Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Ah, and there came the guilt. I did my best to shove it back, but it was a fierce creature.
We were slowing, and I glanced up to see the door to the pub we must be going to. Calvin stepped in front of me and opened the door. I went inside and waited on him to talk to the hostess. She beamed at him as if she knew him.
“Right this way,” she said, glancing at me with curiosity.
I was used to that. Women would see him, then try and figure out if we were together or if they were free to flirt. It used to bother me. That seemed like someone else. A girl I no longer remembered.
She brought us to a table almost in the back of the room. At least I could be thankful for that. Farther from the stage and whatever music was going to be played up there. My headache wouldn’t enjoy the noise.
“Thanks,” Calvin told her, clearly pleased with this spot.
I had almost expected him to ask for something closer, but then all the other tables seemed full. This place was busy. Guess the food was as good as he said. I just didn’t care.
Sitting across from me, he slid a menu over to me. “I think you’ll want the cheeseburger and milkshake, but you can look and see if there is something else you prefer. I’ll get the onion rings as an app for both of us.”
I picked it up, with no interest as to what was in it, but for his sake.
“The ultimate nachos are good too,” he told me.
I continued to stare blankly at the items, then closed it and set it down. “The cheeseburger will be fine,” I told him.
“And milkshake. You gotta try that,” he added, looking hopeful.
“Sure,” I agreed. Although I knew there was no way I was going to be able to stomach all that. Eating was a chore.
“You’re gonna eat for me, Els,” he said. “You’ve lost too much weight. All the walking and not eating.”
I had no argument for that. I had lost weight, but I needed to walk. It was the only way I was making it through each day.
The strum of a guitar came over the speakers. I winced and pressed my temple with my fingertips. It was already starting. Maybe I should order something with alcohol.
“You’re just too good to be true,” a familiar deep voice sang, and I stilled.
Calvin was watching me nervously. I was hallucinating. I had to be. I turned my gaze to the stage to end this sudden moment of crazy, and my eyes met with a pair that would have buckled my knees and sent me to the floor had I been standing.
Forge held a guitar in his hands as he strummed and continued to sing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
He was here. Or had I truly lost my mind?
“Am I,” I asked, then hesitated as his voice filled the room, “hallucinating?”
“No,” Calvin replied.
Forge stepped down from the stage while the rest of the place seemed to be as entranced as I was. There was no distracting noises or talking as he passed the first row of tables. He was coming this way.
Why was he here? I had to be dreaming.
The entire row of people he’d just walked past stood up at the same time. Although I didn’t want to look anywhere but at him, I had to tear my gaze off him in order to see what they were doing. Tables and chairs were shoved away as all six people began to move—no, dance, choreographed.
“What?” I whispered, looking back at Forge, whose lips quirked into a small smile, as if he was aware of what was happening behind him.
When he met the second row, they all shot up from their seats, moving their tables and chairs and joined the others. Moving in sync.
Forge’s voice brought my attention back to him, and the closer he got, the more people joined in.
It was a flash mob. Holy crap.
I stood up as he closed the space between us. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. I must have blacked out while walking and hit my head. At least this was my dream and not some horrific nightmare. I much preferred this.
He lowered his guitar as he reached me. The music stopped, and the dancers all stepped away.
He sang the words, “I love you, baby,” and then we stood there in silence.
“Seems I didn’t come through on a promposal you once wanted from me,” Calvin said, and I was suddenly reminded of his existence.
I swung my eyes to his, panicked. Was this about to turn into a nightmare? One where I watched Calvin die?
“I’m sorry,” he said with a shrug. “I was an oblivious, blind kid. That’s my only excuse. I’m guessing this was better than anything I’d have ever done anyway.”