Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
I’m confused. One minute we’re kind of blowing it off, and now he looks like a man on a mission.
“It’s nothing you should worry about,” Jeremiah says, moving in beside his brother.
“I told you I’ll take care of it,” Reid replies, but he doesn’t look me in the eye.
And it hits me. “Britta.”
In the weeks we’ve been together he hasn’t mentioned her once and I haven’t brought the subject up. I don’t like thinking about the fact that the guy I’m rapidly falling for used to date supermodels. Well, a supermodel. But just the one is enough to make me heinously insecure.
He hasn’t done anything to feed that. He hasn’t talked about her. There are no photos at his place. By all accounts he’s not thinking about her at all when he’s with me.
But the closed-down expression on his face kicks me in the gut. It’s like a wall has gone up between us, and it’s all about her. “I think we should talk about this. Let’s go somewhere, get a drink and talk this out.”
His fists clench. “I can’t get a drink and talk this out, Harper. I’ve explained to you that I will handle it, and that’s all I can say.”
“Reid,” Jeremiah begins.
Reid points a finger his brother’s way. “Don’t. Don’t you even dare with me right now. You know exactly what’s happening and why, and I’m not bringing her into this. Let’s go.”
Jeremiah puts his hands up like he’s holding off a predator. “I know.”
I don’t like how he’s pushing his brother. “Hey, he’s done nothing wrong here. We need to take a breath. I know this is terrible, but we should calm down and talk this out.”
“Of course. He’s done nothing wrong. It’s all me.” Reid’s eyes close briefly, and when he opens them I realize I’ve lost some battle I didn’t even know I was fighting. “Harper, I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I won’t allow that tape to be released or that story to run. If it does, I’ll explain to the press that I’m entirely in the wrong.”
I’m so confused but he’s shutting me out, and I can’t stand it. “Or we could talk about it.”
He turns and walks away without a second glance.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Jeremiah whispers and then he’s gone, too.
I’m left alone and wondering what the hell went wrong.
Chapter Nineteen
Two hours later I’m on the couch at Lydia’s, a cup of tea in my hand and the delightful smell of Lydia’s cooking in the air. It’s kind of perfect except I’ve been crying for most of the time, and I hate crying. It sucks and I’m not good at it.
“I bet Britta cries pretty,” I say with a frown, hating the fact that I know I don’t. And that I’ve cried more over Reid Dorsey than I should.
“Okay. I don’t know if I’m supposed to agree with you or tell you that she likely had her tear ducts removed in one of her numerous plastic surgeries.” Darnell has babysitting duty since Anika is out of the country and Heath and Ivy are all wrapped up in their laptops trying to ensure they shut down everything. I know supposedly once something like this is out there it’s out there forever, but Ivy assures me it didn’t hit the Internet. They had the footage on lockdown so they would have the exclusive story. CeCe is in the office with them fueling the whole enterprise with vodka martinis and her joy at taking down the Euros, as she calls them. Darnell showed up for dinner and Lydia asked him to sit with me. I’m pretty sure he wishes he ate a PBJ at his place now.
He sighs and reaches out to pat my hand. “There, there.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t have to comfort me. I’m fine.”
Darnell sits back. “You’re not fine. You have that look.”
I wish I went back to my place, but the thought of heating up something frozen held little appeal. Although once Ivy’s married and Ani’s in her magical kingdom, there will be a lot of that. “I have a look?”
“Yeah, the one that tells me you’re about to blow. Look, Harper, I’m going to be honest with you. You’re absolutely my favorite. Ivy is bossy and surprisingly open about her feelings. Heath ruined her. She was all about business and cold, hard capitalism, and Heath was her Hallmark Christmas movie and now she wants to celebrate joy and shit. Anika is a walking ball of emotion. But you…you remember all those times when we would sit beside each other and never feel the need to talk?”
I sigh because I do remember. “Good times, man.”
He nods. “Yes, they were, my friend. Yes, they were. So if you want to sit in our comfortable silence, I am here for you.”