Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
What could go wrong?
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Vivian’s raised one blonde eyebrow.
“You want to go confront Dawn?”
“Well, that too. I was really thinking of one more joke. In fact, if you let me tell the last one, I won’t tell on you for going to talk to them.”
“I wouldn’t care if you did.”
“Yes, you would. You’d hate for Chasey-poo to know you’re disregarding a direct order.” She batted her eyes. “Sure. He won’t do anything now, but we both know he’ll make you pay in the bedroom.”
Did everybody hear us having sex that day?
Vivian started jumping around and yelling like she was in church. “Jesus! Oh, Lord! Oh, save me!”
“Okay. Okay. That’s enough.” I shushed her.
The door with a rainbow-painted three opened. Lucy sneaked her head out. Not much had changed about her since the last time I’d seen her, besides the fact that she wore casual clothes instead of a business suit. A crochet needle was in her hand. I focused on the sharpened end as her face reddened and she hid it.
“What’s up, Lucy?”
“Nothing much. I mean, well, a lot, but not as much as you. I mean. You’ve been shot, right?” She came out into the hall and stared at my hurt arm. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I’d come to the restaurant, but when the guards said that we couldn’t talk to you and Chase, then I decided to just go to Colorado and be done with it all.”
“Hmm.” Vivian got on her right and I remained on her left. “So you went to Colorado after the shooting.”
“Well, I guess. I certainly didn’t hear any gunshots when I got in the car.”
“And you just drove straight to the airport and hopped on a plane?” Vivian asked.
“Yes.”
“With no luggage?” I asked.
“I’d already packed everything when I decided to leave Willow Park. Chase didn’t kick us out, but he sort of gave everyone a time limit to be out of there within a year.”
“What a coincidence,” Vivian muttered.
“I-I wouldn’t ever hurt Jasmine. I wouldn’t ever hurt anyone.” Lucy came over as if she was trying to embrace me.
I shook my finger at her. “No way. I need some space. This is my bubble.” I made a big show of an imaginary one around me. “Respect the bubble, Lucy.”
“That’s right. Before we get Chuck Norris on that ass.” Vivian sliced the air and hit her pinky on the wall which she whined about for a few seconds.
Oh, goodness.
The door with the number two opened. Wendy strolled out in a silky pink robe that looked as if she may have had nothing underneath it. Her nipples poked at the material. I almost socked her in the chest, just for exuding so much freaking sex. A glass sat in her raised hand.
“Cheers, ladies. Is the party in the hallway?” she slurred.
We ignored her. For me, the only thing more annoying than Wendy was Dawn. I figured if I had to curse out anyone it would be with them both there at the same time to make it easier on my throat.
Regardless, I kept Wendy on my right and Lucy on my left. Who knew if they all worked together or not? Maybe they’d planned a moment very like this, when the guys sat downstairs and I had come up to them. Perhaps Lucy was the mastermind or maybe even Wendy.
No way. Dawn had to be the person in control. Nothing happens unless Dawn is consulted or at least told some of the story.
A question popped in my head. “Why did you all even come to the restaurant in the first place?”
“It’s kind of difficult to answer.” Lucy shifted her balance to her other foot. She exchanged glances with Wendy. I didn’t like that at all.
“Go ahead, Lucy,” I said.
“Maybe Wendy should answer that,” she suggested. “She was the one that got us all to go there.”
I backed away from her. Tension built in my shoulders. I flexed my fingers almost as a habit, something I did when preparing to punch someone. I didn’t hit people a lot, but the few times I had, I hit my target. Half the time it wasn’t even necessary to fight. I got out of many scrapes by just flapping my gums or switching the whole situation around. This time I had no idea how the cards would play out.
Wendy asked them all to come? Why? Was that the plan all along? Get everyone there so she could cover her tracks when she shot me?
“I figured we could all talk to Chase and Jasmine.” Wendy chugged some of her drink. It was a murky brown liquid, not the type of clear fluid like a brandy or scotch on the rocks. This one had been mixed with something else that was darker, maybe a Coke.