Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“We stay here sometimes,” she told me. “The first was a year ago. We used the fourth floor, and Carter said Cole had residents here as well. I was told not to talk to them, because he keeps his presence here a mystery, so it’s nice knowing you’re here.”
“Yeah. Same here. You know, if you’re here long, we could have lunch together or something?”
Interest sparked in her gaze. “Your days are free?”
I nodded. We were alone in the lobby. I turned to glance behind us, but Ken had closed the door.
“Carter’s nervous about you,” Emma said. “You’re close to Cole. It’s obvious how much he cares about you.” She glanced sideways at me, a lingering look. “Cole’s not as guarded as he is. I think he wanted to hash some stuff out before we go up for a nightcap.”
I nodded. That made sense.
My gaze lingered on the closed door, though.
Emma touched my hand lightly, drawing my attention. “We’re here for another few days. After what happened at the stables, Carter wants to make sure everything is fine. So if your offer is genuine, I’d love to meet for lunch one day.”
“It is, and my days are wide open. I’m not working.”
“Yeah?”
I was sure she and Carter knew about Liam, and about his death, but I was about to explain my lack of day job anyway when I heard the elevator ping its arrival. I’d just started to explain to Emma when I heard my name—and I turned to see Sia standing there.
The world tilted sideways for a moment.
Jake came up behind Sia, and they looked between Emma and me.
Sia said again, “Addison?”
I was frozen. My two worlds were colliding, and I couldn’t say a damned thing.
“I—” I choked out. That was it.
Emma looked between us and understanding dawned over her face. She swung around, holding her hand out to Sia. “Hello. I’m Emma. You’ll have to excuse me. I was coming in and saw—” She pretended to ask me, “Addison?”
I nodded, grateful.
“I saw Addison’s shoes and stopped to ask her where she got them. I’m so sorry if I held your friend up. We started talking about restaurants around here. I asked her for a recommendation.”
“Oh.” Sia drew closer, some of her curiosity satisfied. “Did she mention Gianni’s?”
“Gianni’s.” Emma’s eyes lit up again. We could hear Carter and Cole coming in from outside, and she said hurriedly, “Yes. Actually I knew about Gianni’s already. My friend owns the restaurant.”
“Your friend?” The door opened and her gaze passed over us to the two coming in. Sia’s eyes widened dramatically. So did Jake’s.
Emma jumped in, raising her voice. “Yes, my friend Cole.” She turned to them. “You guys are here. I’ve been entertaining myself. I ran into Addison, and she recommended your restaurant, Cole, for us to eat at tomorrow.” She paused. “Have you met Addison or her friends?”
Cole didn’t skip a beat. He held out his hand. “Hello, Addison.” After we shook, my grip a little shaky, he held his hand out to Sia and Jake. “The both of you look familiar.” He pretended to mull it over before he gestured to Jake. “You were at the fundraiser a while ago. That was almost a month and a half ago, I think? Carter, you were with me.”
Carter sidled up next to him, shaking Sia and Jake’s hands as well as they stood there, slack-jawed.
“I don’t think we were introduced, but I remember,” Carter said. “You were with Mahler.”
“Yeah.” Jake blinked a few times, closing his mouth. “I, uh, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Carter.” He pointed to Cole. “And this is Cole.” Emma moved next to him. “And you already met Emma.”
“Yes.” She clasped his arm, pulling him toward the elevator. “It was nice to meet you all.”
Cole lingered as the other two stepped inside the elevator. He was waiting for my signal. With Jake and Sia’s attention still focused on them and not me, I nodded briefly. Cole nodded back and followed his friends.
In silence, we all watched as the elevator went up. It stopped on the fourth floor.
“Whoa. Carter Reed stays there,” Jake exclaimed. “That was, wow. I mean, maybe Carter Reed owns this building? You think? He was in the Mauricio family, too.”
Sia didn’t respond. She’d turned back to me. “You look pale. Are you okay?”
“Huh?” Jake frowned.
She ignored him. “Addison?”
“Oh.” Jake shook his head, raking a hand through his hair. He stepped back to give us space.
Sia asked again. “I called you earlier. We’re going to a get-together. One of Jake’s colleagues is celebrating his birthday. Do you want to come with?”
She asked me to come along.
Because I was alone.
Because they ran into me in the lobby.
All the guilt from yesterday rushed back to me, doubling because, yet again, I’d lied to her face. I couldn’t do it, not anymore. Sia deserved better, and I let out a deep sigh.