Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“The back is a little quieter,” Tide tells me as he pulls me behind him through the crowd to a corner table away from the video games. After I slide into the booth, he takes the seat across from me and hands me a pad of paper, which I realize is actually a menu I have to fill out with one of the tiny pencils in a cup on the table.
“Do you know what you’re having?” I ask as I look over the options to top my burger, including a list of specialty fries and drinks, while he fills out his own.
“I always get the same thing—double burger, bacon, all the regular toppings except onions, and then a shake. What are you getting?”
“A cheeseburger, plain, with spicy fries and a Diet Coke.”
“Did you say a plain cheeseburger?” he asks, and I look up at him.
“Yes, why?”
“You have a world of burger magic at your fingertips, and you’re just choosing cheese?”
“I like plain cheeseburgers, and if this place is as great as you say it is, it should be the best cheeseburger I’ve had in my whole life.”
“This is true,” he mutters, then pulls out his phone when it beeps. As he looks at the screen, he sighs, making me curious, then grits his teeth as he types a quick message.
“Is everything okay?” I ask when he lays his phone face-down on the tabletop.
“Yep.” He doesn’t say more, and I frown at him as he takes the menu slip I just filled out and stands. “I’m gonna drop off our orders and hit the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Sure,” I agree, turning to watch him over my shoulder as he walks across the room and hands our orders to a cute brunette standing at the counter, who giggles and blushes as he talks to her. Not wanting to be caught watching him, I turn back around and tap my fingers on the top of the table, attempting to talk myself out of feeling jealous, which is exactly how I feel, even though I know it’s ridiculous.
“Sorry.” A hand lands on my shoulder, and I look up, coming face-to-face with Jake, my mom’s best friend’s son—a guy I dated when I was sixteen, because he was the only guy my parents approved of. A guy who is still, unfortunately, good-looking with his dirty-blond hair, deep-brown eyes, and a jaw so chiseled it looks like it could cut glass. “Aria, shit, I thought that was you.”
“Jake?” I force a smile.
“My mom said you were moving back, but I didn’t expect to see you here.” He shakes his head and takes a seat across from me. “How have you been?”
“Good,” I mutter. “And you?”
“I’ve been great.” He nods, then continues with a smug smile. “I’m working for my dad now.”
“Good for you.” I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes. I mean, I know there is nothing wrong with working for your family, but his dad is a lawyer in town, and I know for a fact that Jake was kicked out of college after spending three years partying, and for the last few years, he’s been doing nothing but traveling the world, gallivanting like the trust-fund kid he is.
“Yeah, it’s been cool. Lots to learn.”
“I bet,” I say, and he laughs.
“Babe, scoot over.” At that order, my heart skips a beat, and I glance up to meet Tide’s gaze and bite the inside of my cheek when I see the look in his eyes. I can’t say I know him well, but if I had to guess, I would say he’s annoyed. As I shift over a few inches to give him room, my breath freezes when he puts his arm around my shoulders and asks, “Jake, what’s up, man?”
I watch Jake’s eyes ping between Tide and me, knowing he’s making a million assumptions, and worse, he is going to tell his mom every single one of them. “Nothing much. I saw Aria sitting here alone and stopped to say hi.”
“That’s nice.” Tide’s arm seems to tighten around me, and I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, not sure what the hell is going on for the third time today.
“I should go. I’m sure you two want some time alone.” Jake scoots out of the booth and stands. “It was good seeing you, Aria. I’m sure I’ll see you at your parents’ party.”
After giving him a noncommittal nod, I watch him disappear, then shove my elbow into Tide’s side, listening to him grunt. “Do you think you could not take your time flirting and leaving me alone for so long the next time we’re out?”
“Flirting?” I hear the humor in his voice, but I don’t turn to look at him. I can’t, because I never meant to say that. I don’t even know why I said it. “You mean like you were flirting?”