Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Bastard. I throw my napkin at him, giving him the same glare he gave me only seconds ago. “Sometimes murder seems like the only option when it comes to you.”
Looking at his cup he smiles, his gloved fingers tapping on the table, the other hand cradling Dillan to his chest. “When you first moved in with me I thought the same thing.” He looks up at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Trust me, you weren’t the only one.”
He chuckles, still smiling. “You’re adorable when you’re being stroppy.”
“Let’s add insults, because that’ll make Gwen less likely to kill you.” Sarcasm laces my tone.
“How was that an insult?” Yep, that smile is still there.
“I’m not stroppy, nor am I ever stroppy.”
“You’re full of it.” He laughs and I’m shocked at his words.
“Somebody is starting to sound like me.” I point out, my lips tipping up at the ends.
He shrugs. “I like the way you sound.”
“Your mum called me common.”
“My mum would call the Queen common; she’s genuinely that far up herself.”
This starts another round of laughter, mostly at the shock of the way he’s talking more than anything else. “Why can’t you be like this all of the time?” I say carelessly through my laughter. “You’re so much easier to be around.”
His face falls and I instantly curse at myself. Why did I have to say something stupid? “You don’t think I’m easy to be around?” The vulnerability in his voice tears through the outer layer of my heart.
Darn. “I do, genuinely I do. You’re amazing when your guard is lowered.” He smiles softy at me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll never purposely hurt you. You know that right?”
He brings my hand to his lips and holds it there for a moment. “You’re the only person I trust to make that statement.” Our hands go to the table, but he doesn’t let go.
But aren’t I purposely hurting him right now? By denying him something he clearly wants? I need to tell him. I need to make it clear.
Unfortunately, at the same moment I open my mouth, my phone starts ringing. “It’s Sasha.” I blink in shock at her name on the screen. “Excuse me for a moment.”
“Of course.” Nathan nods and rests his smooth chin against the dark fuzz on Dillan’s head.
I give Tiffany a wave as I leave the bakery and answer the phone. “Hello?”
“Why do I feel guilty? Oh yeah, I’ll tell you why, because I’ve hardly said more than two words to my best friend in the past month. I miss you and I’m sorry.” Sasha rambles. “I miss Dillan. I’ve just been so busy and I was worried you wouldn’t want to talk to me anymore. The longer it got, the harder it got to call and the easier it got to not call.”
I don’t say anything; I’m not sure what to say.
She continues. “I feel so bad. So does Tommy. I didn’t realise he hadn’t called and trust me when I say I tore him a new arsehole.” Classy. “Can I come and see you tomorrow?”
I look back through the window at Nathan and Dillan. “I can’t tomorrow. Nathan is moving to town and staying with me for… I don’t know how long. Sunday maybe?”
“Yes! I’ll call you. Forgive me?”
“I’ll tell you Sunday.” I smile slightly and look at the flat greying shapes on the ground that were once chewing gum now smashed into the pavement.
“Brilliant! I’ve got to go; I have to meet my mum at Home Bargains.”
“Okay, have fun.”
“You too.”
Déjà vu. I remember the last time somebody called to make amends, my mum to be exact. Nathan and I were eating at a restaurant in London. Crazy.
“Everything okay?” Nathan asks as I retake my seat and reach out for my son.
“Yes, hopefully it will be. Sasha just called to make amends.”
He nods thoughtfully. “That’s good.”
“Yeah.”
“Shall we leave? I’d like to have that conversation now.”
I frown. “What about the house?”
“That conversation can come after we decide our fate.”
Our fate? “Nathan…”
He places his finger over my mouth, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. “You can give me an hour of your time. I deserve that at least.”
Ugh, guilt trip. What do I do now? Well… I agree of course. “Sure.”
We arrive home and I’m not relieved in the slightest to see that my mum isn’t here. If she were here, this talk might not happen just yet, which would be a relief.
“I’ll just change him real quick.” I mutter, following Nathan into the room. Nathan nods as I take Dillan from his seat and he follows me up the stairs, much to my dismay. I need a moment to clear my head. Just a moment. “Can I have a moment?”
“So you can think of ways out of this?” Nathan grins. It’s very attractive and it throws me a little, mainly because of my strong reaction to it. What with him in my bedroom, now sitting on my bed, smiling casually like he’s never done before. “Not a chance.”