Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 28810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
I stood still with an aching heart, unable to move, unable to cry.
I stayed there until the sun started rising, until light slipped through the blinds and I realized how much time had passed.
Tears pricked my eyes, but I couldn’t bear the idea of letting them fall just yet.
I stormed back to my office and locked the door.
“WHYYYYY?!” I screamed at the top of my lungs before collapsing into my chair.
I pulled out Kelly and Michael’s checks and ripped them to pieces.
Part of me was grateful they'd saved me money on their way out, but the other part was pissed as hell at them for leaving me like this.
Things were starting to get better…
Before I could think things through, I picked up my phone and scrolled down to Adrian’s name.
FUCK YOU.
FUCKKKKK YOUUUUU.
Adrian Sinclair
Name the time and place.
This isn’t a joke. You’re a fucking dick-faced villain in my life’s story and I hope your character DIESSSSS IN THE END.
DIEEEEEEE!
His name immediately flashed across my screen.
I hit ignore.
He called again.
Ignore. Block.
I tossed my cell across the room to prevent myself from reaching out to the enemy again.
This isn’t ALL his fault…
THE INDIE
SUMMER
Three Hours Later
Five customers had wandered in and out of my store this morning. Three asked to use the bathroom, one asked for directions to the subway, and one person bought a card and an ‘I like fucking the men in my books’ keychain.
Oh, wait.
There were six.
A homeless guy came in and treated himself to our complimentary water before squinting at me and saying, “Hmph. You would look a lot better with highlights in your hair, lady… And makeup. Put on some makeup.”
He placed a dollar in my tip jar right after that, so I couldn’t afford to throw him out.
The only signs of life were the long line outside my windows, the pages turning in my book, and Adrian’s emails lighting up my phone.
Subject: Pick up your damn phone…
Subject: Don’t make me come over, Summer.
Subject: You have until noon.
I decided to give it two more hours before closing early for the day.
I barely made it through one before I shut all the blinds and hit the lights.
I needed a plot twist for today. Stat.
Grabbing my purse, I strolled out of the store and down several blocks in search of something new to do.
The Blow Bar’s pink and white lights winked at me, so I stumbled inside for an impromptu session.
Somehow, through the shampooing and styling, I didn’t think about my troubles at all.
Just Adrian…on top of me, putting his mean-ass mouth to much better use…
When the stylist spun me around to face the final cut, I hardly recognized myself.
Gone were my long dark curls that fell down my back. In their place were honey-auburn waves that brushed against my shoulders.
My eyebrows were perfectly shaped and less fuzzy than usual. And my lips were coated in a bright pink that screamed “Taste me.”
The homeless guy was right…
I made a mental note to treat him to lunch the next time I saw him while I paid at the counter.
Not ready to go home or return to Slow Burn, I continued walking in search of something else to distract me.
Anything else…
Several minutes later, a huge stone frog statue stood near the edge of the sidewalk. His beady eyes locked on mine, and I read the sign above his head.
Queen Tiffany’s Tarot & Psychic Palm Readings
“Perfect,” I said, high-fiving the frog before walking inside the shop.
“Oof!” The redhead at the counter frowned. “I can see the state of your life in your eyes already.”
“You’re just making that up…”
“I’m not even the psychic, and I can tell.” She smiled. “You’re pretty, though. Sad, but very pretty.”
“Is it company policy to insult potential customers?”
“You’re broke.” She tilted her head to the side. “I’ll charge you forty bucks for today, but don’t come back until you can afford the full hour for one hundred.”
“Actually—” I paused. “Do I pay now or at the end?”
“At the end,” she said. “You’ll have to share a table, too, if that’s alright.”
“Of course.” I nodded.
“Follow me this way, please.” She gestured for me to follow her down a hallway with walls covered in gemstones.
Then she suddenly stopped in front of a golden curtain.
“Here you go,” she said, tying a blindfold over my eyes. “Queen Tiffany is already mid-read on another guest, but you’ll follow right after.”
She squeezed my hand and guided me forward. Then she helped me settle into a chair.
“You have a very successful future ahead of you…” A woman spoke, her voice deep yet soft. “It’s beyond your wildest dreams…”
Really? I smiled, but then I realized she was talking to someone else.
“But that success might come at a huge loss of something that could change your life for the better.” She paused. “Hold on, sir. Let me allow you to sit with that.”