Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“You’re welcome. She might not open the door because I’m telling on myself. I can get you there, Reid, but you have to put in the work.”
“I’m not afraid of a little hard work.”
“I’m counting on that. I want to see her happy.”
“That’s what I want, too,” I tell her.
“All right. Get my number from Sloane, just in case.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much,” I tell her, ending the call and handing the phone back to Sloane. “You, Sloane Peterson, are a genius.” I pull her into a hug as she laughs at me.
“Just like that, our happy-go-lucky Reid is back,” she teases. Her phone beeps, and she raises it to show me the message from Amanda. “I’ll send this to you,” she says, her fingers flying across the screen.
“Can you send me Amanda’s number, too? Just in case. She told me I could get it from you.”
“Sure, but just because she said to give it to you in the message that she sent me.” My phone pings twice, and it makes my heart race. I stand and call out, “I’ll be back.”
“Where are you going?” Baker calls after me.
“Bellamy’s not feeling well. I’m going to check on her.”
“What can we do?” Corie asks, all attention now on me.
“Nothing. I’m just going to take her a few things and check on her. I’ll be back.” I wave over my shoulder and rush into the house. I grab my shirt, wallet, and keys before heading out the door.
Thirty minutes later, I’m pulling up outside her building. She lives in an apartment on the fifth floor. Reaching over, I grab the bags of essentials from the passenger seat and make my way inside.
Stopping outside her door, I pull in a deep breath and slowly exhale. I don’t know if she’s going to let me in. She knows I’m on my way, but will she open the door for me? I guess there’s only one way to find out.
Raising my hand, I rap my knuckles against the door and start to count. I’m almost to one hundred when the door opens. Bellamy stands there, her hair a mess and no makeup on. She’s wearing pajamas with stars and moons all over them, and she’s never looked more beautiful. I can see in her big brown eyes that she’s not feeling her best.
“I brought a few things,” I say, holding up the bags.
She steps back, allowing me to come inside.
“I wasn’t sure about food, so I stopped and got some chicken soup, and then there are a few other things that the internet told me to try for an upset stomach, and this.” I hand her a paperback book. “The woman at the pharmacy said it was popular with the ladies. I know you read, and you might have read it, but yeah.” I shrug.
“Thank you, Reid. I haven’t read it, and this is very sweet of you, but unnecessary.”
Closing the space between us, I rest my free hand that’s not holding the goods against her cheek. “I was worried about you.”
“So I’ve been told.”
I smile. “Amanda gave me the third degree. She didn’t hand over your address easily,” I tell her. “I hope you’re not mad.”
Her shoulders drop. “I’m not mad.”
“Are you hungry?”
She shakes her head, her face looking a little green at the thought of food. “Okay, I’ll put that in the fridge for later. There’s also crackers, ginger ale, Sprite, and peppermints,” I say, moving toward her kitchen. I put what needs to be refrigerated away and leave the rest on the counter.
“What are you watching?” I ask her.
“Gilmore Girls.”
“Nice.” I sit on the opposite end of the couch, pull her feet into my lap, and start to massage them.
“Reid?”
“Yeah?” I turn to look at her.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking care of you.”
“You’re supposed to be at a cookout with your friends.”
“I was, but you needed me.”
“I’m fine, just a little blah,” she says, just as she did on the phone.
“Well, now, I’m here in case you need anything.”
“You don’t have to babysit me.”
I chuckle. “I’m not. I’m sitting with my girl, hoping to help her feel a little better while she’s under the weather. Now hush. I need to see what happens.”
“You want to watch this?”
“Bell, baby, I’d watch paint dry if that meant I got to spend time with you.”
She doesn’t say anything, but her cheeks turn pink as she pushes her gaze back to the TV and presses play. I’m watching, but I’m not paying attention. My hands gently massage her feet, and when I glance over, her eyes are growing heavy.
“Bellamy?”
“Yeah?”
“Come here.” I hold my arms open, waiting for her to come to me. Hoping that she will.
“We shouldn’t.”
“Just let me hold you.” Please, let me hold you.
“This isn’t—we’re not together.”
“Just for a little while.”
She bites down on her bottom lip. I can see it in her eyes. She wants to come to me, but her heart and her head are at war with one another.