Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I’m guessing it’s not going to be as good as the wings we had at Grizzly’s.”
“They were heaven on a plate,” Jack says. “Almost worth living outside of Manhattan for.”
“We can try all the restaurants. This one is fine dining.”
“As long as we can go back to Grizzly’s tonight,” Fisher says. “I wonder if we can take some wings back to New York with us.”
“What about you?” Worth says from opposite me. “You think you’ll come back with us?”
I grin, sliding my hand over my stubble. “Not tomorrow. Not until after this place is open and settled.”
“Do you miss New York?” Jack asks.
Before I can answer, I see Rosey out of the corner of my eye, coming toward us.
Whenever we’ve seen each other at the Club, we’ve always given each other a small smile and carried on with whatever we’re doing. But I know that’s not how my friends roll.
Fisher is out of his seat as soon as he spots her.
Rosey’s eyes widen in shock before her gaze flits to me. I smile, trying to be reassuring, but I’m not sure if she sees it because Fisher envelops her in a hug.
“The pool hustler herself. Good to see you.”
Jack and Worth both stand and pull Rosey into a hug. I can see some members of staff behind us at the service station watching. We’re going to have to figure out an explanation. Rosey and the guys exchange greetings and promises to see each other later, Rosey says she has somewhere to be, and I push down my disappointment at her not being able to stay.
I stay seated and offer a wave, then chastise myself. Am I being a dick by pretending not to be happy to see her? Should I have hugged her? Kissed her cheek like Jack did?
“See you later, Rosey,” Fisher calls as he slides back into our booth next to me.
“Does she play a part in you being here?” Worth asks.
The question throws me for a loop. “What? I’ve known her for five minutes.”
“I knew the first moment I laid eyes on Sophia,” Worth says.
“Leo would probably say the same about Jules,” adds Jack.
“Hardly,” I scoff. “It took him years to realize what was right under his nose.”
“Not really,” Jack says. “You know he came home talking about Mystique that night after the party, saying how he might have met the love of his life.”
“So you’re asking if I’ve fallen in love with Rosey?” I mean to sound like it’s the most ridiculous question anyone’s ever asked me. But it doesn’t.
My three friends all look at me, waiting for an answer.
“She’s not looking to get into a relationship. And neither am I. We don’t see… whatever it is we’re doing as… It’s just not like that.”
Words are coming out of my mouth, but I’m not really saying anything.
They all stay silent. Waiting.
“I like her, okay? I’m not denying it.” Rosey has a way of making everything feel like it’s going to work out. I don’t know how she does it. “She’s got a lot of shit to work out.”
“Have you got shit to work out?” Worth asks. “Where was your family’s ranch in relation to this building?”
I sigh. “It was a farm. An apple farm. It was down in the valley. It was demolished a long time before I came back.”
“And building this is healing?” Fisher asks.
“A members-only resort is a really good business idea,” I say, my voice a little guarded.
“Right,” Worth says. “And you could have done it anywhere in the US. But you bought back the land your father gambled away and have built your kingdom in exactly the same spot.”
I let his words settle.
“So sue me,” I say. I don’t understand why this is a problem for any of them.
“I’m asking whether or not it’s helped. I’m your friend, Byron. It’s not a criticism. I want to know if you feel better. If you’ve laid ghosts to rest. If you’re ready for your future.”
I lower my defenses. Worth isn’t trying to hurt me. I know he isn’t. But he’s telling me truths I’ve been avoiding. I could have built the Colorado Club anywhere. But I settled on Star Falls.
“I think it’s only now that I’m righting some of the wrongs in my brain,” I say. “I avoided going into town for a long time. Last time I was here, my father’s gambling habit was the center of all the gossip, and I hated the place for it. Now I see it a little differently.”
“Differently how?” Jack asks.
“I think the people of Star Falls care about each other. I think they must have been horrified when the farm was repossessed. They weren’t being malicious. Not most of them anyway. I labelled myself as Mack Miller’s son as much as they did. I was running from something I couldn’t get away from. I’m always going to be his son.”