Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
When Fisher pulls up, my heart lifts so high in my chest I’m concerned my feet might leave the ground.
I dash down the stairs to the truck before my mom can come out and start chatting to Fisher like he’s about to become her son-in-law. That’s all I need. No one gets it except us. We like each other, but we’re not ever going to turn into anything. He gets it. I get it. But no one else gets it. I don’t want to listen to how it might work out or how long distance can work. Because that propels us into a future where both Fisher and I know we don’t work. And I don’t want to think about that. I just want to enjoy him while I have him.
“Hey, beautiful,” he says.
“Hi,” I snap, and I duck under his arm, avoiding his embrace and sliding into the truck.
He rounds the hood of the car, a frown on his face. He slides in next to me. “Is everything okay?” His tone is tentative.
“Yeah, sorry, just trying to dodge my mom. Can we get out of here?”
He chuckles and starts the engine. “Are we seventeen, sneaking out of our parents’ place to meet up for a secret, passionate affair?”
“Well, neither of us is seventeen.” I reach across and tuck a curl of his hair around his ear. “But you’re not so far off with the rest.”
He turns his head and places a kiss on my palm.
“You definitely want to go to Grizzly’s?” I ask.
“Have you had their wings?” He casts a glance over to me, like he thinks I might be insane.
I laugh. Looks like we’re going to Grizzly’s. “You know the entire town will be there.”
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
“Have you had their wings?” I say, and he laughs. “I’m just saying, this town is pretty protective, so brace yourself if you think you’re not going to be given the side eye by a couple of people.”
“Will anyone challenge me to a duel?” he asks. “Ex-boyfriends?”
“My only ex is in Florida, so no need to worry about him.”
“He’s your only ex? You’ve been split up for how long?”
“Seven years.”
“Phew,” he says, turning what could be an awkward conversation into something that’s no big deal. “I’m really not in the mood for a duel.”
“Glad I could help out.”
We pull up in front of Grizzly’s. “Let’s go get us some wings. Then I vote we go find a place we can make out. Or if you wanted to come back to my place or…”
I try not to grin at the idea of going up to the Colorado Club with this beautiful man. What will I learn about him? I know it’s not his place, but I’m sure there will be signs of who he is around his room or lodge or whatever it’s called.
“Sounds good,” I say, reaching for the door handle.
Grizzly’s is busier than usual. When we walk in at least half the place cops a look at the two of us arriving together, but they do their best not to gawp. Some more successfully than others.
We grab the same booth I was sitting in when I first laid eyes on Fisher. He was with two friends and they’d rolled into town in an RV. “What happened to your friends who you came to visit with last time? You know, when you came in the RVs.”
“Oh, word gets around, doesn’t it?”
“Kinda. I mean, those RVs were the talk of the town, and I was in Grizzly’s the night you turned up to see Byron.”
He narrows his eyes at me across the table. “You were in here? How the fuck did I miss you?”
My heart flips, and I can’t wipe the smile from my face. I slide my leg against his under the table, and he reaches for my hand.
“Now what can I get you two lovebirds?” Eva asks. “You want a beer?” She looks at me.
“What are you having?” I ask Fisher.
“Wings,” he replies, and I laugh.
“You don’t want a drink?”
He shrugs. “Sure. As long as it comes with wings, I don’t mind.”
Eva nods at Fisher. “You got a hungry one there. Two portions of wings?” she asks.
“At least,” Fisher says.
Eva pats him on the arm. “Let’s start you off with two. You can always order more. And I’m going to grab you two beers, too.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to be alone with your wings?” I ask.
“Happy to not have any if it means I get you tonight?”
My blush starts at my feet and sweeps up my entire body.
“Let’s get you some wings. And then I can help you work all those calories off.”
He groans and traps my legs between his. “It’s a good thing there’s a table between us, or we might get arrested for public indecency.”