Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I turn to leave, but his voice stops me.
“Where are you going?”
I glance back at him. “Home.”
“Didn’t you want to watch this stupid movie?”
“Well, yes…”
“So, why are you going home?”
Good question.
I can still watch it even though Missy couldn’t make it. I’m an independent woman. I can go to the movies alone. If I don’t, I’ll just go home and probably watch a movie on Netflix. I might as well watch a movie here, where I’ll be surrounded by other people for a few hours even if they are strangers.
“Yeah, I think I will still watch it,” I say more to myself than him, turning toward the cinema. “Thanks again for coming to let me know about Missy. And would you please tell her that I said congratulations to her friend on her new baby?”
I don’t wait for his response as I turn to go inside the theater.
I reach the door when I realize that he’s behind me.
I stop and glance back at him. “Um, what are you doing?”
“Same thing you are. Going to watch the film.”
“You want to watch this movie? You just said a few minutes ago that it was stupid.”
“I have no desire to watch this movie at all. But I promised my sister that I wouldn’t let you watch it alone. So, here I am.” He spreads his hands out, and I frown.
“Seriously, you don’t need to do me any favors.”
He frowns back at me. “I’m not. I’m doing it for my sister.”
“Well, I let you off the hook. You can go home.” I gesture toward the street.
He follows the direction of my hand, like he’s actually considering it. Then, he looks back at me and shakes his head. “No can do. If Missy finds out I left you here, there’ll be hell to pay. And I could really do without having my ear bent by her.”
“Don’t worry; I won’t tell her you didn’t stay. And you won’t tell her. So, there you go. You’re free to leave.” I let my hands go wide.
He lets out a low laugh. “My sister will question me to the tenth degree about the movie when she gets home. She’ll know instantly if I haven’t seen it.”
“Wikipedia. You can get the whole plot on there. There you go.”
“Missy can smell a lie at fifty paces. She’s like a sniffer dog for bullshit. Seems like we’re stuck with each other for the next few hours.”
“No, we’re really not. Just because you promised your sister you’d stay doesn’t mean I have to go along with it.”
He laughs again, eyes widening with humor. “You really don’t want me here, do you?” His hand slaps his chest. “You’re starting to hurt my feelings, Jailbird.”
“Good,” I bite. “And why the hell would I want you here? You’ve been nothing but an asshole to me since the moment I met you.”
“Well, not the moment I met you…” He grins, his eyes brightening, reminding me of my semi-naked bent-over moment, and I snap.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I should’ve said, the second you realized who I was. So, please, excuse me if I don’t want to spend my evening with a judgmental, bigoted asshole who can’t see past the end of his own so-called perfection to understand other people and their problems!”
When I break off, I’m breathing a little harder, and his face is blank.
“I never said I was perfect.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Whatever. Just…what-the-fuck-ever. Good-bye, Ares.”
I spin on my heel and stomp into the theater.
It’s not until I reach the queue for tickets when I realize that he’s standing right behind me.
For fuck’s sake!
“Stop following me,” I hiss at him.
“I’m not.” He gives me a look of innocence, shoulders lifting. “I’m just going to watch the movie.”
“The movie you don’t want to watch.”
His lips widen into a grin.
“God, you’re such a jackass! Just go away and leave me alone, please.”
My voice hitches on the word please, and afraid I might burst into tears or punch him in his handsome, arrogant face, I turn around, moving forward, as the queue shifts.
A moment later, I feel heat at my back and almost jump out of my skin when I feel his hot breath against my ear.
“Now, now, Jailbird, there’s no need to be so bitchy.”
I almost bite my tongue off at that. I turn my head to him to tell him to fuck off, but I misjudge how close he actually is. My nose bumps his, our lips literally centimeters apart.
My breath catches. My body freezes. My nose floods with his scent. Woodsy-scented aftershave and the smell of mint on his breath.
Every feminine part of me comes to life. It’s like my body is suddenly wide awake after a long stretch of being dormant and is saying, Well, hello there, man with a penis. It’s been a while. Wanna come play?