Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
We both laughed, the sound slightly brittle.
“I shouldn’t have slammed the door. I didn’t really mean to…” I trailed off as he shook his head.
“I don’t bring women home, Hannah. Ever. I wouldn’t do that.”
“It’s your house,” I reminded him.
“You live here as well. I respect you too much to do that.”
I strove for levity. “So, you’ll go back to theirs, then.”
He shook his head. “I don’t do that. I don’t sleep around.”
“Me either.”
For a moment, silence surrounded us. He nodded. “Glad we cleared the air.”
“Me too.”
He paused, looking as if he wanted to say something.
“How’s the new bed?” I asked.
“Big.”
I laughed. “Comfy?”
“Yeah, pretty good.” He looked around. “You’re all settled, I see.” He indicated the pictures on the walls and the curtains I had hung. “Looks, ah, pretty.”
“It is. I’m glad I don’t have to—” I cut myself off. “It’s nice.”
“Don’t have to what?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
He frowned.
“Move things around. I got them all in the right places,” I ad-libbed. “No paint touch-ups.”
“You can’t leave,” he murmured. “You were thinking of it, weren’t you?”
“No,” I insisted.
“You were,” he breathed out. “You were thinking you should leave.” He shook his head, his voice panicked. “Don’t leave. Please. You can’t, Hannah. I like having you here. I was in a bad mood, I said a couple of things. I’m sorry.”
I held up my hand. “I’m not leaving, Chase. I like it here. I’m sorry too.”
He stared. “Promise?”
I nodded. “Promise.”
He sighed. “Okay. Sleep well.” He left, shutting the door behind him.
I was glad he’d come to see me, but I still felt unsettled. As if we hadn’t entirely cleared the air. But short of admitting my feelings for him, there wasn’t much else I could say.
I lay down and pulled the blanket up to my chin.
I hoped I’d sleep tonight.
CHASE
I heard her cry out once in the night, but there were no other noises from her room, and I stayed put, lying on the big bed I had bought on impulse. I’d wanted a new mattress but only planned on buying a queen-size until I saw the bed in the showroom when I walked in. I liked it, and my room was big enough to hold a king-sized mattress. Brett and Stefano each had one, so there was no question there. I liked the metal headboard and the way it bent and curved. It was heavy and masculine-looking. I’d never owned anything that nice, and suddenly I wanted it.
I hadn’t thought of sheets or pillows. Hannah said she’d get me some this weekend, and I hoped she would since she wasn’t mad at me anymore.
Or was she? We hadn’t exactly kissed and made up.
I felt awful about the angry words we exchanged. The sudden coolness between us. It was as if a wall had been erected, and I had no idea how to scale it. Even going to her earlier hadn’t fixed whatever had broken between us. It felt as if we were both holding back. I wondered who it was she was seeing. If I would ever meet him. How I was going to feel when and if I did. How I would handle it if he started hanging here with her.
But the thought of her leaving upset me even more. If friendship was all I could have with her, I would take it. I just had to move on.
After a long, sleepless night, I wondered how much time would have to pass for me to do so. I headed into the garage and shut my door, working on paperwork to force myself to concentrate. Around eleven, I got a text from Hannah, telling me she wouldn’t be home that night. I frowned, my thoughts immediately going to the one place they shouldn’t. I made a big deal about not bringing women home. Did that mean she was spending the night with whoever she was seeing at his place? I scrubbed my hand over my face, feeling my scruff under my fingers. I had no idea how to respond. If I should respond. I decided to play it light.
Me
See you tomorrow, then.
Her reply almost sent me over the edge.
Hannah
I’ll be late. Don’t wait up!
My beanie ended up on the floor, and I dug my hands into my hair, yanking on it. She was definitely spending the weekend with the guy she was seeing.
I already knew the answer to how I would react if I met him. I could barely handle the thought of it, never mind seeing him in person. I hated him. With the fiery passion of hell. I was going to introduce him to my fist. Repeatedly.
“Chase.”
I looked up, meeting Charly’s concerned gaze.
“If you yank on your hair any harder, you’ll pull it out.”
I bent over and picked up my beanie, tugging it back on my head. “Great. Bald and alone.”