Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
And the reporter seems so dejected, standing there with his shoulders slumped. It would seem The Bend has beaten him. No one is willing to sell us out for his promises of cold hard cash.
This knowledge makes my eyes feel hot and swollen. But I am not going cry at the grocery store. It’s just that, as justifiably upset as they are at us for lying, they’re still protecting us from the media. And it’s giving me big feelings. I really do love this small town.
“You get what you needed?” asks Rose, taking a sip of her soda as casually as possible. Like no one here is currently the subject of intense online scrutiny, and hiding from same.
“Yeah.” I smile. “Just a few more things on the list.”
“Let’s get you sorted then.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Our apology tour starts that night at the bar. Which makes sense, since it’s where this all began. Standing guard at the door is Mac, turning away anyone he doesn’t recognize. This is not a place welcome to the media. It was Nash’s idea to throw a Please Forgive Us party and honestly, it’s a solid one. Especially since the citizens of The Bend are willing to cover for us after everything we’ve done, they deserve a big heartfelt statement from the both of us. And care of an open bar and Carmen and her husband handing out tacos, most everyone we know in town has made an appearance.
“Go on then,” says Sabrina, sidling up to me with a cocktail in hand. She narrows her gaze to show she’s all about business. “What have you got to say to me?”
“I’m sorry we did such a dick thing.”
“And the dick thing in question was?”
“Lying about Nash’s identity and our relationship status and the imaginary progeny.”
“Are you ever going to do it again?”
“Absolutely not,” I say. “It was not only stressful as fuck, but I hurt people such as yourself, who I would really like to call my friend. So I’m hoping you can find it in yourself to forgive me.”
She nods. “I need some time to think it over. But given how good these bramble vodkas are, there’s a very good chance you’re fine with me.”
“They’re great, right?”
“What’s Bernadette doing here?” Sabrina frowns. “There’s no way that woman is ever going to forgive or accept you. You know she’s still trying to get people to sign a petition to have you two run out of town.”
“I imagine she’s here for the free food and booze.”
“Yeah,” she says. “So, what’s the actual tea between you and the rockstar? Heard he bought the place next to your grandma.”
“We’re living there together.” I think it over. “He hasn’t sent me the nondisclosure yet, but I assume I can say that much.”
“Dating someone with an NDA…” She shakes her head. “That’s wild.”
“It is.”
“His brother’s cute too. Guess it comes with the whole twin territory. I like the longer hair on him.” She nods toward where Angus is standing by the bar talking to Wade. In all likelihood, Angus is receiving an impromptu induction into the local yarn scene. Wade is a man who takes his crafting seriously.
“No idea if he’s single or what,” I say.
Sabrina snorts. “Too young for me anyway. My days of training men are over. I need them to be at least fifty with basic domestic skills, earning a good dependable income, and not talking to ten other women on some dating app.”
“Seems like both a sensible and reasonable baseline.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” She sighs. “I fully expect to stay single. You know the house across the street from your grandma’s is about to come on the market. Awilda had a job offer in Boston, which is closer to her family.”
“Hope whoever buys it doesn’t mind photographers parked out front making a nuisance of themselves.”
“Better you dealing with all that than me. I couldn’t stop myself from flipping the bird at them every chance I got,” she says. “Time for another drink. You want one?”
I shake my head. “I’m going to help Carmen hand out the food. Those trays look heavy.”
“Isa, this one has something to say to you…” Sabrina says on her way to the bar.
Isa raises a brow at me and says, “My stomach is full and my feet are sore and I’m on my way home. Give me the condensed version.”
“I’m sorry I was a lying asshole, and I promise it won’t happen again.”
“Mm-hmm.” She stretches her neck and heads for the door. “Make sure it doesn’t.”
No idea who’s taken over security duties on the door. But Mac is now standing on the small stage doing karaoke. “Little Red Corvette” by Prince is his choice of song tonight. He really does enjoy anything vaguely to do with cars. And before him, Carter performed “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey.