Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Do you really have to go?” she asks in a whisper. “You can’t stay for just a little while longer?”
He finally glances my way, and I see something I’ve never seen in his eyes before. Sadness.
It’s not unexpected since I always catch a glimpse of that when I tell anyone about losing my best friend.
“He really needs to go,” I answer for him. “We need to finish the dishes and get you ready for bed soon.”
Olive lets out a deep sigh. “Okay, Mommy.”
“Thank you both for dinner.” Holden holds my gaze for a few seconds. “I’m really glad I came.”
“We are too!” Olive taps the bracelet on his wrist. “Don’t forget to call Mommy if this breaks. She’ll fix it right up. She can fix anything.”
“Your mom is a remarkable woman.” He looks at her before he shifts his attention back to me. “Tonight was special.”
“It was,” I agree. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
He nods, turns to open the door, and walks out of my home without another word.
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Holden
Jameson bangs his fist against my apartment door. “Open the door or I’ll use my key. “
I glance in that direction but remain seated on my couch. I don’t say a word because as soon as I start talking, I know I won’t stop.
I’ve spent the past two days in here. Alone.
I called in ‘sick’ the morning after I had dinner with Greer and Olive. I did that because I was hung over.
I went straight to a bar after I left Greer’s house. I thought numbing everything I was feeling in half a bottle of whiskey was a good idea. It wasn’t. I ended up having to call Rook to get me home.
He didn’t ask questions. He told me he loved me, and whatever it was he’d help me through it.
He can’t. No one can.
I’ve avoided everyone since then, including Greer and my brother. I should have known it would be Jameson who would show up at my door ready to barge in.
“When did I give you a key?” I mutter as he uses it to unlock the door.
“Holden?” he asks as he approaches where I am. “What’s wrong? Tell me what’s wrong.”
I glance in his direction. He’s wearing another new suit, and he’s had a haircut in the last few days.
I, on the other hand, haven’t shaved in days, my hair is a mess, and I’m wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants.
I hang my head. “Jameson.”
He sits next to me. His hand darts to my shoulder. “What happened? You’ve been out of touch for days. That’s not like you.”
I start to tell him, but the words get caught in my throat. All that comes out is a pained sound.
He leans closer. “Whatever it is, I’m here for you. I’m not going anywhere, Holden.”
I pat his knee. “Thank you.”
“When’s the last time you ate anything?” He glances at the bottle of scotch on the coffee table. “I see you’ve been consuming enough fluids.”
I laugh for the first time in days. “I’ve had water. Bottles and bottles of water. I haven’t touched the scotch since early yesterday. “
I thought it would serve as a foolproof hangover cure. All it did was make me pass out.
“I’ll order some food.” His hand dives into one of the pockets of his suit jacket. “What do you feel like eating?”
“A sandwich?” I say without any real conviction attached to it. “A burger?”
He rubs a hand over his smooth jaw. “Get in the shower. We’re going to Crispy Biscuit.”
I know what he’s doing. He’s pulling me out of my pity and tossing me back into the real world.
I’d protest, but it’s not a bad idea.
Getting out of here and breathing some fresh air will help.
I drag myself to my feet as he does the same. Before I can walk away, he’s got his arms around me.
“I know you’re going through something,” he says. “Talking about it will help.”
Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t, but he’s the guy I need to confide in.
I step back and nod. “I’ll get ready to go.”
“We’ll video chat with Sinclair on the way there,” he promises. “Morgan is awake. You’ll get a few smiles out of him.”
As I look at him, I have to swallow hard to hold back the barrage of emotions I feel. “You’re a great father, James.”
His gaze scans my face. “I’m a great brother, too. I’m going to prove that to you tonight.”
We walk next to each other as we approach Riverside Park. It’s not quite dark yet, but dusk is settling over the city.
It was my idea to come here because I feel anchored here, and it’s always provided me a refuge from the hustle and bustle of my daily life.
East Hampton is the place I tend to run to when I need time to breathe, but I can’t leave town now. Truth be told, I’m not even sure I could fully process what I’m going through at the beach house since that’s where my life changed so dramatically.