Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“What’s with the personal questions?” Blair asks me with a little laugh.
“Didn’t you say you have an older brother?” Callen asks Alice. “And very protective?”
My mind is so twisted into knots that I don’t know what’s up or down.
Alice turns in his arms and kisses him, and not a quick peck. She kisses him like she used to kiss me. The intentional PDA makes me nauseous. Then she whispers in his ear.
“I guess we’re leaving,” Callen says, like it’s an afterthought not meant for anyone’s ears in particular.
She wraps her legs around his waist, and he carries her out of the pool and straight toward the guesthouse without grabbing towels, saying goodnight, or offering a look in my direction.
“Well, damn.” Blair whistles. “Alice is getting some tonight.” She waggles her eyebrows at me before sipping her wine. “I guess we can lose our suits now that they’re gone.” She stands, sets her glass on the table and unties her bikini top, unbothered by potential neighbors seeing her.
Closure has always seemed like a cliché. But right now, I’d do anything to get closure before the unanswered questions upend my future.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alice
Ask him to wait. Forgive him when he doesn’t.
Eight Years Earlier …
With my heart tightly lodged in my throat, bandaged hand hugged to my chest, and other hand poised to knock on Murphy’s door, I took a steadying breath.
After two soft taps and about ten seconds, he slowly opened it. The only thing he offered was a heartbreaking frown as he stood shirtless, shoulders curled inward.
“I don’t have a husband,” I whispered. Then I drew in a shaky breath to keep the tears at bay. “No kids. No dog.” My heart ached behind the bandaged hand on my chest. “I’m not terminally ill. But I …” I closed my eyes for a breath. “I am really fucking lost. And I’m not ready to be found. And I’m sorry that I can’t give you more.”
I stepped inside, toe-to-toe with him. When I lifted my chin to look into his eyes, he threaded all of his fingers through my hair.
“And I can’t stay. But I want to return.”
A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Will you wait for me?”
He dipped his head, brushing his lips against mine. “I’ll wait,” he whispered.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Murphy
Comparison kills confidence.
Not everything is about you.
“I’m flying to New York tomorrow to meet with the contractor who’s doing my studio renovations. Dad’s loaning me his private jet. Come with me. We can watch the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks. We can apartment shop too. Maybe see a show. Dinner. What do you think?” Blair massages my shoulders while I sit at the desk and work on a project.
“I think I’ve fallen behind and you should take your mom so I can get some work done.”
She stops massaging me and plops down on the bed. “All you do is work. It’s a holiday weekend.”
I laugh. “I try to work. But it’s hard when everyone around me is not working. We’ll have lots of holidays to spend together.”
“I’m planning a wedding. Our wedding. So don’t act like I’m not working.”
I sigh, leaning back in the desk chair and lacing my hands behind my head. “Yes. And you have time to do that because it’s your only job at the moment.”
“What do you think this trip to New York is for? Hello? It’s for my studio, which is where I’ll make and sell my art, which is my job.”
“Bingo. You’re proving my point. Tomorrow, you have to fly to New York for your job, and I need to keep my ass planted to this chair to do mine.”
Blair pouts. It’s an adorable pout, but I can’t give in.
“Take your mom. She’ll be thrilled to spend a few days in New York with you. Watch fireworks. Take her apartment shopping. I’ll live absolutely anywhere you choose, as long as we can afford it.”
She sighs, staring out the window. “Fine. But you have to keep an eye on my dad.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine, but yeah, I’ll check on him.”
“I mean …” Blair returns her gaze to me. “Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid with …” She widens her eyes like I’m supposed to finish that sentence.
He’s a fit guy in his fifties with an insane amount of money. The list of stupid things he could do is endless.
“Alice. Don’t let him get too cozy with the homemaker.”
“I’ll keep him on a tight leash. Happy?”
“No.” She pushes off the bed and straddles my lap. Her expensive perfume that Vera bought her bleeds notes of rose and saffron. “I’d be happy if you were coming with me. My first love was from New York.”
I nod. “Chance,” I say because she’s told me about her first love and her first broken engagement and her second love and second broken engagement.