Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“You also told me that I shouldn’t break up with him.”
“Because you’re in love with him and were basing your decision to break up with him on what your parents would say about you living together without being engaged first. I also told you their opinion shouldn’t matter because it’s not their life.”
“Can we stop talking about this?”
“Sure.” I press my lips together while shaking my head. We’ve had this conversation dozens of times, and it always ends the same way. With me attempting to get her to see she might have jumped the gun when breaking up with Clark—who she was and still is very much in love with—and her refusing to believe she did and getting mad about it because I won’t say she was right to do it.
“Have you spoken to Peter?”
Great. A topic I definitely don’t want to talk about.
“No.” I let out a breath. “I blocked his number after the last time he called me.”
“Good, because he’s still fucking her.” Her being my ex-coworker and supposed friend, Mindy, and Peter being my ex-boyfriend-slash-boss.
“Good for them. They deserve each other,” I mutter.
“Right, and if she thinks he’s not going to do the same thing to her, she’s out of her mind.”
I bite my lip. That statement feels like a smack in the face, even if it wasn’t her intent. When my old boss, Lindsey, retired and Peter took over the dermatology practice I was working at, he was dating someone else but would flirt with me constantly. I hate—after basking in his attention—that I allowed him wanting me to go to my head. Even if I refused to have any type of relationship with him until he broke up with his girlfriend, I know—had I opened that door—he would have stepped right on through, whether he was single or not.
“How’s everyone else?” I change the subject. I don’t want to talk about Peter or Mindy. I might be over the worst of their betrayal, but I’m still angry with myself for thinking he would’ve been faithful to me, for believing that, after the newness wore off, I wouldn’t be just another woman he screwed, then screwed over.
Not that the newness even had a chance to wear off. We had only been dating for a few weeks before I caught him with his cock down Mindy’s throat and at work, of all places. And for all I know, that had been happening long before he and I started officially seeing each other.
“Good. We all miss you like crazy… and hate Peter a little more every day that you’re gone.”
I swallow through the sudden tightness in my throat. I loved my job and all the people I used to work with back in Chicago. I got that position not long after I graduated, and I worked there for five years. My old boss and everyone in that office were like family to me. We spent holidays together and took trips as a group whenever we could. And even though finding out what Peter had done was the reason I left the practice and wanted to find somewhere else to work, he was not the reason I decided to leave Chicago despite what everyone believes.
“I miss you guys too.”
“How’s your new job going?” she asks.
“Good. I mean, it’s only been four days, so I’m still finding my footing. But I already have a pretty full calendar, so hopefully that keeps up.”
“It will. You’re the best at what you do. You already know I’m going to have to come down to visit you in a couple of months when it’s time for my touch-up. There is no way I’m letting anyone else near my face.” She chuckles.
“I’m looking forward to that visit.” I smile as I flip on my signal to turn down my parents’ road. “I just got to my parents’, so call me later and tell me about dinner.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too,” I reply, and I hang up and watch my parents’ three-bedroom house and overflowing garden beds come into view. Along with the largest of their three dogs, Max, who bounds out of the open garage and right for my car while barking.
“Max, if I run you over, Mom is going to kill me, you idiot,” I grumble, slowing to a roll so I won’t accidentally hit him.
When I finally pull up to the house, I put my car in park and grab my purse, along with the bag of samples I brought for my mom from the spa. I push open my door, and Max greets me, with all seventy pounds of his big body hitting me right in the chest, knocking me back a step when he tries to reach my face with his tongue.
“Max, down!” Mom shouts, and he falls to his bottom, then looks over at her like he knows he got caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to.