biting at the neckline of my tank top playfully.
“I can’t wait to see what Costa Rica is like,” I said as I ran my hands through Alex’s sandy blond hair. “You’ve practically traveled the world and the only place I’ve ever been to was Cole’s decaying mansion.”
“Sandy beaches,” he said as he kissed my throat. “Warm waters,” he moved to the space just below my ear. “And three-hundred yards of ocean front all to ourselves.”
“Sounds like paradise,” I said as I closed my eyes, picturing the scene Alex was painting for me.
He kissed me softly on the lips, a slow lingering one. I looked up into his gray eyes as he hovered over me.
“I love you,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for you. I owe you everything.”
“You’re worth it,” he said with a half-smile. “I don’t regret anything these past few months.”
My phone suddenly vibrated on the nightstand and I reached over to grab it. It was a text from Rita, asking where I was.
“Crap!” I half shouted as I practically pushed Alex off of me and bounded to the closet. “I didn’t realize what time it was! I never sleep in this late!”
“Are you still covering for Austin?” Alex asked from the bed.
“Yeah,” I called as I pulled on the first pair of clean pants I came across. “His sister’s gotten really bad I guess. No one dares leave her side.”
Pulling on a shirt, I raced for the bathroom next, trying in vain to tame my hair. It seemed pretty pointless, the curls were going to do whatever they wanted to do.
Just as I was about to run out the door, I stopped short. “Emily,” I said, steadying us both as I practically ran into her. As she met my eyes, I realized hers were red and swollen, trails the tears had made on her cheeks still evident.
“Can I just… hang out with you today?” she said, her voice quivering as she wiped at another tear that had broken loose.
“Hey,” I said as I pulled her into my arms. “What’s the matter?”
“I just…” she took in a shaking breath. “It all just kind of hit me again today. Cormack being gone, all the work I have to do to reverse what I’ve done.”
I felt my heart sink. I couldn’t even imagine what Emily was going through. It was hard enough when Alex wouldn’t ask me to marry him, but at least I still had him. Cormack was gone. For good.
“Well, I have to work today,” I said as I rubbed circles into her back. “But you can go in with me. If nothing else maybe you can find a good book to read to distract yourself.”
Emily stepped away, nodding as she wiped another tear away. “Thanks,” she said, giving me a half-smile.
We climbed into my GTO and I made my way to the freeway. Emily rested her forehead against the window and closed her eyes.
“I don’t even have a date for your wedding,” she said in a small voice.
“Trust me,” I said as I merged my way into the basically non-existent traffic. “You don’t need one. There’s literally only going to be you, Sal, my parents, maybe Caroline, Rod and Amber, and Rita and Austin. It’s not exactly an extensive guest list.”
“I’m really happy for you, you know,” Emily said. “You and Alex are perfect together.”
“Thanks,” I said as I reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze.
We got to the bookstore, Emily set to browsing the shelves, and I started helping Rita out with the three customers at the counter. She always panicked when there were more than a few people in the building.
The day died out after the first hour and by eleven, there wasn’t a soul around besides, Rita, Emily, and myself. So I practically jumped when the bell at the front door chimed.
“Austin,” I said as he walked up to the counter. “How is everything?”
He put his elbows on the counter, letting his face settle into his
“I can’t wait to see what Costa Rica is like,” I said as I ran my hands through Alex’s sandy blond hair. “You’ve practically traveled the world and the only place I’ve ever been to was Cole’s decaying mansion.”
“Sandy beaches,” he said as he kissed my throat. “Warm waters,” he moved to the space just below my ear. “And three-hundred yards of ocean front all to ourselves.”
“Sounds like paradise,” I said as I closed my eyes, picturing the scene Alex was painting for me.
He kissed me softly on the lips, a slow lingering one. I looked up into his gray eyes as he hovered over me.
“I love you,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for you. I owe you everything.”
“You’re worth it,” he said with a half-smile. “I don’t regret anything these past few months.”
My phone suddenly vibrated on the nightstand and I reached over to grab it. It was a text from Rita, asking where I was.
“Crap!” I half shouted as I practically pushed Alex off of me and bounded to the closet. “I didn’t realize what time it was! I never sleep in this late!”
“Are you still covering for Austin?” Alex asked from the bed.
“Yeah,” I called as I pulled on the first pair of clean pants I came across. “His sister’s gotten really bad I guess. No one dares leave her side.”
Pulling on a shirt, I raced for the bathroom next, trying in vain to tame my hair. It seemed pretty pointless, the curls were going to do whatever they wanted to do.
Just as I was about to run out the door, I stopped short. “Emily,” I said, steadying us both as I practically ran into her. As she met my eyes, I realized hers were red and swollen, trails the tears had made on her cheeks still evident.
“Can I just… hang out with you today?” she said, her voice quivering as she wiped at another tear that had broken loose.
“Hey,” I said as I pulled her into my arms. “What’s the matter?”
“I just…” she took in a shaking breath. “It all just kind of hit me again today. Cormack being gone, all the work I have to do to reverse what I’ve done.”
I felt my heart sink. I couldn’t even imagine what Emily was going through. It was hard enough when Alex wouldn’t ask me to marry him, but at least I still had him. Cormack was gone. For good.
“Well, I have to work today,” I said as I rubbed circles into her back. “But you can go in with me. If nothing else maybe you can find a good book to read to distract yourself.”
Emily stepped away, nodding as she wiped another tear away. “Thanks,” she said, giving me a half-smile.
We climbed into my GTO and I made my way to the freeway. Emily rested her forehead against the window and closed her eyes.
“I don’t even have a date for your wedding,” she said in a small voice.
“Trust me,” I said as I merged my way into the basically non-existent traffic. “You don’t need one. There’s literally only going to be you, Sal, my parents, maybe Caroline, Rod and Amber, and Rita and Austin. It’s not exactly an extensive guest list.”
“I’m really happy for you, you know,” Emily said. “You and Alex are perfect together.”
“Thanks,” I said as I reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze.
We got to the bookstore, Emily set to browsing the shelves, and I started helping Rita out with the three customers at the counter. She always panicked when there were more than a few people in the building.
The day died out after the first hour and by eleven, there wasn’t a soul around besides, Rita, Emily, and myself. So I practically jumped when the bell at the front door chimed.
“Austin,” I said as he walked up to the counter. “How is everything?”
He put his elbows on the counter, letting his face settle into his
Similar Books
