Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Yeah, of course.”
Okay, good. We met up on the sidewalk, and I lit two smokes for us.
“So what did you think?” He accepted one of the cigarettes and leaned against my car. “Thanks.”
I took a drag from my smoke and rested my side against my door. “You were incredible.” I exhaled skyward and caught his little grin. “You looked…right at home.” It stung to say it, but I had to acknowledge it.
He smiled and turned enough so he could glance at the pub across the street. “A part of me definitely feels like I’m home.”
His confirmation didn’t hurt any less.
“Only a part of you?”
He chuckled through his nose and rested his arm on the roof of the car. “The other part will always be lost, I reckon.”
Why? Because of us? Because of me? Or something else entirely?
“I never thought I’d grow so close to some of them,” he admitted. “Especially Liam.”
“That’s riveting. How come a part of you will always be lost?”
He rumbled a laugh and scrubbed a hand over his face.
I smiled, fully aware I hadn’t been smooth, and I shifted a little closer to him. I did want the details on his newfound family, including Liam, just not right now.
Alfie flicked away some ashes and watched them disappear on the sidewalk. “It can’t come as a surprise to you that our divorce broke me.”
No, I knew it’d shattered us both. But he was putting himself back together, wasn’t he?
I reached out and fixed a button on his vest that was coming undone. “You didn’t look broken on the stage.”
Did he have to be so goddamn beautiful? And his brand of beauty had an edge to it, even more so now with his ink on display. Sleeves folded up, nice clothes that fit him like a glove, a sexy watch… It wasn’t the same one he’d worn before, and I instinctively stepped closer and lifted his wrist.
It was a very nice Baume & Mercier with a burgundy dial and a brown leather strap.
“This isn’t from your world either, Alfie.”
He quirked a smirk and trapped his smoke at the corner of his mouth. “Some things from your world are irresistible to me too. Like, you remember those truffle chips we had at your aunt’s place? Who the fuck imports potato chips from Italy?”
I chuckled and reluctantly let go of his hand.
“As for how broken I may or may not look,” he murmured, “I try to only flip my shit completely when you have a date.”
I swallowed and took a final drag before I stubbed out the smoke and tossed it in a vandalized bin a few feet away. People walked by, but they were easy to ignore.
Alfie had been honest enough with me, so he deserved the same treatment.
“I don’t think you need to worry about that for a long, long time.” I returned to the car; only this time, I positioned myself in front of him, leaving just a foot of air between us. Because I couldn’t fucking help myself. This was what he did to me. “My latest obsession takes up all my time.”
He raked his teeth over his bottom lip and peered up at me. “Why do I get the feeling you’re about to blame me for something?”
I grinned. “Maybe because you know it’s most definitely your fault?”
A spark of sexy rebellion lit up his eyes, and he took one last drag from his smoke, then extended it to me.
I took a quick pull from it too, then put it out and threw it in the bin.
“So tell me about the obsession,” he said.
“I thought it was obvious.” I forced myself to stick my hands in my pockets as I returned to him. I didn’t need to do anything stupid. Although…I was too weak to make any promises. “I’m busy processing the mobster drama in your life.”
He shook his head in amusement. “Before Kellan offered me a job, he jokingly insisted it was a comedy club.”
How fitting. Because they were known for making people laugh?
“How come you never wanted me to meet him before?” I asked as the thought struck me. “I remember asking after the time I saw him in passing—I suggested we have him and his husband over for dinner—and you… I don’t recall what you said, only—”
“I said we didn’t have that kind of friendship anymore,” he replied quietly. The mirth had faded, and I detected guilt and discomfort in his eyes. “I hated lying to you, West. By inviting them over, I’d have to put up with a whole other level of deceit.”
Of course. I nodded with a dip of my chin, and I supposed I could thank the alcohol for rendering my anger dormant. Or perhaps I truly was moving on. God, I hoped so. Anger took a toll on me.
“I’m glad you invited me tonight.” I cleared my throat and flicked a glance at the traffic. It was dying down somewhat, but when someone honked at another, it made me wish for more privacy. “I needed to see it for myself.”