Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
“First of all, how do you know about that? Second, before you even answer the first, tell me honestly, is there some kind of bet about me and Kirsty that I don’t know about?” Ward asked.
He’d been wanting to ask Christopher and a couple of the other guys about it. There was no way he was going to ask Randall. That guy was a direct link to Kirsty through Bethany. There were not a lot of people he could ask without word getting out that he was doing the asking. Which sucked, and it pissed him off.
He rubbed the back of his head and waited.
“Uh, why do you ask?”
“So there is a bet going on?” Ward asked.
Christopher wrinkled his nose. “I didn’t say that.”
“But you also tried to evade the question. I’ve known you for years. I know when you’re trying to think of a lie to cover up shit. What bet? When? How? Who started it?” The questions just kept coming.
Christopher blew out a breath. “I don’t remember who started it. It was a long time ago. Back in high school.”
“Back in high school?”
His friend nodded.
“We’ve been out of high school for twelve years!”
“Yeah, and you and Kirsty are still in town. Most of us are still in town, and you and she are always arguing, and if I can see the attraction between the two of you, they can.”
Ward began to pace his office.
They didn’t have any customers for a few hours, but he remained open for casual drop-ins, which he did get from time to time. This was not one of those days. He’d been hoping for a distraction and it wasn’t coming.
“What is going on?” Christopher asked.
Ward didn’t know if he would be able to contain it. “Kirsty and I kissed Saturday night.” He took several steps toward his friend. “And no one is to find out about that. You’re the only one I’ve told.”
Christopher opened his mouth, closed it, and then he smiled. “And, how was it?” he asked.
“How was what?”
“Kissing her?”
“I’m not going to talk about it.” The kiss had been so unexpected, he hadn’t known what to say to her, so he’d left. Not his finest moment, he’d admit, but even still, it could have been worse. “Tell me about this bet. I want to know everything. Every single detail.”
“I don’t know all the details. All I know is that you and Kirsty are considered the ideal couple.”
Ward frowned. “Do you have any idea how messed up that sounds? We have nothing nice to say about each other, not a single thing, and you think that’s good?” he asked.
Christopher sighed. “Okay, first of all, you didn’t allow anything bad to be said about her. None of the guys were allowed to be mean to her, not to mention the fact that they also weren’t allowed to date her. Do you remember any of this?”
“Yeah, of course I remember telling the guys they weren’t allowed to date her. In my defense, it wasn’t like any of them were good for her. They were screwing half the cheerleaders, and you know, other girls. They even had a little tally going on, you know, so I will not be … I don’t know what I was going to say, but I was being protective of Kirsty. That was all.”
“And no other girl earned that protection?”
“I stood up for Bethany.”
“Randall stood up for Bethany, you joined him, but you’re the one who put the no-touchy on Kirsty. Everyone, but you and Kirsty, knows that you and she are going to end up together. It is inevitable.”
He wanted to argue with him, but there were just no words.
****
Kirsty loved barbecue chicken cutlets. They were one of her favorite things to eat. Add a buttered toasted roll and a side salad, and she was set. It was why she always purchased more chicken cutlets, because she loved to marinate them in many different seasonings.
She didn’t know why she was thinking about chicken cutlets.
It was nearly Friday. Thursday was a rare day where she didn’t open the bar. She lived above her bar, which is where she grew up. This place was her family’s home, and now it was her home.
With the chicken cooked, she placed it on the prepared bun, then added a few slices of cheese and put it under the broiler. Her mouth was watering, and she couldn’t help but think about Ward.
This was insane. He was the last person she should be thinking about. That kiss meant absolutely nothing. It wasn’t like she’d been thinking about it Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and of course Wednesday. Nah, it was just a kiss. She’d enjoyed plenty of kisses through her time.
Removing her plate from under the broiler, she couldn’t help but pause. Yes, she’d enjoyed plenty of kisses, but that was all she had done.