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)
He came back.
I turn, and he’s smiling at Riley.
“Did you guys enjoy the show?” he asks, scanning my face.
I shake my head slowly as Riley squeals and tells him all her favorite parts—which is all the parts. I can’t lie to him. I didn’t enjoy the show. All I was thinking about is how much I miss him and how I’ll never be truly happy, now that he’s gone.
Fisher’s gaze flits between us. He’s trying to listen to Riley, but I can see he’s concerned. I’ve given up trying to hide that I’m okay without him. I’ve given up trying to pretend that a clean break is going to make everything okay. Because it won’t. Nothing’s going to stop this hurt inside. I’m just going to have to learn to live with it.
“Let’s get you out of here,” he says. “I have a car downstairs.”
“We walked,” Riley says. “Our hotel is only a couple of blocks from here.”
“It’s late. My car will get you back more quickly,” he says.
I let Fisher guide me and Riley downstairs and along corridors until we go through another door, and suddenly we’re on the street.
“Here’s my car,” he says. He opens the back door, and the three of us slide inside, Riley in the middle. I should say no, but I don’t. He asks where we’re staying, and Riley gives him the name of our hotel and then jabbers on about the concert.
We arrive outside the hotel minutes later.
“Thanks for the ride,” I say, and I reach for the door handle.
I’m still getting out of the car when Fisher appears and offers me his hand to get out.
I smile weakly at him. “Thanks. You didn’t need to.”
“Yeah,” he says. “I did.”
I don’t have the energy to argue with him. Not even when he insists on seeing us into our room. “I’d like to talk. If not tonight, then tomorrow.”
“We’re on an early flight,” I say. “We have to leave the hotel at seven. And I need to get Riley into bed.”
“I’m so tired, Mommy,” she says, rubbing her eyes.
The three of us step into the elevator.
“Tonight then,” he says.
“Riley needs to sleep,” I say.
“I know,” he agrees.
We get to the door of our room and all I can focus on is Riley. She’s about to fall asleep standing up. “Sit on the bed.” I take off her shoes and socks and pull back the covers on the bed we’re sharing. “You can sleep in your leggings and t-shirt.”
“What about my teeth, Mommy?” she asks, as she crawls over to the pillow.
“They’ll survive one day.”
She falls onto the bed and closes her eyes. “I love you, Mommy.”
I pull the covers over her and press a kiss to her forehead. “I love you more,” I reply.
“Thank you for bringing me to New York.”
“You’re very welcome,” I say. Despite having to endure the pain of seeing Fisher again, it was completely and utterly worth it.
I turn, and Fisher’s watching us. The room isn’t big, and he’s only a step away from the bed. One step away from me.
Riley shifting on the bed catches my attention, and when I look around at her, she’s on her side, fast asleep.
I turn back to Fisher. He’s smiling.
“She was tired,” I say.
“I’ve missed you,” he says.
I sigh. Despite it feeling good to hear those words coming from Fisher’s lips, it’s not what I need. Maybe if he announced he was getting engaged or something, that would be easier.
“I want us to talk,” he goes on. “I want to see if we can find a way through this. Maybe we can split our time between New York and Colorado. Or maybe I can just come to live there—”
“Fisher,” I say, shaking my head. “We’ve known each other five minutes. You can’t be giving up your life here after five minutes. Who knows if we’d even like each other after a month.”
He fixes me with a look that tells me I’m being ridiculous.
“I don’t think even you believe that we couldn’t like each other after a month, a year, a lifetime. I know you’ve got a list of reasons why it might not work between us, but I know it will. I’m sure enough for both of us.”
“Your life is in New York,” I say, but my voice is weak.
He shakes his head and takes a step toward me. “It feels like I’m giving up my life by not being with you, Juniper. You’re my life. I know it hasn’t been long, but I know that I’m never going to feel about anyone the way I feel about you. It’s impossible. It feels like you’re a part of me. Maybe it won’t work out.” He scoffs. “I actually don’t think that’s even a possibility. It will work out. We were meant to find each other. I was meant to find you in Star Falls, and you’ve been there your whole life waiting for me. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”