Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“You mean what happens if you don’t match the picture in my head?”
“Yeah, I guess…well, sort of…”
“Are you trying to tell me you’re hideous or something, Lola?”
I laughed. “No. That’s not what I meant.”
“So what exactly are you worried about then?”
I sighed. God, what a tangled web we weave… But fuck it…I either needed to come clean or cut things off with this man. As strange as it was, I felt a real connection to him, even before I’d even known how insanely gorgeous he was. Somewhere in the back of my head, I heard Summer and Charlie’s voices…
Be spontaneous. If an opportunity for fun arises, take it. Don’t overanalyze it.
That was the rules they’d made me agree to.
So I took a deep breath and said, “Okay, let’s meet.”
“Now you’re talking…”
“But I need you to promise me one thing.”
“Jesus…you’re already being a pain in my ass.”
I chuckled. “Maybe, but promise me something anyway.”
“What is it you want assurance on?”
“That when we meet, you’ll stay for at least an hour.”
“You think I’m going to hightail it out of there when I look at you?”
“No. But promise me anyway.”
“Alright, Lola. I’ll give you a full hour, at least. Now when and where is this meeting happening?”
I thought about it. “Where it all began. At Salty’s. How about tomorrow night at eight?”
“Sounds like a plan. That place gets pretty busy. How will I know it’s you? What will you be wearing?”
Hmmm. I got up from bed and walked over to my closet. Thumbing through, I pulled out a blue and white sundress that I’d been complimented on while wearing on more than one occasion.
“A sundress…with spaghetti straps. It’s blue and white.”
“Okay. I don’t know what I have clean. But how about this? I’ll have aviators on. So look for the guy wearing his shades inside the bar. By the way, I fucking hate it when people do that. It usually means they’re douchebags.”
Oh, don’t you worry. I won’t have any trouble finding you. “Sounds great. I’ll look for the biggest douchebag in the room.”
His laugh was a low rumble. “Good night, Lola. Get some sleep.”
“Good night, Silas. Sweet dreams.”
Lola
THE NEXT MORNING, I slept in.
The house was quiet, and I found Summer and Charlie on the front porch. They both had champagne flutes in their hands, instead of their usual mugs.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Summer said.
I sat down on a rocking chair. “Are you drinking alcohol already? I know I slept late, but it’s not even ten o’clock.”
Summer sipped. “We’re having mimosas. It doesn’t count as alcohol. You want one?”
I lifted my mug. “Maybe after I have my caffeine fix.”
A pile of folded clothes sat on the small table between them. I noticed the underwear on top.
“Is that my underwear?”
“Sure is. Apparently crazy ass hot landlord had a change of heart and decided to return our stuff rather than donate it all.”
I looked around feeling instantly rattled. “The landlord was here? You spoke to him?”
Charlie shook her head. “We found this pile on the porch when we came out this morning. So someone dropped it off.”
God, I could’ve been sitting out here when Silas decided to return them. That thought freaked me out. I needed some time to mentally prepare for that meeting to happen. Which reminded me…I had to fill my friends in on my plans for tonight. And I had a feeling they weren’t going to be too happy.
“Speaking of hot landlord…I spoke to him last night.”
Summer frowned. “You promised us you wouldn’t call him, Lo. Is that why we got the clothes back? He’s kicking us out and this is so we can pack our bags?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t call him. He called me.”
Charlie pursed her lips. “That’s a bit of a technicality, isn’t it?”
“Yes. But I still technically kept my promise.”
Summer shook her head. “What happened on the phone?”
“Nothing bad. I’m almost positive he has no idea that the nutty Brit bike rider, the tipsy woman who called from the bathroom stall, and his singing in the street tenant are all the same person.”
“Okay, well…I guess that’s good. He returned our clothes, so let’s just not violate any more of the rules that can get us kicked out, and keep our distance from him.”
“Ummm. That might be a little difficult…considering I’m meeting him in person tonight.”
My friends’ eyes bulged and they spoke in unison. “You’re what?”
“I really like him. I want to see where it goes.”
“You really like the grumpy landlord who smacks our hand about every little violation, steals our clothes, and threatens to kick us out?”
“I really like Mr. Good Time…Silas.”
“They’re one and the same, Lo!” Charlie said.
I sighed. “I know. But I understand him a little bit better now. He got fined from the town because of us. And he basically manages this and another property and gives all the money to his mother and sister. Being a landlord sucks as much as being the person he has to tell to follow the rules.”