Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“Who says you can’t?” I turn, looking at Easton with a questioning gaze. “Just saying, the city isn’t for everyone. There’s a whole world out there.”
“Yeah, well, I like where I’m at. Work’s there. My friends are there. Leo, my favorite barista. I can’t imagine what he’d do if I left.” I sip my drink, wondering what it would be like here. Finding peace. Enjoying the serene wilderness. And the more I think about it— “Yeah, hell no. My attention span requires way more action.”
Easton bursts out in laughter, and I swear if I was wearing underwear, they’d be drenched. He slides a full plate of food across the counter. “You did require a lot of entertainment.”
I scoff. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I walk back and take a seat. God, this smells good.
“Just that you were never one that was content lying around. Always needed me to entertain you. The girl with lots of energy.”
“Whatever. I could totally just sit and chill. I loved our movie nights.”
“Which part? The movie or what we did while we were supposed to be watching the movie?”
My cheeks blaze. Okay, I walked right into that one. “I actually hated movie night. What is this? It smells horrible,” I lie just as my stomach growls. Jesus, I need to get those little aliens under control.
“Pork chops with asparagus and scalloped potatoes.”
“So gross,” I say, already filling my mouth. I moan into my second and third bites. “You still suck at cooking.”
“I remember when you sucked at a few things, too.”
I choke on a bite of asparagus. “Too far, dude. We’re not going there. This whole getting-along thing seems to be working for us, so let’s leave our weapons at the door.”
“You calling that mouth of yours a weapon, Baker?” His eyes flicker with mischief.
“You wish. So, what else do you do for fun?” I ask, changing the subject.
“You’re looking at it.”
“Wow, you turned into such a bore. Wish Jake was here. Miss that guy.”
His eyes drink me in, and he says, “You know the saying is man’s best friend, not girlfriend’s, right?” He sips his beer, wearing his sexy as hell grin. “I’m sure he missed you too. Thought he was going to insist on staying with you when I left.”
I try not to entertain his comment. We’re getting along, and it’s nice. “I would have taken him in a heartbeat, and we would’ve spent our nights drinking martinis and talking mad shit about you.”
He shakes his head, sporting a smile. “I’m sure you would have.” We spend the rest of the evening in mindless chatter. Laughing about simple times. Bar stories. Anything and everything that didn’t touch the ‘us’ topic. When it hits almost midnight, I yawn.
“It’s getting late.”
“Yeah.” I yawn again. “Wanna thumb war for who gets the bed? Or you can just be a gentleman and give it to me.”
“Not a chance. Best out of three.”
I don’t stand a chance because of his giant hand size, and Easton ends up winning all three, that bastard. I smile, knowing he won’t make me sleep on the couch even though I lost. He’s always been accommodating that way.
“There’s a pillow and blanket on the recliner. See ya in the morning.” He walks off.
“Wait, seriously?”
“Seriously. Night.” Then, he shuts himself inside his room.
I can’t believe he seriously just did that. “Jerk!” I grumble to the closed door and throw myself back on the couch. Shimmying out of my jeans and bra, I grab the blanket and pillow and set up my makeshift bed. I lie on my side and close my eyes. The problem is, I can’t sleep. I sit up and check the hallway. The light’s already off. “He’s really just going to sleep while I’m out here.”
Whatever. Hope a bear crawls through Easton’s window and eats him in his sleep. Which would be lovely, but that just makes me worry a bear might crawl into a window in the living room and eat me.
I flop onto my back. “Bears can’t open windows.”
Can they?
I twist and face the couch. They are pretty strong. It’s possible they can smash it. Hmm. . . And nope. I’m up and scurrying down the hall. Without knocking, I open the door and tip-toe into Easton’s room. Without invitation, I climb into the bed and wiggle under the covers. I ignore his low chuckle and lay on my side, giving him my back. “Shut up.”
“Still afraid of the dark, Baker?”
“I was never afraid of the dark.” I was just always afraid to be alone. “Now shut up and stay on your side of the bed if you want to make it through the night.” With that, I tuck my hands under his comfy pillow and fall asleep instantly.
Chapter eleven
Callie
“Seriously, watch the movie.”
“I am.”
“You’re not.” I giggle and slap his hand away.