Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
He nods. ‘How is she, by the way? And Micky?’
‘They think I’ve lost my mind.’ I tell it as it is. ‘But they’re here for me.’
‘I’m glad.’ Jack pulls me back down to his chest. ‘I love you, Annie.’ He breathes in deeply, squeezing me so tightly. ‘I love your passion, I love your mind, I love how you pout across the rim of your cup when you’re thinking. I love it when you fidget when you’re anxious.’ His lips push into the back of my head, and I smile a little, loving him telling me all of this. ‘And I love your U2 T-shirt, especially when you wear nothing else with it.’ Breaking out of his hold, I find his face, suddenly desperate to see him. He smiles, and I find my thumb tracing the edges of his jaw as he goes on. ‘I love how you pile your hair up into something resembling a pineapple too. And I love how at the end of the day your mascara is a little smudged just here.’ He touches the corner of my lid, a grin tugging the sides of his mouth. ‘I love everything there is to love about you.’
‘I love your chest,’ I say stupidly, falling back into his warmth, wishing I could hide in it forever.
Jack laughs lightly. ‘Let’s get this week out of the way and go to Liverpool. Three days, just you and me, yeah?’
I nod and settle into him, enjoying this snatched moment of time. I’ll tell him about the baby at the weekend, when we’re away from London, on our own and relaxed.
I called Lizzy as soon as I left Jack’s office. She listened to me while I told her about last night and the fact that Jack has arranged to see Stephanie this evening. I didn’t need to ask for company. She told me to get to her place for six when she’d be home from work and we’d eat curry and watch Titanic – a movie neither of us tire of, even after watching it a million times.
She greets me at the door with the biggest hug she’s ever given me. I needed it before I went to Jack’s office. Now, if she didn’t release me for the entire night, that would be fine by me. I take my phone from my bag and hand it to her. I don’t need to be checking every minute for a text from Jack. It’ll defeat the whole point of me being here. Lizzy takes it and slips it into the back pocket of her jeans. She doesn’t say a word, doesn’t ask questions or press me: she just silently walks me into the kitchen.
I smile, genuinely happy, when I find Nat and Micky huddled around the table, chatting and laughing. Micky gives me a wink and Nat cheers my arrival. I look to Lizzy, wondering if she’s told them of my turmoil, but she just shakes her head mildly, grabbing a bottle of wine from the fridge.
Lizzy hands me a glass, but when I go to take it, I suddenly remember I should be avoiding this stuff. ‘Non-alcoholic,’ she whispers, going on to refresh the others’ glasses with what I expect is the real stuff.
Nat toasts the air and pulls me down onto the chair next to her. ‘You look like shit.’
‘Thanks,’ I laugh, joining her in a sip of wine.
‘You do.’ Micky winks at me across the table. I pick up a peanut from the bowl and chuck it at his head, and he shifts, catching it in his mouth around a grin. ‘Tough day at work?’
‘Draining,’ I answer tiredly. ‘But it’ll be worth it in the end.’
‘I hope so,’ Lizzy chimes in, giving me a look as she joins us.
‘I have exciting news,’ Micky announces, looking blasé and very unexcited.
‘You sure?’ I ask.
‘Yes.’ He straightens and clears his throat. ‘I’m going on a date.’
Silence falls and we all look at each other like the weirdest thing could have just happened. I’d think I didn’t hear him right but everyone else is looking as blank as I am.
‘Come again?’ Nat pipes up, her chin dropping to her chest.
‘A date,’ he repeats, starting to swivel his bottle of beer on the table while he watches it, pouting to himself.
Nat bursts into laughter, followed by me and Lizzy. This is priceless! ‘Give me a fucking break, Micky,’ Nat chuckles.
‘What?’ he asks, offended.
‘You?’ I laugh.
‘A date?’ Lizzy is holding on to the table for support.
‘The girl you’re training!’ I jump up from the table. ‘Charlie! She isn’t putting out so you’ve resorted to asking her out.’
‘Fuck off,’ Micky snipes seriously. ‘I could have her like that.’ He snaps his fingers.
‘Oh my God.’ Nat puts her drink on the table to avoid spilling it because she’s laughing so hard. ‘I can’t . . . It’s the . . . You won’t . . . Shit, this is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.’