Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“He’s going to get so lucky when he gets home,” Kylie says of Knox, who scored the overtime goal. “So fucking lucky.”
“Eeew.” I shake my head, looking up at the screen as the three of them jump around in a circle together. Jagger is beside her holding onto Ariella’s hand. My eyes go to the screen where they show Zane smirking, then shaking his head and walking back, and I take back what I said. I don’t think I’m in love with him. I know I’m in love with him.
“Coffee,” I mumble as I walk into the kitchen the next morning. One eye opens to see where I’m going, the other closed from the pounding of my head.
“Look who is awake,” Ariella says to Jagger, who is in his highchair, “Auntie TT.”
“TT,” he repeats, shoving scrambled eggs into his mouth as Ariella sits on the chair in front of him having her own coffee.
Her feet are up on the chair. “How is TT doing this morning?”
“I would feel better if we hadn’t chugged more margaritas after the game ended,” I mutter as I wait for the coffee to start and pour into my mug. I put my arm down on the counter and rest my head there.
I add some milk to my coffee, going to the table and sliding into the chair beside Jagger, who holds out a piece of egg for me. “Thank you, my angel, but Auntie TT isn’t hungry.”
I finish half my coffee when the front door opens and then shuts. I hear the thud of a bag fall before he comes into the kitchen. Jagger strains to get out of his chair to go to Jaxon. “Hello, my boy.” He smiles big, kissing Ariella first and then Jagger. His smile fades when he looks at me. “Oh, you’re here.”
My eyebrows pinch together as I pick up my coffee and bring it to my lips. “Hi,” I mumble, “I guess.”
He kisses Jagger on his cheek, walking to the kitchen to grab a facecloth and wipe his face. “So,” Jaxon starts and both Ariella and I look at him, “how long were you and Zane dating before you broke up with him?” The minute he finishes his question, I feel my heart both sinking to my stomach and feel like it’s going to come out of my mouth.
My eyes go immediately to Ariella, who is looking at me with her eyes big like saucers. “You told him,” I accuse, shocked she would tell him. “I’m pretty sure I said, ‘don’t say anything.’”
“I didn’t say a word.” She sits up straight.
“She didn’t tell me,” Jaxon defends her. “He did.”
I blink my eyes a couple of times. “I’m sorry, what?” I ask, both shocked and pissed at the same time. “Why?”
“I put two and two together.” He puts Jagger down and then glares at me. “You came over here and were moping, and then he was also mopey, said he was seeing someone,” he explains, “but it was complicated.”
“It’s a private matter,” I tell him.
“Then Knox asked him if the woman was at the casino night.” I try to remain calm. “And then it all clicked into place. You coming out of his office. Him being him.”
“What did you say to him?” I put my hand on the table to help me get up.
“I said what I had to say to him, and he said what he had to say.” My stomach gets tight as I stand up.
“What does that mean?” I bite down hard, the words coming out in a hiss.
“That means nothing.” He folds his arms over his chest. “It also means I told him to never go near you again.”
“You did what?” Ariella and I both shout at the same time.
“You did not!” Ariella shrieks and Jaxon pffts.
“I sure as fuck did,” he assures me, “and I mean it. Whatever shit you had with him is over.”
I ignore the last part of his sentence. “What did he say to that?”
“Doesn’t matter, it’s over between you guys anyway.” I glare at him. “Don’t you fucking glare at me, Tori. You’re lucky it’s me who found out and not Dad.”
I shake my head, walking into the family room and grabbing my phone. “No, you’re lucky,” I point to him, “that I’m not kicking you in the balls right now.”
“You had no right to do that,” Ariella scolds softly, “no right. She’s a grown-ass woman and she is allowed to date who she wants.”
“Yeah,” I agree, “what she said.” I shake my head. “I’m leaving.”
“Tori,” he snaps out my name and I look at him, “let it fucking go.”
“No,” I snap, my eyes going into slits. “You let it fucking go,” I fire back to him before turning and walking out of the house, slamming the door behind me.
thirty-one
Zane
I put my bags down at the door and walk up to the kitchen. The stack of mail in my hands is tossed on the counter before pulling off my jacket and tossing it on one of the stools. I look down at the mail and start sifting through the letters when a car door slamming has me looking up.