Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
I jumped up. “Help! Help!” I screamed as I ran after him. “He’s got my bag!”
I tripped and fell, scraping my knee on the pavement. That gave him just enough of an edge to open some distance between us.
As I looked up, he ran across the train tracks and jumped a fence.
A train was coming, and I was afraid I wouldn’t make it if I ran across after him.
I eventually found someone who let me use their phone to call the police. I gave the authorities my parents’ number and a vague description of the assailant in case they were able to track down my phone and bag. In the meantime, I wasn’t sure when I’d have a phone again or if I’d be able to get the same cell number.
Panic gripped me as I realized everything that meant anything to me now was inside that bag. And by everything I meant...Tate. His number was only on my phone. I’d never thought I needed to memorize it because it’d been safely entered into my contacts. Without his last name and number, how would I ever find him? Tate wasn’t all that common of a name, but there had to be millions of them.
Even after it was delayed, I missed my original train because I had to stick around and talk to the police.
By the time I boarded a later one, I felt like every ounce of life had been sucked out of me. I stared blankly out the window at the moving trees and buildings. That robber thought he was stealing my physical possessions. He had no clue that he’d also taken my heart.
FOUR YEARS LATER
Chapter 17
* * *
BLAIR
“I can’t believe you’re getting married.” I smiled at my best friend, dressed in a tux.
It was afternoon on the day of Taylor’s wedding, and I’d stopped by his apartment to say hello as he was getting ready. I’d brought some of his favorite donuts and a box of takeout coffee from the café.
“I know, right? It’s kind of crazy,” Taylor said. “Were you able to get a hotel room?”
He was the sweetest. The last thing he should’ve been concerned about was my hotel room when he had so much going on.
“Yup,” I assured him. “I snagged one with the special rate you gave out a few months ago. They told me I got one of the last rooms available.”
“Make sure they actually charged you the discounted price,” he said through a bite of donut.
“Don’t worry about me. You’re getting married in a matter of hours. That’s all you should be focused on.”
He shrugged. “I’m looking forward to hanging at the reception later. It’s been too long since we’ve had a chance to catch up.”
I shook my head. “You’re gonna be a little busy to hang out much with any one person, you know. Don’t worry about giving guests attention. Just enjoy the day before it passes you by.”
He laughed. “Okay. You’re right.” He sighed. “My dad flew into town yesterday.”
“I was gonna ask you about that…”
Taylor nodded. “Things have been good with him. He’s really made an effort over the past year. Honestly, I was the one holding that relationship back for a long time. I had so much bitterness toward him, but sometimes you just have to force yourself to let it go.”
“Part of growing up, right?”
“Exactly,” he agreed.
“Have you seen him?”
“Yeah, he came to the rehearsal dinner. He brought a date. She seems nice. He doesn’t usually bring women around me, so I don’t know if it’s new or something serious. He’d never mentioned her before. Just showed up with her. I guess he’s bringing her to the wedding, too.”
“How does your mom feel about that?”
He shrugged. “There’s no bad blood between them anymore. She’s fine. They even all sat together last night, which was totally odd but cool.”
“Oh wow. Well, that’s good. You don’t need any family drama right now.”
“That’s for damn sure.” He laughed. “You look nice, by the way.”
I looked down at my dress. “It’s been a while since I’ve cleaned up.”
He smirked. “Actually, it’s a good thing you did. I want you to meet someone later.”
Dread filled me. “Uh-oh. You didn’t.”
“His name is Adam. He works with me. I think you’ll like him. He’s a good guy.”
I cringed. “Please don’t tell me you sat me next to him.”
“Okay, I won’t tell you I did, even if that’s the case. It can just be a surprise.” He winked.
“Great.”
“It was Juliana’s idea.”
“Well, remind me to strangle her when it’s not her wedding day.” I exhaled. “Does this guy suspect you’re trying to set him up?”
“Kind of. I’ve talked to him about you a little. But there’s no pressure. We just sat you at the same table. If you don’t like him, don’t talk to him.”
“Well, that would be kind of rude, don’t you think?”