Total pages in book: 203
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
“Oh,” I shake my head, “I don’t know that I’ll have any kids. I might be destined to be single. And I’m trying to be okay with that.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” she whispers. “Sometimes when I touch someone… or they touch me, as you did when you fell asleep… I see things.” She taps her temple. “I see visions about them. I know it sounds kooky, but I’ve seen those things come true many times. I see you with a family. With a tiny bundle in your arms and that little bundle is wearing these booties.”
“My sister-in-law is expecting twins. Maybe I’m holding one of them in your vision.”
She smiles while looking me up and down before saying, “So, you’re a believer in the extraordinary, the occult?”
“I am,” I confirm.
“Believe this, then, young lady, when I say regardless of nephews or nieces, you’ll be holding your own daughter in less than a year.”
I stare blankly at her.
“I think that you’ll also be getting a puppy.” She shrugs. “Enjoy your vacation.”
“Th-thank you,” I say, staring at the soft little booties in my hand.
***
When I get into the terminal, I phone Jason. It rings twice and goes to voicemail.
Rejected call?
Irritation rises in me. I aggressively tap out a message.
Please call me ASAP. Important.
Thirty minutes later, still at the airport, ignoring my other messages and missed calls, I message Danica Young.
Hi Dani. I need to speak to Jase. Is he with you?
Just typing it makes my belly swoop in a very unpleasant way. I know they’re not together like that. Erica told me that now that her sister knows how I feel about Jase, she wouldn’t ever go there with him. Not that it’s any of my business if she did.
She phones me almost immediately and I shakily answer.
“Hello?”
“Hi Bailey. Jase is at a bed and breakfast a few minutes away from the airport. It’s called… La Casa di something… I’ll get it from his text and send it to you.”
“Thanks. He’s not answering me and it’s kinda urgent that I talk to him.”
“I’ve just landed and gotten my luggage,” she says. “So, I’ll be seeing him shortly.”
“Oh. Um… you’re at the airport still?”
“Yes.”
“I’m here, too.”
“You’re here, too?” she queries. “In Italy?”
Shit. Now I feel stupid.
“I… need to talk to him. It’s important.”
My face is flaming hot with mortification. This was a mistake. I’m a dummy. Maybe I’ll just go to the hotel I booked, skip seeing Jase altogether.
“I’m on my way to the Avis counter. Meet me and I’ll drive you to him,” she offers.
“Oh, it’s okay. Maybe I’ll just talk to him later.”
“No, girl. Do what you came here to do,” she says.
I frown.
“Avis counter,” she repeats.
“Um… okay,” I say, ending the call and wiping my sweaty palms on my pantlegs while fixing the strap to my carry-on so I can rush to meet her.
3
DANICA YOUNG
Bailey hurries toward me and nearly collides with me, but quickly stops, wobbling, like her brakes are only half-working, before she nervously pushes her eyeglasses into place and greets me with a breathy, “Hi.”
The girl looks like she’s been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. She dreads being questioned about it.
She’s been cute every time I’ve interacted with her, but she put extra effort into her appearance today with a full face of makeup that looks freshly applied instead of looking like she put it on before she took the flight here.
She’s wearing cute sneakers with blue and white polka dot laces tied into perfect bows, tan linen trousers with a chunky belt, and a sweet blouse with some turquoise embroidery opened to reveal a luscious amount of cleavage. She’s got a high, full ponytail in her wavy hair, which is light brown with some lighter face-framing blonde highlights. She’s accessorized with a matching silver and turquoise bracelet and choker along with silver hoop earrings. Bailey has great curves. Great skin. Though she’s put in effort and done well, I suspect she has no idea just how pretty she is with her glowing skin, full lips, and big, expressive brown eyes.
This girl-next-door pin-up type could use all she’s got going on as an effective weapon if she ever clued in to just how many men get hard taking her in.
It’s clear she’s got a mission, but now that she’s facing performance time, I sense anxiety and stress. I’d lay a bet she won’t chicken out, though. Bailey Blackwood strikes me as 100% resolute.
I think she’s here to close the chapter on her crush on Jase. She’s intent on doing it looking her best while saving him so she can walk away and start over knowing she’s taken the high ground, that she’s the better person for it.
We don’t know what she thinks she can do here, though. My sister was vague about what might be wrong, but sure enough…Vivica knew Bailey would spring into action. To do what is currently a mystery – we haven’t figured that part out. I sense Bailey doesn’t do things without some sort of plan.