Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“I’d expect you to come see me during your visits to Missoula.”
His shoulders relax. It’s not the reaction I expected. “Well, if I weren’t in survival mode, I’d still be living in Missoula.”
“True. Then you’d see your friends more often, and you’d see me just the same as you do now since I’m not living in the shed.” And it’s out. I said the quiet part out loud. I’m good at giving advice, but terrible at doing the right thing.
“You’re upset.”
I shake my head. Lies . . . I’m full of lies.
“I dumped my heart out to you the night before I left, and you said nothing,” he says.
My jaw unhinges. “You told me not to say anything.”
“I didn’t want you shrinking me. But for God’s sake, you could have made some acknowledgment. Instead, you voiced your curiosity about Casey’s girlfriend living with him.”
I’m flabbergasted. No, that’s not a strong enough word. I’m astounded. Thunderstruck. For three months, he’s been harboring his disappointment in my lack of response to the very thing he told me not to respond to?
“Is that why you’ve ignored me?” I almost choke on the words as disbelief jumbles my thoughts.
“No. Yes.” He shakes his head, brow knitted. “No. It’s not that simple.”
“Let’s eat,” Jamie calls into the kitchen.
Will pushes off the counter. As he passes me, I grab his wrist. He stops, and I close my eyes. You’re killing me, William Landry. I’m the dumbest genius in the world for loving you.
Every word stays locked in my heart, and I release him, thinking of Jamie’s advice. Let Will go. No more obsessing. He’ll crush you because he’s still a boy who can’t understand the fragility of a young woman’s heart falling in love for the first time.
“You were my first, but not my last,” I say. “I slept with Casey when he and I dated. And a handful of other men since you. So don’t feel like I will die without you. I’m hopeful. Not hopeless.”
“Hope,” he whispers before rejoining everyone on the deck.
I take a few deep breaths and follow. Why did I want to be included tonight? Will I ever learn?
Chapter Thirty
Will
“Jamie wants me to talk to you,” Fitz says the next morning when I step into the kitchen I helped renovate last spring. Jamie wanted “calming blue” cabinets with metallic hardware and a gray granite with white veins.
“Oh?” I run a hand through my wet hair. “Why doesn’t she talk to me herself?”
He hands me a coffee mug and opens the drawer, displaying a vast selection of K-Cups. “Because she thinks you’ll be honest with me.”
“About?” I pick a random one and pop it into the Keurig.
“Everleigh.”
“What about her?” I lean against the counter and cross my arms as Fitz sips his coffee.
“Jamie seems to think you and Everleigh were sharing a lot of long glances last night. She wants me to ask if you’ve slept with her.”
“I took her virginity. I thought that was well established.”
“Listen. I don’t give a damn who you screw as long as it’s not my wife. So just cut the crap. Is there something going on?”
“No.”
“Great. Good talk. We hiking today? It’s supposed to get into the upper forties.”
I deflate. “There was a kiss. Well, more than one.”
Fitz drops his head back, face pointed at the ceiling, eyes closed.
“And if this is a full confession, I’ve checked out her new tits, and there was a finger—”
“Nope. I’m not your priest. Forget I asked. If Jamie wants details, she can ask you herself. Now, I promised I’d grab a few groceries for dinner tomorrow, then we can hike. Maren and Ozzy are going too.” He pulls a bagel from the bag and spreads cream cheese on it.
“Here’s the thing . . .”
“Will, we don’t have to do this. I honestly don’t care. For all I know, you were screwing her nonstop until the day you left.” Fitz takes a bite of his bagel and chews it slowly, eyeing me before shrugging. “And that’s cool, man,” he mumbles. “This time, you’re both consenting adults.”
I scratch my forehead with my middle finger, and he snickers.
“Have you seen her place?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“She spent a pretty penny on it. For someone who drives a used Subaru, she spared nothing in buying those ten acres. I’d be happy living on that land in her Airstream.”
“What are you saying?”
“Nothing,” he mumbles over a bite of bagel. “But it’s just across the road from the Delanys’ ranch. In case you’re wondering.”
“I’m not.” I sip my coffee.
“Well, I’ll be ready by one. So if you have any errands to run or people you’d like to visit, that’s the timeline.”
“You’re an asshole. I didn’t need to know where she’s living.”
Fitz smirks before taking the rest of his bagel upstairs.
By eight, I pull onto the long drive across from the Delanys’ and park next to the Airstream.