Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Audrey: Sorry for the delayed response. My reception was awful on the beach. I know, I know. Poor me. Dinner tomorrow night sounds great! I fly back in the morning and land around noon.
Me: Stupey’s at seven. Does that work for everyone?
Gianna: I’ll be there.
Audrey: Me, too! Love you guys!
Me: xoxo
Gianna: MUAH!
I close the app but reopen it when it buzzes again, figuring Audrey must have forgotten something. I’m surprised to see Renn’s name on the screen.
Renn: Just wanted to thank you for being the bigger person today. I know you didn’t hit it off with Gray, and I appreciate you setting your sword down to get the job done.
Laughter topples from my lips at the memory of Gray’s face when I shifted tactics. He thought he had me. He wanted to make me look bad in front of Renn and control the situation. But, by his reaction, he didn’t expect me to play along—or to play the game better than him.
If he thinks we can be a “great team,” I’ll make him regret it.
“Stay out of my way, and things will be fine.”
The memory makes me chuckle. I’m going to be so deep into his business that he’ll wish he’d have taken my advice and found a way out of this while there was time.
Me: I still have the sword, but I promise to make you proud.
Renn: I knew I could count on you.
Me: Always. Have a good night.
Renn: You, too.
I gather my things from the passenger’s seat, slip my phone into my bag, and head inside.
I need a glass of wine and a bubble bath. It’s time to get to work figuring out how to get a step ahead of Gray fucking Adler.
CHAPTER
FIVE
Astrid
“You look cute.” Audrey leans up, pulling me into a quick hug. The scent of vanilla envelops me right along with her. “That shirt is great on you. Where did you get it?”
I set my purse next to Gianna’s on the empty chair to my right. “Gianna. I wouldn’t have picked this out on my own, but I kind of like it. It’s doing great things for my cleavage.”
The pale-yellow top is cut lower than I usually wear and is a bit tighter than I’d choose for myself. But I haven’t worn it yet, and Gianna pays attention to this sort of thing. The last thing I’d ever want to do is to hurt her feelings.
“I bought it for myself, but the fabric made me itchy,” Gianna says. “It looks great on you, Astrid. Your cleavage is hot.”
“Thanks.” I smile at my friends. “Did you guys get here early or what? I’m twelve minutes early myself, and you already have drinks.”
“Yeah. We carpooled, and traffic was light. We got you a glass of sangria,” Gianna says, pointing at a drink in front of me.
My friends know me so well. “Thank you.”
Stupey’s is busy but not crowded, especially for a Saturday night. The cozy eatery transitions from a bougie sandwich shop during the day to sandwiches and a rotating menu of dinners at night. It’s one of those places where you feel at home as soon as you walk in the door.
I take a sip of my drink and watch my friends look at photos on Audrey’s phone. Gianna’s trademark navy blue nails shine under the light hanging above our table, while a delicate pink ribbon hangs down Audrey’s long blond hair. You wouldn’t necessarily think the two of them, opposites in so many ways, would be such good friends. Add me and my clipboard to the mix, and none of it should make sense. But it does.
Gianna keeps things spicy. Audrey keeps us grounded. I balance them, encouraging Audrey to spread her wings, but keeping Gianna from overextending hers. I try, anyway.
“What are you two looking at?” I ask, leaning over to get a peek.
Audrey turns her phone to show me her screen. Her cheeks are as pink as the ribbon in her hair. “We’re looking at this.”
“I know you’re shocked,” Gianna says, hiding a grin.
Staring back at me is Audrey’s kryptonite—a blond-haired, blue-eyed mixed martial arts expert. Her brother’s best friend. It’s a small inconvenience that he doesn’t know she exists. This doesn’t stop her from trying, and I respect her game. She attends as many of her brother’s fights as she can, positioning herself in as many places as her crush will likely be. So far, no luck.
“I actually ran into him a couple of nights ago,” she says, pushing her hair off her shoulder. She threatens to cut it at least once a month, but chickens out at the last minute every time. “A bunch of the guys went to a dive bar after the fights, and Andrew was nice enough to let his little sister tag along.”
Gianna giggles. “I’m sorry. The thought of our sweet little Audrey at an MMA fight still cracks me up.”