Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Good.” She giggled.
The guys returned, bringing our conversation to an end. Atticus placed a cocktail next to me, along with an extra cup filled with cherries.
“I got you maraschinos.” His eyes lingered on mine.
“Thank you.”
I always loved to snack on those when I drank. Atticus might not be perfect, but he was thoughtful.
Tristan looked between us. “Can I say something?”
“Depends.” Atticus sipped his beer.
“It warms my heart to see you two getting along. Like, more than anything has warmed my cold heart in a really long fucking time.”
“You should be a fly on the wall back at the house if you think we’re getting along,” Atticus quipped. He winked at me.
“There’s been no shortage of arguments.” I laughed. “Except we have to whisper-fight, so poor Mimi doesn’t figure anything out.”
“Yeah, no shit,” Atticus agreed. “I’ve never whispered so much in my life.”
“Well, from my perspective, to have him go from not being able to say your name, to hanging out with you and having a couple of drinks?” Tristan placed his hand on Atticus’ shoulder. “I’m proud of you both. That’s all I’m saying.”
I popped a cherry into my mouth. “It’s the magic of Mimi, I guess.”
Emily grinned. “Your grandmother is so sweet.”
“Speaking of which, let’s check in on Ronan.” Atticus took out his phone and pulled up the camera app. He faced the screen toward us.
Mimi was flapping her arms like a chicken from her bed. Ronan was doing the same, except standing and spinning around from time to time.
I covered my mouth. “What the hell?”
Atticus shook his head. “I’m not even gonna ask what the fuck is going on there.”
“Ronan is involved.” Tristan laughed. “That should tell you everything you need to know.”
Atticus and I shared a smile. Going out tonight had been a good idea. It felt good to laugh. It felt even better to laugh with him. I felt myself falling all over again. What are you doing, Nicole?
I cleared my throat and turned to Emily. “How do you like living in L.A.?”
“I wasn’t sure I would like it, but I really do. You should come out and visit us sometime. We have a huge pool and two beautiful fur babies: a dog and a rabbit.”
“The rabbit is bigger than the dog,” Atticus added.
“Leave my Bertha alone.” Emily smacked him on the arm. “Seriously, Nicole, open invitation. Anytime.”
I loved visiting new places and had only been to L.A. once before. “There’s a hair convention out there once a year,” I said. “If I go again, I can let you know when I’m in town.”
“That would be awesome.” She smiled. “And if it’s during recording season, I would especially love the company when my honey abandons me.”
I remembered the days of Atticus disappearing for hours to record. He’d always make things up to me in his own special way. I shook my head. There I go again.
Not long after that, we left the bar and moved our party to Laurentano’s restaurant. Emily and I continued chatting over dinner. Not only was she the perfect distraction from Atticus, but she was quickly becoming a friend. She and I talked throughout the evening, and she told me the long and complicated story of what she and Tristan had to overcome to be together. I’d had no idea about their backstory and holy hell, I could hardly believe it. Someone should write a book about that.
When we returned to the house, the smell of marijuana immediately registered.
The four of us entered the bedroom together. Mimi had her eyes closed but was smiling. She looked damn relaxed. She looked…high.
I sniffed the air. “Ronan, were you smoking pot with my grandmother?”
“She said she was in pain. So I gave her a few hits of my joint.”
“Well, that explains the chicken dance.” Tristan chuckled.
Mimi opened her eyes. “I was able to sit up in the wheelchair for a whole ten minutes!”
My jaw dropped. “What?”
“Seriously, it helped her pain,” Ronan explained. “She said she wanted to try to sit because she hadn’t been able to. So I lifted her into the chair.”
I crossed my arms. “Mimi has never smoked a day in her life, and she’s going to start now?”
“Why the hell not?” Mimi slurred. “Now is the best time, if you ask me.”
I guess she has a point.
“Ronan says he can hook me up with the good stuff,” she added.
“Anything that takes away your pain is fine by us, Mimi.” Atticus put his arm around me, sending a chill down my spine. It didn’t seem like he was touching me for show this time or to tease me. It just felt natural, like he’d forgotten for a second that we weren’t married anymore. That was sort of how tonight had felt in many ways.
After the crew left, I helped get Mimi settled for bed. The smell of marijuana still lingered in the air as Atticus and I headed to the spare room.