Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“You’re literally the last person I want to see,” I told her.
“I know.” She gave me an apologetic smile. “But I’m here to help. Even if you don’t understand, Sapphire.”
It felt odd hearing my name from her lips. The lips that had been begging for King’s cock the last time I heard her talk.
“My only purpose in your relationship is to help,” she said. “I know you don’t get it, but trust me. I’m not here to steal your man.”
“As if you could,” I rolled my eyes, but my bravado was false.
She really was beautiful, and so much sexier than me. Even I could tell that. Fuck, a lamppost could tell.
“You need to go back home to him,” she said, and I shook my head.
“I can’t deal with it right now,” I said. “And I don’t like you meddling.”
“He sent me,” she protested.
“Fucking great,” I muttered. “Got someone else to do his bidding, once again. What, am I not worthy of him getting me back by himself?”
“You’re one angry girl,” Angel laughed.
She looked at me with a bemused expression, then extended a hand. I stared at her with contempt.
“My name is Maria,” she said. “I thought you should know, since I know yours.”
I glared at her as she pulled my hand towards her and shook it. Her laughter was melodic, and she linked her arm with mine.
“Come on,” she smiled. “I’m buying you a drink, and then we can get you home.”
I had the feeling I wouldn’t get anywhere if I objected.
She took me to a cafe. Not even a fucking bar.
I kept glaring at her as we ordered our drinks, two Cokes with ice and lemon.
“I don’t like you,” I told her.
“Yeah?” she licked her straw. “I think you’re a fucking peach.”
“King thinks so,” I grinned.
“He has awful taste.” She sucked her drink through the straw. “Ever since he dumped me.”
Knowing that he’d dumped her gave my heart palpitations. Good. Bitch fucking deserved it.
“I think we could really be friends, you know,” she said and I burst out laughing. After a moment, she joined in, and we giggled for what felt like ages.
“You’re not going to touch him again?” I asked her.
“I do what he tells me to,” she said. “And what we did was for your own good.”
“Sure.” Another eye-roll. “You don’t have feelings for him anymore?”
She toyed with her straw and I wanted to stab her in one of her pretty brown eyes.
Kind of.
Not really.
“Why did you agree to come get me?” I asked.
“He asked me to,” she shrugged.
“That wasn’t my question.”
She let go of her glass and glared at me.
“When King asks you to do something,” she said. “You say yes.”
Well, she had a point there.
“I’d really prefer it if you stayed out of my life,” I said, and she gave me a long look.
“I think you could use a friend,” she said.
“Yeah? And you think you’d fill that role well?”
“I’m saying it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. I know all of this is new to you, I’m just trying to help. So, if you let me…” She reached for my hand and laid her palm on top of it gently. It felt all kinds of weird. “I think we’d make a great team.”
“I’ll think about it,” I muttered.
There was something about her that I liked, now that I saw her as Maria, not Angel. She seemed almost… sweet. Caring. Of course, my judgement wasn’t always spot-on with these things.
“Let’s take you home,” she suggested, and I shook my head.
“A little while longer.” My voice was soft and shaky, so she just nodded and ordered us another round of Cokes.
Somehow, she managed to involve me in a conversation that had absolutely nothing to do with King.
We talked about anything and everything from our favorite movies to the best skincare brands we liked to use. And finally, we touched on the subject of school, and it made me curious.
“You’re a student?” I asked her, and she shook her head.
“I finished two years ago,” she said.
“What’s your degree in?”
“Drama,” she grinned. “I’ve always wanted to be an actress.”
I looked her over. On second thoughts, she might have what it takes. There was something about her – she was beautiful, yes, but a bit unusual with that wild hair. Her skin was a sharp contrast to her dark hair and eyes, pale and almost creamy. She really was beautiful, but there was more to it than that. Almost like a charisma, something I would never have. I assumed that’s what attracted King to her in the first place.
“I can see you as an actress,” I told her, and she beamed. “Have you done much work?”
“A few ads,” she said. “And I have a spot on a TV soap opera.”
“Which one?” I asked. My mom used to be obsessed with them. I bet she would’ve freaked if I told her I met an actress from one of her favorite shows.