Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“So, you’re definitely going back?” I ask tentatively.
My sister shrugs. “I don’t know. I mean, I love my job, but I also love staying home with Sophia,” she says, glancing down to her daughter, who’s sitting up like a big girl in the high chair.
“You don’t have to decide right now,” I remind her. Though, I know that’s not really the case. No, she doesn’t have to make up her mind this very instant, but the summer is going to fly by quickly, and before you know it, it’ll be time to start school.
“Actually, I do. I need to tender my resignation by the end of the month in order to give the board enough time to find a replacement,” she says sadly, looking completely torn.
I reach across the table and pat her hand. “I know you’ll make the right decision for you and your family. Talk to Harrison. You two will figure it out.”
Gwen rolls her eyes. “Oh, I’ve talked to him. If it were up to him, I’d be barefoot and pregnant all the time. He’s more than anxious to knock me up again.”
Sticking my fingers in my ears, I sing, “La la la la la. I can’t hear your dirty talk.”
My sister swats at my arm. “Stop it. I’m not talking dirty. I’m stating a fact. I definitely want more babies, but I’m just not sure I’m ready yet. I’m having way too much fun spending my time with this peanut,” Gwen says, reaching over and stroking her daughter’s fuzzy head. “So tell me what’s new with you. All settled in with Chase?”
I stiffen. All settled in with Chase? There’s rarely any settling involved. In fact, I find myself completely on edge whenever he’s around. Even when we were relaxing on the couch, I felt warm and flustered. So much so that Saturday night, I took matters into my own hands (if you know what I mean) and had to get myself off to relieve the ache between my legs. That man is a potent combination of sexy and dangerous, and I need to stay away.
Of course, that’ll be harder now that he’ll be home most evenings.
“Uh-oh, what’s that look for?” she asks, taking a drink of her tea.
“What look? There’s no look,” I reply, busying my hands by straightening the napkin holder.
“Mmhmm,” she sings, a knowing look on her face.
“He changed his schedule,” I suddenly blurt for no reason at all.
“Okay?” she asks, seemingly confused about this piece of information.
“I don’t know why. He has always worked late in the evenings, which is why I agreed to rent his guest room. But now he’ll be home. With me.”
“And that’s a problem because…?”
I shrug. “It’s not a problem, per se….”
“But it’s not convenient because now you’ll see him all the time and are afraid you’ll want to jump his bones.”
I gape across the table at my older sister. “I do not want to jump his bones.”
I totally want to jump his bones.
Gwen laughs. “Liar. I mean, don’t get me wrong, they’re nice bones. Not quite as nice as Harrison’s, but to each his own. Besides, Harrison’s bones are taken.”
“This conversation is weird,” I tell her, sipping my tea.
Gwen places my niece’s teething ring on the table for Sophia but keeps her eyes locked on mine. “It’s only weird because you won’t admit that you like Chase’s bones. Or at least, one particular bone,” she adds, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“Stop it. I don’t even know what that bone is like,” I defend, recalling how it felt pressed against me that time in my office. And the time he tried to hide it under the blanket when we watched Gilmore Girls. He doesn’t know I saw how tight his shorts were, but ohhhh, I definitely saw.
“But you wish you did.”
“Do not. Stop talking about Chase’s… bone. We’re roommates.”
“Roommates who want to bone,” she replies with a laugh.
Our food is delivered as I roll my eyes at my sister. I quickly change the subject to Mom and Dad and a vacation they’ve been planning for this summer. It seems everyone is taking a trip. Well, everyone except me. The closest thing I’ve done to a trip is moved into my brother-in-law’s best friend’s guest room and try not to think about him naked.
When our food is done, I toss out the trash and gather up my tea and purse. We walk together back to the gym, grateful for the short reprieve from the mundane office work. “Thanks for inviting me to lunch,” I tell my sister when we reach the gym.
“You’re welcome,” she replies, but I can tell she wants to say more.
“What? Just say it.”
“I think you should give Chase a chance.”
My eyes widen and my mouth falls open. “What? Are you off your rocker?”
She quickly shakes her head, adamantly. “No, I’m serious.”