Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
My phone dings but I ignore it. I already know it’s just another message from Mayor Banks. He’s still trying to convince me to take the position of chief. I doubt he’d be so eager if he knew that I’ll be dating Wynter soon.
I pass Cam a water from the fridge. The job at the new station comes with a demotion and I’ll be living on a third of my current pay. Tomorrow, I’m turning in my two weeks’ notice to Chief Strickland then I can finally be with my girl out in the open. “Yeah, it’s pretty shit.”
He pushes his sweaty hair out of his face. His cheeks are red from the late autumn air. I teased him on the run that he’s getting soft and he’s not even a dad yet. “Did you end up taking the apartment?”
I nod and guzzle half my water bottle. It’s a roach-infested hellhole that I don’t plan to stay at very often. I can’t maintain my current apartment on my new salary so I’ll sell most of my furniture and spend as much time as I can at the fire station. It’s not ideal but it’ll do.
“What does Wynter think about all of this?” Cam prompts.
“I don’t know yet. I’m going to swing by her place tonight.” I thought fifty times about texting her and telling her I want to see her tonight. But finally, I decided an ambush was probably the best approach. After all, we never see each other outside of work. If the guys invite her out, I always make sure I have an excuse. She shouldn’t have to lose her circle of friends just because I’m a bastard.
“You think maybe you should have talked to her before about all of this?” He finishes his water and tosses it into the recycling bin. “I mean, it’s a lot of changes in your life all at once.”
I finish my water and walk down the hall toward the bathroom. Calling over my shoulder, I answer Cam, “Nah, there’s nothing she could say that would surprise me.”
An hour later, I’m freshly showered and standing on the doorstep for Wynter’s house. She’s rented a cute little bungalow right in the heart of town. The flower boxes along the windows are filled with fall flowers and the pop of color makes me smile.
After weeks of being miserable, the sun is finally coming out. I just have to get her to forgive me. I don’t know that she will right away. But the yellow roses and the box of pizza with extra cheese will at least get me in the door. From there, I’ll work like a fuckin’ dog to earn her pardon.
She answers the door, and I forget to breathe. I always do when I see her again. Every shift together at the station, it’s like a fresh punch in the gut. But something is wrong this time.
Her hair is fuzzier than usual, standing on end. It only does that when she’s been running her fingers through it because she’s nervous or frustrated. Her complexion isn’t right either. Her face is pale and when she sees me, her lips thin into a line. “What are you doing here?”
Her gaze drops to the yellow roses and her eyes close briefly as if she’s in pain. “It’s been weeks. It’s too late for this.”
At least, she’s not pretending that she doesn’t know why I’m here. I didn’t expect this to be easy. Truth is, I don’t deserve easy. I don’t even deserve a second chance. But I’ll do whatever it takes to get one from her. “Can I at least come in?”
She hesitates for a split second then opens the door wider. She doesn’t wait for me. She sashays to her couch, hips swinging with every step. The gray yoga pants she’s wearing are sculpted to her ass cheeks. Fuck, the things I want to do to her.
She takes a seat on the couch crossing her legs beneath her.
I put the roses and the pizza on the coffee table in front of her, like a peace offering. I move to sit beside her, but she shakes her head and gestures toward the armchair across from the sofa.
She deserves to see my face during this conversation, to know how sorry I am for the way I’ve behaved. After our night together, I completely retreated. I acted like nothing happened between us and if she feels even a fraction of what I feel for her, that broke her heart. The idea that I hurt her makes my chest even tighter. I’ve fucked this up so many different ways.
She reaches for the pizza box. It’s her favorite, pepperoni with extra cheese. She lifts the lid and inhales deeply, her pink tongue darting out to lick her plump lips. “I’m so hungry. I haven’t eaten all day.”