Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Astrid laughs. “Lisa is a wild woman. If she invites you anywhere, buckle your seat belt and say a prayer. I mean it.”
I laugh, too. “Noted.”
“So you’re not bored?” Astrid asks.
I stare at the wall, wondering if anyone has told her about my surgical debut. I haven’t mentioned it, mostly because it feels like a fun little secret between Brooks and me, even though Hartley knows. And I’m also not sure how to bring it up. I’ve assumed that someone mentioned it to Gray, who would’ve mentioned it to Astrid … but now? I’m not so sure.
“No, I’m not bored,” I say, carefully. “I caught up on work, have taken my fair share of long bubble baths, sewed up someone’s arm—”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Hartley didn’t mention it?” I ask, wincing.
“No. This is the kind of thing that warrants a call, Auddie.”
She’s right—it does. Guilt swamps me for not calling her when it happened. It might not be a super big deal, but it’s more excitement than I usually have to share.
“I was out walking the other day, and Hartley and Brooks stopped by,” I say, trying to play it like it’s no big deal. “And Brooks cut his forearm on a piece of wire or fence or something in the back of Hartley’s truck.”
“Uh-huh. Go on.”
“And he asked me to sew it shut.”
“And you did it?”
The surprise in her voice catches me off guard. “Yeah,” I say, surprised at her surprise—although I shouldn’t be. Participating in that sort of shenanigan is a bold, non-Audrey thing for me to do. “It saved him a ton of money at the hospital.”
She gasps. “Auddie.”
“What?”
“You, my sweet friend, sewed up Brooks Dempsey’s arm? Is that what I just heard?”
I shrug, knowing she can’t see me, but not sure what to say. Why did she say his name as if he’s someone special? Weird.
“Okay,” she says, settling in. “That’s great. I mean, it sounds a bit dangerous from a medical standpoint, but it’s a very cool story.”
“I made him promise not to sue me if his arm falls off.”
She laughs freely. “Wow. Okay. So this is the second time you’ve had an encounter with Brooks since you got there. Well, the second that I know of. Is he bothering you? Are you good with it? Because I can have Gray threaten him within an inch of his life.”
“No,” I say quickly—far too quickly. “It’s not like that. Both times we’ve seen each other have been random. He’s not searching me out or anything. It’s not a big deal at all.”
I’m talking too much. Too fast. Too … everything. I know it. And by the sound of Astrid’s breathing on the other end of the line, she knows it, too.
“I must admit that I didn’t see this development coming,” she says, a touch of amusement in her voice. “But I kinda like it.”
“What development?” I ask, pretending not to comprehend what she’s implying.
“You and Brooks. Spending time together. It’s an interesting choice, but I’m sure Gianna will approve.”
My eyes fly wide. What is she talking about? “No. What … No. It’s not like that. I mean, he’s been very nice and—”
“Auddie? Brooks isn’t nice. He doesn’t have a nice bone in his body.” She pauses. “Or maybe he does. You’ll have to let me know.”
“Oh, my gosh,” I say over her giggles. “That’s not what’s happening here. You sound like Gianna. Get a grip.”
“Sounds like you’ll be the one gripping something, if you know what I mean.”
“Astrid!” My face burns at her insinuation. “Again, it’s not like that.”
“Why isn’t it like that? Because you don’t want it to be? If not, absolutely fair. But if it’s not like that because of any other reason, then that’s not fair.”
I spring to my feet. My heart rattles my rib cage with its thunderous beats. I’m hot. I’m antsy, I’m … bamboozled.
Astrid can’t really think that Brooks and I would hook up. Can she?
“Listen, when I said he’s not nice, I didn’t mean it like he isn’t kind,” she says. “He actually has a huge heart buried beneath those thick muscles.”
I bite my lip as I remember just how thick and defined his muscles are.
“I just meant that Brooks is … playful.” Astrid takes a breath, undoubtedly choosing her words carefully. “Of course, he’s interested in you.”
“No, he’s not.”
“Audrey Van, yes, he is. I know him. And I also know you. You’re fun, smart, and totally hot. Men find you sexy. You just need to accept that … and accept that it’s okay to be attracted to men who don’t think they’re better than everyone.”
At least she didn’t call me sweet.
I smile sadly. I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to do the right thing and find a snotty, boring guy who would get the sparkling Van seal of approval. But it’s not easy to break years of social conditioning or to heal from being mishandled by unworthy men.