Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Do you need anything?” I turn to ask her, wanting to drag her to my room and ask her why our night meant nothing to her.
“I think I’m good.” She nods. “Night,” she says and turns to the spare bedroom, closing the door behind her.
I stand here watching the light come on under the door and then turn to look down at Whiskey, who is waiting on the top two steps to see if I’m going back downstairs or to my bedroom. “Let’s go, boy.” I motion with my head. “Time for some shut-eye.”
I listen to her moving around in the bedroom as I head to my own. I leave the door open, and notice her walk out of the bedroom and then head to the bathroom. “Should I go in there?” I ask Whiskey, who jumps on the bed. “Yeah, that’s what I think too. Not the best idea.”
CHAPTER 9
Elizabeth
SANTA TELL ME
December 17th
The purring in my ear gets louder and louder as I slowly open my eyes. Gray fur fills my eyes as Baby Cat tickles my nose. I move my head away from him and mumble, “Good morning to you.” His head is lying on his paws as he purrs, not even bothering to open his eyes. I close my eyes and then turn on the side to see if I can fall back asleep. I give up after a couple of minutes and then stretch my arms over my head once I’m on my back. Baby Cat finally pops his head up but only to side-eye me for waking him. He then turns to his side and stretches out on the top of my pillow. “Dude, I’m sharing this pillow with you and not the other way around.” I arch my back, stretching again and the soreness now makes me wince.
My calves ache, my arms feel tight, and my head is slightly throbbing. My eyes also feel like they’re filled with sand, burning from either exhaustion or the fact it’s been two nights in a row that I’ve gone out and had alcohol. I toss the covers off me and slide one leg off the bed and then the other. I sit up and then look back over at Baby Cat. “Am I the only one getting up today?” I ask him as I stand up and it fully hits me that I feel like someone ran over my body.
I walk out of the bedroom and stop when I see Nate casually walking out of his. The shorts he’s wearing are hanging on his hips. His chest is perfectly sculpted and on display, with Whiskey gingerly walking by his side. “Oh no.” I hold up my hand, blocking my eyes but still catching one more peek of his abs that are on point, and I have to wonder how many times a week he works out. “My eyes.” I turn my head to the side. “I’m seeing nipples.”
I hear the rumble of his laugh, and I turn to look back at him as Whiskey comes over to me, his tail wagging in excitement. “Seriously, put them away.” I point with one finger to his chest while the other hand pets Whiskey. “Or is this one of your sexist ideas where I’m not allowed to show my nipples because I’m a girl, but you can because you’re a guy.”
“Someone wise once said they’re just nipples.” He shakes his head as he walks over to the stairs.
“I don’t know who told you that,” I say to his bare back, my eyes lingering on his ass, “but that person sounds really smart.”
“She’s okay,” he tosses over his shoulder. “A shit bowler, but you can’t win them all.”
I gasp, “I will have you know that I’m a fantastic bowler.”
“Maybe down under…” His voice trails as he gets to the bottom of the stairs and turns to walk down the hallway, as I walk over to the railing and look down at him.
“I’m jet-lagged,” I defend myself. He looks up at me, his eyes twinkling and the sleep now gone from his eyes.
“If you say so.”
“I am,” I tell him, “and that is all that matters.” I don’t wait for him to answer me before turning and storming into the bathroom. “Jerk.” I head to the bathroom, washing my hands and face right after before walking out and seeing Baby Cat stroll out of my bedroom.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” I greet, picking him up in my arms and he immediately twists in my arms to jump out. “Yeah, I’m kind of not liking you either these past couple of days.” He runs into Nate’s bedroom and I’m almost tempted to follow him in there, but then I smell coffee.
I think about going to put on a sweater to cover my nipples, but then I turn and walk down the steps. “If he can be bare chested, I can be wearing a tank top.” I look down at my light-yellow tank top with little light-blue flowers. The matching shorts aren’t tight but instead are loose and float around my legs. The cold air hits me right as I turn the corner and start to walk into the kitchen. Nate’s standing at the back door, closing it now that Whiskey has come back in.