Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
7
LIAM
Cambridge, Massachusetts
The more time I spend in this city, the more I feel like I’m making a mistake. The club that initially brought Genevieve into my life is a franchise now, and I can’t escape their signs.
I’m seeing Amtrak advertisements wherever I go, and I swear I’ve never noticed this many before. To make matters worse, I actually agreed to temporarily teach at Harvard, all as another favor I owe an old friend.
At least it’s only for a semester.
“I feel lucky to have someone like you teaching at our university.” Harvard’s Dean of English shakes my hand. “Your pedigree and well-rounded expertise is most welcome.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m honored to be here.”
“Give me a few seconds to grab a faculty placard for your office,” he says. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.” I lean against the counter.
I spot the current graduating class photo on the wall and see Genevieve in the bottom right as valedictorian.
Of course. I read her quote and her future plans.
Law school?
It must be a misprint, but I can’t care enough to look into it. When the dean returns, he hands me a booklet.
“I hope that asking you to oversee the admissions for the Writing Journal isn’t much.”
“No, it’s not. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Here’s the head start.” He hands me a stack of papers before the secretary calls him away.
I read the first line and sigh.
I’d know Genevieve’s writing anywhere.
* * *
I drive around the outskirts of the city until the sun falls down the sky, trying to clear my mind before returning home.
There’s a trail of rose petals greeting me when I open the door, and the scent of vanilla smacks me in the face.
Confused, I walk down the hall and see Lauren sitting on the edge of my bed, holding a heart shaped candle.
“Hey there, Sexy,” she says.
“Hey.” I don’t remember giving her a key. “If this is you giving me an early reminder about Valentine’s Day, I didn’t erase the four alerts you made in my phone.”
“It’s not that.” She stands. “I had an epiphany today when one of my brides told me that her groom-to-be fell off a cruise ship.”
“Did he die?”
“Of course he died.” She snorts. “The ship was sailing the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean, but that’s not the lesson I took from this tragedy.”
I cross my arms.
“After being a good person and refunding eighty percent of her deposit, which she was totally ungrateful for, I realized that life is too short.”
“I’m still processing the fact that the guy died.”
“Let’s focus on the living, Liam.” She stands to her feet. “After the New Year’s party, I was a bit pushy in the car.”
At least she’s becoming somewhat self aware.
“But then again, with time being of the essence, maybe I wasn’t pushy enough.”
I take that back.
I’ve been burned, too, and it kept me from getting close to someone so.” She hands me the candle. “I promise I won’t do that to you, and I know that you’re the one.”
“Lauren…” I hold back a sigh.
“I’ll wait for as long as it takes, and I just want you to see all the fun we’ve had for the rest of the night.” She hits the lights and I notice what she’s done to my walls.
Rows of photographs are tacked amidst pink and yellow hearts. Mixed with real ones we’ve taken, there are photoshopped ones of us vacationing on an island, hanging out in Aspen, and dancing in a ballroom.
She starts talking again, highlighting how much she likes me, but I can’t focus on her words.
Besides her occasional batshit crazy moments and her tendency to make any serious conversation into a joke, I actually enjoy her company and her weird sense of humor.
But I know deep down she’s not the one for me.
“Bask in us,” she says, suddenly kissing my lips. “I’ll see you this weekend.”
“Okay,” I say, attempting to convince myself more than her. “I’ll try.”
8
GENEVIEVE
Two Weeks Later
Boston’s winter is determined to show me that wearing a short purple ruffle dress with sheer tights and stilettos is a bad idea.
The snow is falling so heavily that I can barely see two feet ahead of me when I line up outside Lauren’s Bridal Bar.
Taking out my ID, I show it to the bouncer and he ushers me inside.
The tables are set with wedding centerpieces and flickering candles. Their scented wax is softly melting into sparkling water.
I circle the room in search of Lauren and Brett, but they’re not here, so I scroll down to Brett’s name.
“Babe, don’t be mad at me,” he answers on the first ring.
“What is it?”
“I’m caught in traffic, so I’m running late.”
“No worries. I just got here.”
“Okay, good. See you within the hour.”
Lauren
I see you. Talking to a client at the door Be over soon!
“I slide my cock against her hymen, but it's tough like a diamond.” He snaps his fingers. “She feels warm, wet, and tight. The sensations are hard to fight…”