Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
She laughed softly.
“I wanted to help with the guessing game of what is he thinking, reassure you that he was into you as you freaked out that he might not be, even though it’s so obvious he is. And the cyberstalking. I was prepared to go overboard too. We’re talking PI stalking, that sort of thing.”
She fought back tears, blinking rapidly.
“I missed it.”
She closed her eyes, a serene sadness coming over her. “I thought Shane was your rebound guy—a badass after dealing with a serious asshole. I’m so scared of losing you. I spoke too quickly. I judged, but I’m not wrong about his club. They’re dangerous.”
I nodded, feeling her sadness tunnel inside of me. “I know, Aly. You didn’t tell me anything I don’t know.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. “But, what?”
“Shane and I talk. Not about that stuff, but about the things I need to know. That stuff.”
Harper was over there, laughing, sitting at the end of the table. He was flirting with Roadie, who was lapping up the attention. Corvette rolled his eyes, laughing and shaking his head. Boise was doing nothing. He was staring, and Shane? He was watching me.
From the look in his eyes, it seemed he knew what was happening over here.
“Brandon has a whole family here,” Aly said, pulling my attention back to her. “I mean, not blood. He’s got his sister and her family, but from the way he talks, there’s a group of friends. His sister is tight with them, and he’s on the outskirts. He’s always welcome, but he’s got freedom to do his own thing. I can’t tell if he likes that or not, or if he’s hurt about being on the edge. His sister has kids, and Brandon adores them. Their older brother is in Florida. Married. Got some sales job or something. Their dad is there too. His older brother kinda takes care of the dad—like, he checks in on him. Their mom is gone. He’s not talked about her that much, but it’s like he doesn’t think about her, so it’s not a big deal, whatever happened.”
She was sharing. Okay. We were at that part now.
I kind of had whiplash, but I wanted her to keep sharing. I nodded, trying to smile.
“He knows about my grandma. He knows about my ex. He knows about all the guys I’ve dated and wasted my time with. He knows about you, about Harper. He loves Justin.”
Oh, man. That was a point for him.
“He likes Harper. He said you seemed cool that night you were here. He told me you guys talked a little.” She stopped, her eyes changing, getting hard again.
I prepared myself.
“The run-in with Shane’s club was serious and real. It’s very, very serious. I—”
“Stop.” There was no heat to my tone, just tiredness. I waved a hand in the air. “Just please. Stop. I don’t want to hear all the things I know and I’m scared about too.” I didn’t know what else to say. I couldn’t tell her things I was scared to admit to myself.
“I don’t know what to do now.”
I nodded. “Do you even want to meet him?”
“I already know him.”
That was a no then. She’d made up her mind.
Alright.
I needed a break. Sliding off my stool, I said, “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Aly reached for her drink.
I moved toward the door, indicating to Shane where I was going.
He lifted his chin in response, but didn’t move to follow.
I took my time in the bathroom before washing and heading back out. When I did, Shane was there. It was déjà vu from the hotel. He put his hand on my stomach and ushered me back into the bathroom, grabbing a Closed for Cleaning poster and sticking it to the outside of the door.
Back inside, I stepped away, not liking how he was looking at me. “Don’t.”
“What’d she say to you?”
“Can’t you guess?” Going to the mirror, I washed my hands. Again. I needed to do something. My stomach rolled, and Shane could see inside of me. It was uncomfortable. “She’s with the bartender, whose sister owns the place.”
“I know that already, but what’d she say to you?”
I jerked up a shoulder. “Nothing you haven’t said yourself or that I didn’t already pick up, but the gist was that if I stay with you, I lose her.” I stopped fiddling with my hair, meeting his gaze in the mirror.
His eyes were dark. He wasn’t letting me read him.
“You’ve known her all your life.”
I nodded, my throat swelling up.
There was no leeway here. It was what it was. It was harsh, but it was smack dab in front of my face. No way around it. How could I make a choice like that? So soon?
He took the pain away.
She didn’t know that.
“Okay then.” He turned to leave.
“Hey!” I was across the room, my hand on his arm. “What are you doing?”