Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
I set the apartment key on the counter.
Tristan picks up the lighter bin, then he sets it down and takes the one full of books. His biceps pop under the strain. He waits at the door, keeping it propped open with his foot as I pass through with my bin.
“Thanks,” I mumble.
He grunts and turns his attention to Eugenia and Claude. “You two are fucking assholes. If you cause Bea any more drama, Flip and I will make your lives a living hell.” He lets the door fall shut, his expression unreadable. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
I follow Flip down the hall to the elevators.
It isn’t until we’re inside and on our way back to the lobby that anyone says anything. “How long has that shit been going on?” Tristan’s right eye tics.
“It only escalated into super-weird territory over the past few weeks.”
“What about your financial situation? Is it bad? Is that why you were living there?” Flip asks.
“Rent was cheap. I know why now. It meant I could save twenty-five percent of every paycheck instead of ten. I’d only planned to stay for a year, and then I’d have a cushion and could afford a nice studio or something.”
I want to have at least five thousand in savings. That’s enough of a buffer to cover first and last at a new place and incidentals for a couple of months. Our parents never had savings. It didn’t matter that they both had full-time jobs and my dad even had a side hustle painting houses on the weekend. Every time they tried to sock away money, something would happen, and they’d need it to cover an emergency. And Flip’s hockey was expensive. I don’t ever want to be in the same position.
“I would’ve helped you out, Rix. You know that.” Flip’s forehead is furrowed.
“You already helped with university tuition, and that was a big enough deal. I had it mostly handled. I’ll get a new job and find a decent apartment and be out of your hair.”
The elevator stops on the eleventh floor, and we pick up an adorable elderly couple. We’re silent for the rest of the trip. I exit after the couple, and we troop out to the car. Two of the bins fit in the trunk, which seems like a minor miracle. The third takes up seventy-five percent of the back seat.
I try to savor ice cream sandwiches because they’re my favorite indulgence, but these are melting, so I’m forced to devour mine while standing beside Flip’s car. Afterward, I cram myself into the back seat again.
“East Side’s?” Flip asks.
I tuck my hands between my legs. “We don’t have to. I know you probably have stuff to do.”
“You hungry, Tris? Wanna go for lunch?” Flip asks.
“I’m always hungry,” Tristan replies.
Two minutes later, we pull into East Side’s parking lot.
Tristan snorts. “Dude, I haven’t been here since we got drafted. Do they still do the unlimited salad and garlic bread?”
“They sure do.”
“Ah, man. They’re gonna hate us by the time we leave.” Tristan hops out of the car.
I flip the seat forward and push it as far as I can to make it easier to get out, but he closes the door on me. Obviously the being-nice blip is over. “For fuck’s sake.” I grab the handle, opening it back up.
“I forgot you were back there.” He holds the seat belt for me again.
I fight the sting of that comment and extricate myself from the back seat. Once I’m back on my feet, I stretch out the kinks. Despite the ice cream sandwich, I’m starving. Chocolate chip cookies aren’t a filling breakfast.
The hostess takes us to a booth, and I scoot in first, Flip taking the spot beside me. Tristan sits across from us. He sets his phone on the table, screen-side up. It flashes every few seconds with a new notification.
The server comes over to take our drink order.
“Hey! I didn’t expect to see you for another week!” Adelaide, our usual server, greets us with a wide smile as she approaches. “Oh! And you brought a friend.”
“Hey, Addy. This is Tristan. We were in the area and figured we’d stop for lunch.” Flip’s smile makes her blush.
“Well, that’s a nice surprise.” She turns her dimpled grin to Tristan. “Hi. Welcome to East Side’s.”
He gives her a smirky smile and chin tip in greeting.
Such a dirtbag. He’d better not try to pick up Addy and ruin me ever coming back here.
Addy turns back to us. “Should I start you two with the usual?” She glances over her shoulder before lowering her voice. “The regular manager isn’t on, so it might be harder to get two salads on the table at a time, but I’ll bring two loaves of bread and put in a second salad order right away.”