Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
And the other night…
When I enter the suite, I notice that his suitcase is no longer by the door. I check to see if housekeeping moved it to one of the closets, but they’re all empty.
I walk through the living room and check the balcony, and there’s no hint of him ever being here with me.
Stepping into the kitchen, I spot a note clinging to the fridge.
Taryn,
I enjoyed the ride here with you,
Happy holidays,
James
That’s it?
I flip it over and check my phone for missed calls and texts.
There’s nothing from him.
Confused, I return to the elevator and head downstairs.
Even if my feelings may weigh more than his, I refuse to believe he would leave the estate without telling me goodbye.
Halfway there, I spot Cameron chatting with Savannah and Georgia.
His eyes meet mine before I can turn around.
Shit…
“Come over here, Taryn!”
I force a smile and oblige.
“Did you find whatever you were looking for?” he asks.
“Not really.”
“Well, I’ll help you find it after we finally handle our business.”
“What business?”
He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he lifts a champagne glass and taps his spoon against the glass.
“Attention, everyone!” He calls out. “Attention!”
I swallow as the crowd falls silent and notice family members and friends moving to surround us.
“Wait,” I whisper to Georgia. “Did you have something to do with whatever this is?”
“With Cameron?” She shoots me a pointed look. “Please…”
“I won’t take up too much of your day, I swear,” Cameron addresses everyone. “First, I’d like to thank you all for joining me here at this beautiful estate for an event that Taryn and I hoped would never happen.”
Everyone laughs, except me.
I grab a champagne glass and down the alcohol in one gulp. Then I grab another.
“As you know, Taryn and I became friends during our senior year of high school, and I was assigned to help her catch up on all her math projects, along with a former friend of mine. The more time we spent together, it was clear that she was a great person who I truly admired and like, but time wasn’t on our side. She was set to study business in Seattle, while I was committed to school in Atlanta. Then…”
As he speaks, I can’t help focusing on seven of his words: Along with a former friend of mine…
He’s always made it seem like it was just us two against the world back then like we were practically inseparable, and I accepted his recollections as my own.
I suddenly recall two of the strangest memory ornaments on my tree at home, those that aren’t written like the rest. Cameron often chalked the words to “someone with bad grammar” or “someone trying to get inside your head.”
I miss when it was you and me in study hall before the third wheel came along and rolled you away with him…
If you ever remember how close we were and you're single, call me. You were always special to me.
“What was your old friend’s name?” I interrupt Cameron’s spiel.
“Uh, our high school was massive babe. I don’t remember.” He kisses my forehead before addressing the crowd again. “Anyway, to stay in touch, me and Taryn talked on the phone at least once a month and during our senior year of college, we agreed that….”
“Because the last time I lost a girl to a friend, I promised I would never forgive it again…”
The timelines adjust and bend in my mind. Suddenly, fragmented memories slowly stitch into a short, hazy montage: Me, James, and Cameron hanging out after school, James driving me home and kissing the hell out me, James letting me cry on his shoulder, James glaring at me when I see him on my first day at Magnolia Marketing for no reason.
Or, so I thought.
It can’t be…
“Taryn Stone, I’m happy to have you as a long-time friend, and I promise to cherish you as my best friend and number one woman for the rest of my life.”
He gets down on one knee, clasping my hand.
“Will you please marry me?”
“I…” I pause, and more memories play, this time even faster. “I can’t.”
He furrows his brow. “What did you say?”
“I can’t.” I shake my head. “I can’t marry you. No.”
“Taryn,” he says, smiling as whispers and murmurs fill the room. “We made a pact. We’ve been talking about this for years.”
“Did you really like me before or was this your way of sticking it to your good friend because the two of you fell out?”
“Him?” Cameron shrugs. “Babe, what are you talking about?”
“You knew James and I had a history, but the accident happened and you… You took advantage of me…” I press a finger against my temple. “I need you to tell me I’m imagining this.”
“Yes.” He nods. “You’re imagining it, and the only thing you need to do is focus on saying ‘yes’ to being happy with me for the rest of your life.”