Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
She left.
I don’t get it. I don’t understand what I did that was so wrong.
With a sigh, I sit on the edge of the bed and dial her number, but after just two rings, it goes to voicemail.
“Hey, it’s me. Let’s talk this out. Call me, please.”
Instead of putting the phone down, I redial her number. This time, it goes directly to voicemail.
“Okay, she doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“Gray?” Willie’s voice carries through the apartment. “You here?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right out.”
I change out of my suit and into jeans and a T-shirt, then walk out and find Willie eating a banana, his books already spread out on my table.
“It’s tutor night,” he reminds me with a smile. “Right?”
“Right.” I walk into the kitchen. “Want a Coke?”
“Heck, yeah, bro.”
I grin at his response. Everyone is bro as far as Willie’s concerned.
Stella told him she’d toss his phone in the toilet if he called her bro one more time.
Thinking of Stella makes me frown as I walk over to the kid and set two colas on the table.
“What’s wrong?” Willie asks.
“What? Oh, nothing. Sorry, I was just thinking.”
“Something’s going on with your girl,” Willie says as if he knows everything there is to know about relationships.
“How do you know?”
“Because you look sad, man. What did you do?”
“Why do you think I did something?”
“Because guys are dumb, and they’re usually the ones who fuck it up.”
“I’m pretty sure your grandmother wouldn’t be pleased to hear you talk like that.”
“She’d threaten to wash my mouth out with soap.”
“Has she ever made good on the threat?”
“Nah. She’s a softie. So, what did you do?”
“I’m not going to talk about it. Let’s do math.”
“Yuck,” Willie mutters but opens his book. “It must be really bad if you’d rather do math.”
“What chapter are you on?”
“Okay, okay. I get it. No more girl talk.” He looks down at his book. “Is she coming back?”
“I don’t know.”
“Damn. Okay, I’m on chapter twelve.”
Chapter 17
Stella
“You’re gorgeous.” I take Danny’s hand and smile at him in the mirror. He looks so dapper in his black suit and red tie with his carefully styled brown hair.
“I know,” he says with a sly smile. “I’m going to knock Brandon on his fine ass.”
“Hell, yes, you will,” I agree. “Are you nervous?”
“Not even a little. I’ve known Brandon was the one for me since I was an awkward freshman in college, Stel. He is the brightest part of my day and the only inspiration I need in my life.”
“You should say that in your vows,” I say and lean my head on his shoulder, still looking at him in the mirror. “It’s pretty swoony.”
“I have such a way with words,” he says. “You and Gray are still in gridlock, I see. You could have cut the tension with a knife at last night’s rehearsal dinner.”
“I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean to make it awkward. And I can promise you that today will absolutely not be the same. I’ll set my feelings for Gray aside and play nice. I promise.”
“Oh, please. You don’t need to apologize,” he says. “You know I’m always here for the drama—the more dramatic, the better. I take it you didn’t accept his apology?”
“What apology?” I shake my head and walk away to fasten my earrings. “I haven’t received one. He tried to call once, and I didn’t accept it.”
“He came to see Camille,” Danny says, and I narrow my eyes on him. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m too happy and delicate today to have to field any blows from you. It was the day after you were fired. I don’t know what was said, but after he left, I heard a distinct shattering noise. I think maybe Camille threw a glass object against the wall.”
“He said he spoke with her, but he didn’t add that he actually went there. What a jerk.”
This only reminds me that I’m mad at Gray. But more than that, I’m disappointed in him.
Before we can discuss it further, someone knocks on the door.
“You stay there in case it’s the groom,” I say, pointing to Danny. “He can’t see you until the ceremony.”
“I love how old-fashioned you are, darling.”
I open the door only an inch so I can peer out with one eye and can’t keep the frown at bay when I see Gray.
“What?”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Hello to you, too. Brandon sent me. I have a gift for Danny.”
“A gift?” Danny asks, rushing forward. “Come in. Give me.”
Gray laughs and passes Danny a silver box with a red velvet bow tied beautifully around it.
Danny slides the bow off and opens the box, then just stares.
“What is it?” I ask him.
I’ve never seen Danny cry. He can be incredibly dramatic and emotional, but I’ve never seen his eyes fill with tears.
Until today.
“I once told Brandon, a long time ago, that I’d like to own a really nice watch someday. Not one you can buy just anywhere, but a really good, expensive one. But we were both in college, and then he was in law school, and that kind of expense was never the priority.”