Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“Mine too,” Gabriella agrees. “Josh is a thirty-five-year-old still living his dreams of being frat boy president. Every single time I saw him, he was like ‘want to play beer pong? I bet I can win.’”
I can’t help but laugh because he used to say that a lot. “When he saw I was pregnant, he was like ‘bummer, I guess I’ll drink for you,’” Abigail says.
“Has he even reached out to you since you got married?” Ryleigh asks me.
“He called me a couple of times and sent me a couple of messages,” I admit. “I just have yet to call him or text him.”
“I think once you tell him you’re married,” Zara says, “that will nip that in the bud. He’ll go his way, and in twelve years, he’ll settle down with a twenty-four-year-old because that’s how old his brain will be by then.”
“You should get that phone call out of the way now,” Ryleigh urges, “before the husband comes and doesn’t leave your side.”
“I think you’re right,” I agree, grabbing my phone. “I have to call him sometime anyway.”
“Or you don’t. You block him and forget him.” Zara shrugs, and everyone looks at her. “It’s just a suggestion.”
I get off the bed and walk over to the water's edge, off to the side where no one is, and pull up his number to call him. My heart pounds so hard in my chest, and I feel like I’m doing something I shouldn’t be doing, which is silly.
“What the fuck, Zoey?” he questions as soon as he answers the phone. “It’s been four fucking days.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, moving my foot over the sand. “I’m on vacation with my family.”
“And your husband?” he snaps, and I stand straight as if he just threw ice water on me.
“Um…”
“It’s a joke, right?” His tone is tight and angry. “Just to piss me off.”
I snap, “The world doesn’t revolve around you like you think it does.” I finally let him have it.
“It’s not funny, Zoey,” he hisses.
“You’re right, it’s not funny,” I agree with him.
“So now what?” he asks. I look out into the water, seeing Stone and Ryleigh as they are laughing together, and then look over to see Gabriella on top of her husband Romeo’s back, saying something to make him laugh.
“Well, we agreed we needed space,” I remind him. “You agreed to it by not even trying to call me the next day.”
“So you married the first man you meet?” His laugh comes out bitterly.
“I’ve known him a while,” I counter and close my eyes because it shouldn’t matter. I did nothing wrong.
“You’ve known me for two years. It seems you forgot who I was.” His voice sounds weird. “Time to show you.” It’s the last thing he says before he hangs up on me. I look down at the phone, wondering if the call dropped or something, but I see I have all my bars.
“What the hell?” I stare at my phone when a text comes through.
Josh: Have a great vacation. I’ll see you when you get back. Love you, Zoey.
My eyes stare at the message on the top of my phone. “Hey.” I look up to see Nash come to me wearing just his shorts and nothing else. “Are you okay?” he asks me, and I turn my phone over in my hand so he doesn’t see it.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I put on a fake smile. “I was just checking my voicemail.” I hold up the phone, lying to him and feeling that feeling again. “How was the call with your parents?”
“Okay,” he says, and I can see there must be more to it. “We have to have dinner with them when we get back home.” He looks out into the water. “Want to come in the water with me?”
“Sure, let me go put my phone down, and I’ll be right in.” I turn to walk away, but I don’t make it far when his hand grabs my wrist, stopping me.
“We just lied to each other,” he says, and my heart sinks, “and I don’t like it. In fact, I fucking hate it.” He closes the distance between us. "I know you weren’t checking your voicemail because I saw you talking, and you know that everything isn’t okay with my parents.” He puts his hand around my waist, pulling me to him, not caring who is watching. He’s openly affectionate with me. “If we are going to do this, then you have to call me out on my bullshit, and I have to call you out on yours. And…” He pushes the hair off my shoulder before he bends to kiss my neck. “We have to be all in, or we aren’t giving ourselves a fair chance.” My heart speeds up. “Give me a fair chance, Zoey.” He looks down at me, into my eyes. “Give us a fair chance.”