Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
What the fuck is going on? I take a step back and study the gate as if I’m going to somehow get through it to reach Sosie and explain what’s happening outside her house. But I’m not going to climb it and break in, so I’m not left with many options. I lean in again, and reply, “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I have her phone.” Guess I should have led with this information. “She left it with me, but I’m sure she’d like it back.”
I expect to hear the lock unlatching, but as I stand there, music from a passing car is all that is heard. The intercom's feedback startles me, and I smile. Finally. I prepare to push the gate open, but instead, the man says, “Please stay there.” See? He’s doing his job. He can’t let just anyone in off the street.
I lick my lips and stare at the front door with a ridiculous smile on my face. I clamp my lips together and twist my grin to the side. Games are the last thing I want to play with her, but looking like an idiot in love might scare her away.
A few minutes pass, so I start shuffling my feet to stay warm. I notice nerves creeping in again, this time leaning toward the negative, compared to how excited I was earlier. It’s a big mansion. I’m sure it takes time to traverse it to find her and then for her to come down to meet me.
When I glance up at her window, I see a shadow moving across the cracks of the curtains as if the person inside is pacing. It’s her room. Logically, that should be her, but why would she still be in her room when she knows I’m out here?
I don’t sweat much, assured in the choices I make, going after what I want, and determined to make things work in my favor. I’m not feeling that same confidence right now. Did I read her cues all wrong? A few more minutes have passed, so I press the intercom button again. “Excuse me?”
This time, no one answers. The front door opens instead, and her father fills the framework. Shit. He stands on the top step, glaring at me as if I’ve interrupted his good mood. Watching him pull on each of his leather gloves in an excruciatingly measured gesture suggests that intimidation might be his MO in this situation. Unoriginal, but not entirely unexpected. What kind of father would let just anyone take his daughter out? But once he gets to know me, I’m sure it’ll all work out.
He grabs the lapels of his suit jacket, tugging them together to keep the cold out, as he descends the steps. “How may I help you, Mr. Matthews?”
Mr. Matthews? Of course, he knows my name. Rubbing a gloved hand against the back of my neck, I stand taller, and figure if we can share niceties, it will make seeing Sosie more regularly a lot easier. I hold the phone in the air in surrender. No need to go to war with the father of the woman I can’t stop thinking about. “I came to return Sosie’s phone.”
“You stole her phone?” he accuses, stopping on the other side of the towering wrought-iron gate.
The allegation stings, and I lower my arm to my side again. “No.” I steady my breath and even my tone even though the anger has managed to slice through my calmer demeanor. “She left it with me, so I’m delivering it to her.”
“Why would she leave it with you?” His eyes narrow, examining mine as if he’ll find lies hidden in there.
“She left it behind,” I reply, telling the truth. Do I want to go into the details of where and why? Not really. And I’m certain her dad doesn’t want to hear about the night his daughter and I shared. “I’m sure it was an accident.”
He’s tall, almost matching my height. Distrust filters through his expression. I’m sure it’s a trait that's helped him get to where he is in business today. He must be shrewd and have some talent for getting his way since he’s on one side of this fence, and I’m on the other. His hair is graying, but he still has a full head of lighter brown fighting to hold on. The lines in his face aren’t deep. I’m sure he could pass for younger if he wanted to. Apparently, it works quite well on other women, according to Sosie’s understanding.
“Give me the phone, Mr. Matthews.” He holds his hand out as if I’m supposed to give away my only lifeline to his daughter.
I refuse to cower to his attempt at strong-arming me with demands. I’m not scared of this guy. He’s got nothing on me, but I worry about Sosie and how an encounter gone sour could fuck things up for the two of us. I tuck her phone back into my pocket, and ask, “Is Sosie here? I’d like to personally give it to her.”