Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“What happened?”
“We hit puberty. She blossomed into this beautiful swan, and I got cystic acne and fewer callbacks. Eventually, I just quit acting. I heard what people would say about me behind my back. It’s not like anyone needed me anyway. They had her.”
I blink back the moisture gathering in my eyes. “The worst part is she doesn’t realize she’s beautiful. She’s sweet and kind and the type of person that you want as your best friend. That’s what she is–my best friend.”
His arm is around my shoulder, tucking me close. It’s the best feeling in the world, having him hold me like this. “You don’t see yourself through my eyes. You’re beautiful, smart, and sassy. You keep a man on his toes and make him wish he could keep you forever.”
My heart warms at his words, at the way he’s calling me beautiful, smart, and sassy. But it also hurts because he just said he can’t keep me forever. Didn’t he say something earlier tonight about being in love once before? I bet she’s beautiful.
“Thank you,” I whisper. I want him to know he’s beautiful and that his scars aren’t something he has to hide away from me. Even if he just made it clear he won’t have a future with me. “From the first moment I saw you, I thought you were beautiful too.”
He chuckles. “So, for all of three hours?”
I try to chuckle, but it gets caught in my throat as a little sob. I can’t believe this is how my year is ending. I finally know what it’s like to sleep with Ford, but he doesn’t even know who I am.
“Hey,” he murmurs softly and takes my face in his hand. He thumbs away my tears. “I don’t know who the motherfucker is who’s making you cry, but he’s not worth your tears.”
I can’t agree with him. I’ll never agree with him, but I can’t tell him that. “Just kiss me again. Make me forget until midnight.”
He shakes his head. “Let me hold you.”
It’s the worst kind of torment, to be in Ford’s arms but not have him know that it’s me. He’ll never understand how much I love him. I don’t know how long we stay wrapped up in each other, quietly holding on.
Finally, Ford says, “It’s nearing midnight. Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?”
I’m not about to tell him that I’m going to quit my job. That might tip my hand.
Later, when I go to stop working for him and send him my resignation letter, I don’t want anything to tarnish this beautiful night, and that means I don’t want him to ever realize that he was with me. He wouldn’t choose me anyway. He’s clearly in love with someone else.
“No,” I sigh softly. “I don’t have any New Year’s resolutions. How about you?”
He opens his mouth and hesitates.
I bump his shoulder with mine. “You can tell me. We’re just strangers after all.”
He swallows hard and says, “I’m going to tell the woman that I love that I’m in love with her.”
This is it. This is the point when I know that I have to flee. I can’t keep staying here in his arms while he’s thinking about someone else. There’s too much pain.
“That’s a really good resolution,” I say weakly. I press a kiss to his cheek and give him a grin, the best one I can muster.
“I got fudge sauce down my dress. Would you grab me a warm washcloth from the bathroom?”
There’s a twinkle in his gaze. “There are other ways I could remove the fudge sauce.”
I laugh in spite of my heavy heart and push at his big, broad chest. If only he wanted me half as much as I want him. “Go grab me the washcloth.”
The moment he steps into the bathroom, I’m out of bed and on my feet. It takes me less than three seconds to grab my shoes and my clutch.
He’s still waiting for the water to warm, completely oblivious, and that’s the best way to end this night. I sneak out of the room, closing the door quietly.
I’m down the stairs by the time I hear him at the top of them. He’s bellowing something, but it’s far too easy for me to disappear into the swell of bodies, of people preparing to celebrate the approach of midnight. I don’t look back because I don’t have a new beginning to celebrate. It’s just the same old heartbreak.
Chapter 10
Joy
I’m in luck because Bobby is waiting for me in the parking lot. He’s in the driver’s seat, baseball cap pulled low. I doubt anyone would recognize him here, but he can’t be too careful. It’s one of the downsides of being “semi-famous” as he calls himself.
I crawl into the passenger seat. “Let’s go home.”
He doesn’t ask questions, and maybe that’s the best gift anyone could give me tonight. He just starts the vehicle and drives into the night. Even as he follows me up to my apartment, he doesn’t say a word. He only asks about it when we’re finally in the privacy of my living room.