Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 63970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Erin shrugged. “Doesn’t everyone?”
Apparently Big Tag didn’t, or maybe he’d borrowed for a friend. “So we have creepers?”
Charlotte grinned. “Of course. Where would the fun be without them? Also, before we get started, is everyone ready for the annual throwdown?”
It was one of the best times of the year. She got to sit on a picnic blanket outrageously overdressed for the occasion and watch as hot guys pretended like they could play football. And she would bring wine and cheese. Kori would bring a bunch of dogs who would try to eat her cheese, but it was okay because they were awfully cute. There was only one problem this year. She groaned. “I know I usually bring snacks, but I might have to send them with Kori. I promised Jared Johns I would work on his documentary this weekend.”
Because she wouldn’t be able to next weekend. God, she would rather think about hot guys who pretended they could play football.
Charlotte shook her head. “Not happening. I have it on good authority Ian views Jared’s arrival in time for the annual game as a sign from heaven that we’re going to win this year. I’m going to warn you though. He’s going to bench Liam and Si because of, well, the fact that they spend a lot of time trying to explain that it’s not real football. Sorry Avery and Chels.”
Avery stood next to Charlotte’s sister Chelsea, who was married to Simon Weston. “No problem. He’s still not over the Boomer incident.”
Chelsea frowned at her sister. “You know Simon thinks he’s an athlete. How do I explain that he’s getting shoved aside for some actor?”
“Jared is an actual athlete.” The words came out of Sarah’s mouth before she could call them back. Everyone turned and stared at her. Yep, she should have kept her mouth shut. “He was on American Ninja Warrior and everything. He made it through the whole course.”
She’d only watched it about three hundred times. It wasn’t her fault manly muscles did something for her.
So did his sweetness. She couldn’t help but remember how close she’d come to giving in and going to Malibu to see him. She’d known he would ask her when they’d started talking on the phone again. She’d fallen into his smooth tones and funny stories and the way he could make her feel like she was the only woman in the world when he focused on her. When they were talking, he wasn’t playing around on his computer or working out. He was talking to her and had attention for nothing else. She never had to say something twice to Jared.
Kori had a hand on her hip. “You sound like you care.”
“I do. About ninja things.” She wasn’t about to talk about how much she cared about Jared John Ferguson. Because she couldn’t. Because he would want far more than she could ever give him now. “I’m only saying that he probably plays football well. Maybe Simon could be a cheerleader.”
The big Brit would look good jumping up and down.
Chelsea’s lips curled in a grin. “I’ll pass that on. And I want a lot of cheese. Now that I’m not throwing up constantly I want to eat. A lot. Who’s bringing the sweets?”
“Macon and Ally.” Charlotte gave her sister an encouraging nod. “And Avery has promised to bring the Icy Hot.”
“I went to Costco,” Avery admitted. “It’s big in our house after Fight Club.”
The other women continued to talk but Kori took her by the elbow and led her over to the side of the locker room.
“Why are you doing this when Jared is in town?” Kori asked, her voice low. “You know you want to see him.”
“I am seeing him.” She was going to get in trouble because she hadn’t told Kori much of anything lately. It was probably best to tell her this so she didn’t have to reveal anything more. “I’m doing the interview for the documentary.”
“That’s not seeing him. Not really. That’s a work thing, though you should know he’s probably going to try to talk to you about more than the interview.”
“Then I’ll have to shut him down.” She knew he would use this time to try to talk to her about their friendship, but she hadn’t been able to refuse one last chance to see him. He would move on eventually. He was too amazing and he wanted a family so much. Some woman would snap him up, and she would likely be a gorgeous actress with a fabulous career. “I just want to find some closure. I’m sure Kai would think it was good for me if I were to ever talk about feelings stuff with him. Which I will not.”
Kori stared at her for a moment. “He would say it’s a good thing. You do need closure. I’m supposed to do an interview, too. It’s going to be hard to relive the day, but I think Jared needs this.”