Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
"She's a barista, Lucas? How darling."
I was still reeling from Luke ordering for her, knowing what she wanted without having to ask her. Her comment was an added slap in the face.
"Gina, stop." That's all he said. I felt his stare on me, but I just dumped his change in the tip jar, not even bothering to ask him if he wanted it, then beamed a huge fake smile to the
girl in line behind them and requested her order.
I like Luke. I believed him when he said the redhead wasn't his girlfriend. I believed him when he said he wasn't going to call too. He didn't promise me anything.
But I don't like thinking he's such an ass that he'll walk into Grind Me with the very same woman he was on a date with before he slept with me three nights ago. Not cool. Do I want more
time with Luke? Who wouldn't? I don't need a comparison fuck to know that it will be years before I find a lover who will compare to Luke. So sure, I want more of Luke's time, but my
expectations are a dinner spent at the same table and a few new sexual positions, not a key to his apartment.
But today's stop at Grind Me with Gina in tow? I never saw that coming. He's arrived alone every Tuesday morning for weeks and today he brings her? Ass.
If he's trying to drive his point home about Saturday being a one-time thing, his message is received loud and clear. But I still can't regret a moment of it.
I skip the campus bus in favor of a very long walk after work. My cheeks are chilled as I make my way down Spruce Street toward Jacobsen Hall. A week ago today was my clinic appointment.
For a girl who likes to plan, I sure didn't plan on Luke walking into that exam room or anything that happened after.
My feet crunch over the leaves falling to the sidewalk and I stuff my cold hands into my pockets. Fine, I'm a little pissed. And sad. I'm a practical girl, I wasn't looking for a fairy
tale, but I don't feel satisfied by the way this ended with Luke. Sexually, yeah, it was a satisfying experience. Emotionally, it was a little lacking.
Suck it up, Sophie, you got what you wanted.
My phone rings and I slide it out of my pocket and answer as I walk.
"Sophie, honey, it's Gram. I just wanted to let you know that we accepted the offer on the house and our offer on the condo we wanted in Florida was accepted. We're moving!"
I smile. "That's great, Grandma. I'm glad you're finally doing it."
"The buyers want to close on our house here the week before Thanksgiving."
Oh.
"So we've only got four weeks to pack everything up. We're thinking we'll drive down to Florida then, so we don't have to put everything into storage. We can close on the condo in
Islamorada the week prior because it's vacant and the owners want to close fast."
I know what she's really asking. She wants to know if I'll be okay without seeing them for Thanksgiving. They've put off retiring for just this reason. They wanted to be nearby for me.
"Grandma, it's fine. I can go home with Jeannie or Everly for Thanksgiving."
"Are you sure? We can get you a plane ticket if you want to fly down for the long weekend."
"Yes, I'm sure. It's fine, I'm sure you’ll have plenty to do with unpacking and friends to see." They have good friends who retired to the area several years ago.
"We already have invitations from the Mirabellis and the Blackwells to get together as soon as we get to town." Grandma sounds thrilled and I'm happy for her. "You'll come down for
Christmas though, right? We'll have a room ready for you."
I agree that Florida for Christmas sounds like a great idea and we say our goodbyes as I reach the front door of Jacobsen.
There's a black Mercedes S63 parked illegally in the loading zone. And leaning against it, watching me, is Luke.
"You're here for me?" I gesture to myself with the hand still holding the phone.
"Yeah, you." He rubs his bottom lip with his thumb, a movement so simple yet so erotic, before placing his hands in his pockets.
I don't reply. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say. We stare at each other in silence. He takes a step towards me and I instinctively take a step back, then rock forward on my toes.
"You said you wouldn't call," I finally say. My voice has a bitchier tone than I intended.
"I didn't call." His voice is unapologetic.
I want to roll my eyes. "No. You brought your date to my workplace instead." The wind whips a piece of hair into my face and it sticks to my lip gloss. I swipe the hair away and move a
step to the left, using his body to block the wind. He's so much bigger than me. The thought fills my head with memories of how he felt over me.