Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
The look on his face tells me that I somehow made that sound ungrateful and distant. But I don’t know how else to behave right now. Either our fling ends right this second, before it’s hardly begun, or it ends messily during the hockey season, where everyone in my life will have a first row seat for my heartbreak.
So this is for the best. It really is.
We give each other a tense glance before Eric’s gray eyes cut away. “You take care of yourself.”
“You do the same.” I grip the handles of both my rolling suitcases and walk toward my apartment building. Luckily, someone exits at the same time as I approach, and he holds the door open for me.
My heart is still pounding as I roll into the small vestibule and punch the elevator button. Outside, I see Eric standing on the sidewalk, staring at the building. For a half second, I think he’s going to lunge for the closing door.
But then he doesn’t. He turns back to his car, gets in, and drives away.
Numbly, I go upstairs and let myself into my apartment. It’s hot and stuffy, and disturbingly quiet. My phone plays Darth Vader’s theme.
I tap the green button. “You seem to have dialed me on a summer Sunday afternoon. Is this a social call? Or did somebody die?”
“Cute,” he grunts. “You know what’s not so cute? Eighty prospects descending on us Wednesday for development camp, and the facility manager’s wife went into early labor. He’s on a fucking paternity leave now.”
“That’s disgraceful. His child won’t even be able to say Dada for at least a year. Let’s just tie him to the Zamboni until then.”
“No need to be sarcastic. I’m texting you Bart’s new home address, so you can send them… whatever it is that people with babies want. Spend three hundred dollars on my personal card.”
“Yessir. And I’ll find us a backup tomorrow.”
“Good. I also need you to stay on top of the plans for the development dinner on Saturday night. Last year, the sommelier—”
“—Poured you the wrong Bordeaux. I remember, sir. We had him immediately executed.”
“Uh, Kendrick? Are you okay? You seem a little grumpy.”
“I’m fine,” I say tightly. “And if I’m the bigger grump on this call right now, then it’s only because you’re slipping.”
“Probably true,” he huffs. “You working all five days this week?”
“Nice try, but no, and it’s nonnegotiable. I have midterms. But I will see you tomorrow morning.”
“Good to know. Later, Kendrick.”
I hang up without saying goodbye and go back to unpacking my suitcase. The dress I wore to the wedding goes back onto its hanger. Maybe I’m just projecting, but I can swear I get a whiff of Eric’s cologne when I shake it out.
And then there’s the green bikini…
My phone rings. It’s not Darth Vader this time, just the regular ring. Naturally, my heart leaps in anticipation. Just in case it’s Eric. It’s not, though. The screen reads TESSA.
My first reaction is a flash of annoyance. But since Tessa hasn’t called me in… Well, ever. So my irritation quickly turns to panic. “Hello? Tessa?”
“Darcy!” She lets out a sob, and I go rigid with fear.
“What happened? Is it Dad?” I gasp. Did he collapse again?
“His heart!” she wails, and suddenly it’s hard to process what she’s saying. “There’s something wrong with it! An irregular heartbeat and long QT syndrome, whatever that is. We all have to get EKGs right away.”
As soon as I hear the last part, my panicked brain processes a few details. And I realize that my father probably isn’t in the back of an ambulance somewhere. He’s just given Tessa the talk instead, and for some reason, she picked me to vent to.
I exhale. “Hey, hey, Tessa. It’s going to be okay. They’re managing his condition with medication. My EKG was normal, and so was Theo’s, and you’re going to be fine, too.”
There’s a silence on the line. “Wait. You knew about this?”
Oh, heck. “I do, but I just found out recently. You know how I rarely see Dad? He wanted to tell me in person. And he didn’t want to make a big deal about it during the wedding.”
Another silence. “But you got an EKG already? And so did Theo? I just spoke to Theo! He didn’t say a word!”
Shit. “He could tell that you’re upset,” I say, and then wince, because who knows what Theo is thinking, and how is this my fault? “But Tessa—the EKG is a good thing. Dad didn’t want us to worry that his condition is hereditary.”
“But he didn’t tell me!” she sobs. “Nobody ever tells me anything!”
“That’s not true.”
“It is! You treat me like I’m stupid. But I planned that entire wedding! It came off without a hitch, and I get no respect! You’re such a bitch! What have you ever done for this family!”