Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“So, how’s that thing with Billy’s assistant going?” she asks as I carry our drinks to the table.
“She hasn’t been at work.”
“She hasn’t?”
“Monday, Billy had a meeting and addressed the story from the news, then told everyone that she and I are dating. She’s called out every day since then.”
Her nose scrunches. “That had to be embarrassing.”
“She made her bed.” I shrug, going back to the kitchen to get our food.
“Yeah, but you don’t know what he told her behind closed doors. If it was the same girl I spoke to the day I came to see you, she’s young and probably thinking with her heart, not her head.”
“Babe, she might be young, but she’s old enough to know that you shouldn’t get into a relationship with a man who is married.”
“I think we can both agree that sometimes, when you’re living in the moment, you’re not thinking about the consequences of your actions, big guy.” Her cheeks darken as her eyes roam my face.
“Touché.”
“And I’m not excusing what she did.” She wanders back into the kitchen, with PJ following her. “I just think she might deserve a little grace.” Her eyes come to me after she gives him a bone-shaped treat from a jar on the counter.
“Even knowing Billy’s wife and how this might affect her and their kids?” I lean back against the sink across from her, and she crosses her arms over her chest.
“If you and I were together and I told you that we were in a committed relationship and that there would never be anyone but you, but then I cheated with another man, would that be the man’s fault or mine?”
Some made-up fucking scenario shouldn’t make my neck tighten, and my hands clench into fists.
“Does he know about me?”
“Maybe.” She shrugs. “Yet I could have told him that we were separated but still living together because of the kids or that you’re a dick and treat me like garbage, and I’m just waiting for the chance to leave you. The possibilities are endless because he doesn’t know you. He only knows what I tell him about you and our relationship.”
“Then it would be your fault.” I try to keep my voice even.
“Exactly. Shelly’s marriage vows were with Billy, not with whatever her name is. So, at the end of the day, he’s the only person in that situation who is responsible for what’s happening or what might happen,” she says, and I stare at her. “What?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head.
“You want to say I’m right, don’t you?” Her smile is so smug I want to kiss it off her fucking lips. “It’s okay, big guy.” She closes the distance between us and pats my chest. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m happy living in the knowledge that you and I both know I’m right.” With one last pat to my chest and her smile even brighter, she turns on her heels and walks to the table, leaving me watching her go.
Yeah, she’s going to fuck up my life.
CHAPTER 11
Francisca
Looking between two of my closest friends, I wait for them to react to the bomb I just dropped on them, my heart racing. I hadn’t planned on telling them tonight that I’m pregnant; I wanted to wait and give them the news in some cute way—maybe with a card that said they were being invited to the Cool Aunts Club or a T-shirt saying something along those lines. But over the course of dinner, they’ve made comments about me not eating or drinking. Though I did eat, just not as much as I normally would have. And I haven’t had any alcohol, for obvious reasons, which wasn’t exactly a big deal until they invited me to go out after dinner to get drinks somewhere else.
The moment I turned down the invite, I could see they were gearing up to interrogate me, and it wouldn’t be long before I was spilling because I’ve never been good at keeping anything from them. Of course, my being pregnant isn’t a surprise to Molly, who is sitting next to me with her hand wrapped around mine. She was there when I bought the first pregnancy test, was the person who went to the store to buy more after that one came back positive and was the one who held me when I fell to my bathroom floor in a crying heap. But it’s a huge surprise to Georgia and Amelia, who both look stunned.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Amelia whispers, her hand holding her wine frozen in midair a couple of inches from her mouth.
“Are you keeping it?” Georgia asks, and Molly gasps while I instinctively cover my stomach with my hand. “What?” She looks around the table at each of us, then rolls her eyes. “It’s not too late to change your mind about keeping it.”