Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 153571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
"I was naïve. I was so focused on the perfect future I'd envisioned for myself that I didn't even notice what was going on right in front of me," I mutter before setting the bottle of wine on the counter and taking a gulp from my glass. "It was stupid to think he meant it when he said he didn't mind waiting until I was ready. Of course, he was lying."
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Blame yourself. He cheated on you, Mila. You didn't do anything to deserve it. You didn't ask for it. You aren't to blame. He is. And so is Lizette for being a monumental bitch," Tahani practically growls down the line. "It doesn't matter if you were sleeping with him or not. If he wasn't willing to wait, you deserved honesty. You were good to him, and he was an idiot."
She's right. I know she is. So why am I blaming myself? Because I'm an idiot, too. That's why.
"You're right," I groan, leaning back against the island. "This is completely on them, and I'm not going to be the girl who blames herself, weeps, wails, and asks why. I'm young, I'm intelligent, and I'm moderately attractive."
"You're fucking hot," Tahani immediately interjects.
I smile for the first time in days at her words. I'm thick and curvy, with wavy blonde hair and green eyes. I'm comfortable in my skin and don't care what anyone else thinks about me. But, God knows, when you're my size, the whole world has opinions. Having a body is only offensive when it's the wrong size.
I take another sip of my wine before continuing, "I'm not going to mope over him. I don't know what I'm going to do, but definitely not that."
I've never been the girl who wallows in self-pity. Even after my mom died and my dad turned to alcohol, I didn't let myself wallow. I couldn't, and I'm not going to do it now either. I'm stronger than that, and I've worked too hard to just give up on my dreams. Maybe my future looks a little different now that I'm homeless and jobless, but I still have dreams. I just need to regroup and figure out how to reach them on my own.
"I have an interview with the Triton Agency at the end of the month," I tell Tahani.
"In Los Angeles?"
"Yeah."
So far, they're the only literary agency that's shown any interest in me. They're not at the top of my list since they represent mostly fantasy, and I'm more of a romance kind of girl, but they're a foot in the door since Lizette kicked me to the curb. I'm not going to let her and Damien win. Screw both of them.
"I'm proud of you," Tahani says, dragging my attention back to my phone. "You're going to nail that interview, and Lizette and Damien can kiss your ass." She pauses. "You really do deserve better than him anyway, Mila. You were way too good for him. And sooner or later, you're going to find an amazing guy who will love you like you deserve."
As far as I'm concerned, I'm done with men for the foreseeable future. Between finding an apartment and a job, I have enough to keep me occupied for a little while anyway. And if cheating and lying is what I have to look forward to by dating, I'm staying single forever, thank you very much.
"Don't give up on finding love," Tahani responds when I tell her that. Naturally. She's head over heels for Trent. She wants everyone to be as happy as she has been since he swept her off her feet. "Maybe you'll find someone while you're in Santa Cruz. You don't have to fall in love, but definitely have a wild fling before you rush off to take LA by storm."
I tip my head back and laugh at the thought. I've never had a fling in my life.
"Think about it. Revenge sex with a hot stranger," she says with a dreamy sigh.
"The only one you're having revenge sex with is me, baby," Trent grumbles in the background, causing Tahani to laugh. He says something else, his voice muffled, and then his deep voice rumbles down the line. "She's gonna have to call you back, Mila."
Tahani moans, making it clear she said that just to piss him off. He's possessive, and she loves every minute of it. They can barely keep their hands off of one another.
"Have fun," I say with a smile.
When the line disconnects, I set my phone on the island and stand there for a moment, twisting my wine glass back and forth in my hands. Tahani may have been joking about revenge sex to rile up Trent, but maybe that's exactly what I need to put Damien in the past. No-strings-attached, dirty-hot sex. It's not like my V-Card is doing me any favors anyway.