Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
She grabs my hand and moves people out of our way, the sounds of our names fading as we make our way outside. The warm air hits my clammy face.
“Just breathe, Raven. It’s okay. I shouldn’t have pushed you. Clearly, it’s too soon.” She rubs my back as I wheeze, glancing around at all the faces outside.
“I… do you see him?” I kind of spin, then look at Cher, who isn’t even trying to hide her frown.
“Do I need to get a cab, or can you walk? He. Is. Not. Here. You thought you saw him, that’s all.”
“Let’s walk. The air will help.” I move forward and Cher follows, texting on her phone. The night air, and maybe walking, seem to help as I listen to the ocean on our uphill walk.
“Okay, so do you want to talk about this?” Cher pops her phone into her bag, and I hold my hand up.
“I’m feeling like you might not have to take me to the hospital, okay?”
“Fine. But this isn’t healthy,” she snaps.
“Are you kidding me? Healthy? I’m freaking out, Cher. My whole life has crumbled. It’s like I’m in this black hole and I’m trying so hard to climb my way out, but I can’t do it.” I stop to face her. A lone dog barks at us from across the street.
“I know, honey.” She goes to hug me, but I step back.
“You don’t know. I feel like I’ve been gutted, and it will never end. Sooner or later, I will have to see him because, as you love to remind me, he’s marrying my mother.” The tears that I’ve been holding back spill down my cheeks.
Cher sniffs. “I… was only trying to help. I hate seeing you like this. I hate Jett Powers for doing this to you, and I hate that we’re yelling at each other.” She pulls me in for a hug. I cling to her and cry.
“I still love him. What do I do?” I look out at the ocean.
“You go to bed, and everything will be better in the morning.” She sniffs back her own tears.
Pulling back, I nod and smile at my sweet, good Cher.
It won’t be better tomorrow, but I love that she looks at things that way. We cross the street to our apartment building, and a song about how the sun’s coming out tomorrow from Annie plays in my head.
“So you don’t think I’m losing it?” I open the door for her.
“Nope.” She smiles, wiping under her eyes, and we both walk in.
Brody’s asleep with the TV on. I don’t bother turning it off and walk into my room, kick off my heels, and drop into bed, hoping the sun truly does come out tomorrow.
RAVEN
What is that noise? I roll over and sit up. It sounds like the upstairs is coming down on us.
“Brody? Cher?” I call out. A loud groan comes from Cher’s room, but nothing else.
“Are we having an earthquake?” Cher yells.
Leaving my room, I walk out to find Brody.
“No, I think it’s construction.” Moving to the window, I look down at a bunch of workers coming in and out of the building.
“Did we get a notice that the building is getting a makeover?” I call out. Looking out the window, I spot Brody crossing the street with coffee cups and a bag. Thank God for him.
Cher stumbles out, still in her clothes from last night also, looking like Spot the dog with one eye covered in mascara.
“Is that a jackhammer I hear?” She points to the ceiling.
We’re a fucking mess, and I let out a snort. “Yep.”
Cher is the worst morning person. “Well, we’re moving if this carries on.” She huffs and rubs her head.
Brody walks in. “What happened to you two?” He looks from me to Cher. “Rough night?” He laughs, dropping the bag from under his arm, then handing us each a coffee.
“You could say that.” Cher yawns.
Brody grins and leans against the counter. I’m still amazed at what sun can do for a person. He looks like a different man. His hair is growing out, and now that he’s doing yoga on the beach, he’s kind of got the lean surfer-slash-hip-professor thing going on.
If only I could fall back in love with him. Not that I was ever truly in love with him. It would be so much easier though. No more pain, just a mutual respect for each other.
“So.” He takes a sip of his coffee and motions with his eyes to the ceiling. “The building got bought by a rich American. He’s redoing all of it, apparently, starting with the upstairs, because he paid all four of the upstairs tenants a ton of money to move.”
I choke on my coffee. “What?”
Brody reaches for my arms and says, “Raise them over your head,” as if I’m a toddler choking on a toy.