Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Those little creases on her forehead deepen, and something else slips over her features. “Chase.” She says my name slowly, softly. Almost as if she can sense where my mind has gone. “I’ll come with you” is what she says, but it sounds very much like I want to come with you.
My smile is as reassuring as I can manage, and I shake my head. “Stay.” You shouldn’t want to come with me. “You have time.”
I can tell she wants to protest, her palms already pressing at the tabletop as if to push herself to her feet. “I saw some fancy desserts on the way in. Maybe they even have some strawberry shortcake you can taste test.”
Her lips twitch, despite the concern in her eyes, but she’s no longer trying to stand, so I turn to the others at the table.
“It was nice to officially meet you, Mr. Randolph. Thank you for the invitation today.”
“You as well, son, and anytime.” He gazes at me, his expression almost searching. “A friend of Paige’s is a friend of mine.”
Friend, friend, friend.
“Prescott.” I turn to him. “Thanks for lunch. It was unnecessary but appreciated.”
The man nods. “It was good to see you again, Chase.”
I can’t say the same, my guy.
I tip my chin at both men, and then I turn and walk away, pretending I don’t feel the weight of her gaze growing heavier with every step.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Paige
The shops are busy and overcrowded, and I can’t stop thinking about everything that I should be doing today.
If I’d left campus this morning around six thirty, I would have made it to my studio with enough time to get in several hours of work before lunchtime even hit. I managed to get what was left of the mirrors taken down and all the broken shards of glass swept up the last time I was there, even if I did have to shove some of the larger pieces in the corner for now. After a few dozen YouTube videos, I finally sucked it up and ordered a hazmat-looking suit, some gloves, and a sledgehammer to attempt some actual renovations on the place.
Carry texted me on Friday to say she signed for the package and was holding it for me. I don’t know how I would stay sane if it weren’t for her weekly updates. Sometimes I bug her to check in on my space every couple of days when I start to really panic, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
I took some basic measurements to price out the insulation that I was told needed replaced, but of course, when I got online, it wanted square footage, and I about broke down.
My dad would have known how to figure that out with the feet and inches I wrote down, but I don’t have the slightest clue, and I can’t trust Google when it could mean the difference in dollars—dollars that I do not have.
My savings aren’t depleted, but I have to be able to live and cover gas to go back and forth. If I can’t get there, I can’t get a single thing done, and I’ve got to do something, even if it’s floor washing when the floor needs replaced and pulling the baseboards off but having no way to get them to the dump.
“Earth to freaking Paige!”
My head yanks to the left. Cameron raises a brow, shaking a sparkly, bright-pink dress at me. “It’s…cute.”
“Liar.” She chuckles, putting it back on the rack. “I mean, I think it’s cute, but that was your It’s terrible but I’m too sweet to say otherwise in case you love it expression.”
A small smile finds my lips, and when I look over at Ari, she shakes her head at her friend before facing me with a little tip of her chin.
“You okay?” she asks quietly, the two of us trailing Cameron around the store.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s just…the studio.”
She nods. “You haven’t talked about it much. I figured that meant it was at a standstill. I know you mentioned your grandpa could possibly help. That didn’t work out, or you don’t feel comfortable asking yet?”
“Oh, he’s offered,” I finally just admit. “He’d do it in a heartbeat, but there are…conditions.” I wince, giving her a wry smile. “That makes him sound bad, but I swear it’s not malicious on his part.”
She lifts her hands, her expression gentle. “No judgment.”
I know she means it, but I still feel the need to explain a little more. “He wants to protect his life’s work, just like I was trying to build my own off my dad’s. It just so happens we both need the other to make that happen.”
“I’m sensing a but in there…”
I smile, nodding exaggeratedly. “But even though I’d be getting what I want, I’m not sure I’d be getting what I want.” The last word drags out a bit and we both laugh. “Confusing, I know, but…” I shrug.