked a beautiful place to escape.
“It wasn’t fake,” I whisper.
“Duh.”
I look up and roll my eyes at her. “Girl, come on. You could at least pretend to be sympathetic.”
“Oh, I’m plenty sympathetic. If I had some tea aboard, I’d be giving you the whole Gran-bleeding-heart tea chat right now. But anyone could tell you’re heels over head for this guy. I’ll trust you that he’s over the playboy stuff—but does he love you back?”
Love?
Oh, shiiiit.
That’s a big little word.
I mean, we’ve been together for less than a season.
Face-to-face, it’s more like a matter of weeks.
Magical, life-bending weeks that have turned me inside out and made me wear my own skin like a scarf, but weeks, yes.
“He likes me, I guess.” I have to look away when I say it, blinded by the hurt, angry eyes Brady gave me right before I walked out.
“So, he’s at home, then, nursing a broken heart. Just like you,” she points out.
“He has the best girl for company. I miss that dog so much.” I break, smiling at her even as my lips quiver.
“Uh-huh,” Elle says incredulously. “You miss them both desperately. What would you say if this was me and August?”
“I . . . I’d make you pick up your phone and call him. Oh my God, this is stupid, isn’t it?” I bury my face in my hands. “But do I really have to be the one to call? He hasn’t said anything about the breakup. Not publicly.” I peek at my phone, just in case anything slipped by me, but there’s nothing. “I told him we were done. I said the arrangement was a ginormous mistake.”
“He’s a dude. I bet he doesn’t know what to say.” Now she sounds sympathetic. “Also, living in the media eye isn’t easy. It gets hella messy.”
“Yeah, I know.” I sigh.
There’s no argument there. Elle Marshall certainly has the experience to know.
Then again, so do I.
How many times did I play social media wonder girl alongside him, all so he could get his views in and let his followers peep at his life?
Kind of parasitic.
Except Brady’s social media presence is his life. His attempt to reinvent himself with a reputation that ranks above shriveled turkey vulture.
We talk like old times then. I rehash everything, leaving no ugly detail hidden, and the anger on her face is mine every time I mention Harry and his meddling.
“Forget messy. This is a fucking cataclysm.” I drop my head in my hands, breathing harshly.
Elle pats my shoulder. “Just a little. But we’re not panicking, remember? No freak-outs allowed on the boat. Captain’s rules.”
I shake my head.
“This doesn’t have to be the end. You can pick the scab off and let the scar fade over time. Don’t let some corkscrew dickhead ruin a good thing,” she whispers.
“Only in the universe where Harry keeps his nose out of my business. Not this one. I’ve already walked and accepted my heartbreak.” I stare through her. The longer there’s radio silence from Brady, the sooner he moves on and forgets the timid mouse who was never cut out for a relationship, real or otherwise.
Those scorpions in my stomach are turning into rattlesnakes.
“Thanks for trying to clear my head,” I say, even though we both know I came along to humor her.
That’s the thing about heartbreak, I guess. It poisons everything else.
God. I keep calling it heartbreak, don’t I? All while I’m conveniently avoiding what that means.
“You wanna know what I came up with while I was plotting my latest Kiki the Koala book? Blue the cardinal pays her a visit because his wife is pissed at how nice he’s being to Polypops the one-eyed squirrel who keeps destroying their nest.”
“You named a cardinal Blue?” I smile at the absurdity. “Even though cardinals are—”
“That’s why it’s a banger to illustrate, okay! But listen . . . so Blue decides to go all manly man to win her back. Next time Polypops comes tearing apart their nest, looking for acorns, Blue tries to talk him down. He invites them to sit down for some eucalyptus tea with Miss Kiki, and of course Polypops laughs in his face because he’s a giant asshole. But they make such a racket shouting at each other that Barry Barred Owl overhears and takes things into his own hands . . .”
“Oh no.” I blink at her. “Kinda dark for a kid’s book, no?”
“Heyyy, it’s not like the squirrel gets eaten! Barry just carries him off so he can cool his heels, and Blue spends hours rebuilding the nest. When he’s done, it’s better than ever. And when his wife comes home, she’s crying. Totally happy and apologetic because she remembers how much Blue loves her and how he’ll do anything, even when he never really had a chance against squirrel bro.”