Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
I’ve never forgotten what she said in the letters she sent me, even years later. It’s something I thought a lot about when I was behind bars. When Liam offered to pack my apartment, I made sure he grabbed them so I didn’t lose them.
“Because I remember that little prick made you cry.”
“Well, I’m a big girl now. And he’s married to Maggie. She owns the salon.”
“Wait.” I hold my hands above my head to imitate big hair. “The girl who looked like she used a can of hairspray every day?”
Gemma laughs, then nods. “Yep.”
“Wow. Guess I have some catching up to do.”
“A lot has changed.” Her gaze locks on mine, and neither of us blinks. The intensity is thick between us. “I’m engaged,” she blurts out, then immediately blushes. “I mean, so you don’t have to go laying anyone out.”
I narrow my eyes at her, wondering if she’s always this socially awkward or if it’s just with me. “I heard.”
“Right. Of course, you did. I’m sure Everleigh told you.”
“She did. Congrats.” I shove my hands into my pockets.
“Thank you. We finally set a date, so I’m in major planning mode now.”
“That’s great. I’m really happy for you, Gemma. You deserve the wedding of your dreams.”
She stares at me as if there’s something on the tip of her tongue. “I waited.”
“What?”
Gemma inhales a sharp breath and looks away before locking her green eyes back on mine. “After you left, I waited. Years, actually.”
I wasn’t expecting her to say that. My throat goes dry, unsure how I should respond, and all I can muster is an apology. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Well, how would you? I never heard from you again.”
Fuck.
The hurt in her tone is undeniable, and this is the last place I expected us to have this conversation.
“Gemma…” I step closer.
“No.” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It doesn’t matter. I’m over it.”
The bitterness of her tone has me halting. She never got closure. Neither did I, but honestly, it was my own stupid fault.
“We—”
The phone rings and interrupts us before I can tell her that we should talk in private, but she holds up a finger.
“Don’t worry about it. I gotta take this.”
I purse my lips and give her a curt nod. “Alright. See you Monday then.”
She gives a slight wave as she answers the call with a sweet greeting. I make my way out of the shop and blink hard, avoiding the sun.
Fuck. That conversation didn’t go as planned. I hope working there isn’t the worst fucking idea I’ve ever had. If it all backfires on me, things will end worse than they did the last time I left, and I’ll shatter more than just her heart.
Instead of going home, I stop at Everleigh’s boutique.
“Well, how’d it go?” Everleigh asks as she counts money from the cash register.
“I start Monday.”
She looks up at me. “Did you see Gemma?”
“Yep. Apparently, she had no idea her dad was interviewing me.”
She averts her eyes and purses her lips. “Oh, really? I must’ve forgotten to mention that detail.” She closes the register, then hangs the dresses in her hands on a rack.
“Oh, right. Even though you have an impeccable memory and can remember exact conversations from twenty years ago. I’m sure you just…forgot.”
Everleigh rolls her eyes. “I have selective memory.” Even though she’s younger, she often tries to keep me in line as though she’s my big sister.
“Well, tell me how it went.” She puts her hands on her hips.
“More awkward than when you tried stealing a box of condoms from the store when you were thirteen.” I chuckle at the memory. She was embarrassed the sheriff called and begged me not to tell our grandparents.
“Tyler!” She grabs a balled-up piece of paper and throws it at me. “That was a dare!”
“And you’re lucky Father Tim was there shopping and talked the owners out of pressing charges.”
Everleigh blushes, then buries her face in her hands before meeting my eyes. “Ah, I almost forgot that part.”
“Well, times that by two, and that’s how awkward our interaction was. And now I’m going to see her every day.” I lean against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I’m surprised my phone isn’t blowing up yet, though she might never talk to me again for not warning her.” Everleigh bites into her lower lip, then waves it off. “She’ll get over it.”
I snort. “She blurted out that she was engaged.”
“It’s not like you can miss the massive rock on her finger.” She moves around the store, and I follow her. She stops and hands me a few shirts. “Make yourself useful and hang these on the back wall.”
“I don’t work for you.” I smirk.
She turns and glares. “You’re living in my condo rent-free. Shut up and use your height to hang those up so I don’t have to use my extension pole.”