Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
I roll my eyes. “Okay, we actually kissed.”
“That’s great, Tori,” she says, beaming.
“Is it?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Mom, how are you still so optimistic about romance and love and all that crap after everything? I mean, it was just yesterday you split up wi—”
She raises a hand. “I refuse to talk about him.”
“Well, I may be in a similar situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“This guy, he’s older, he’s hot, he’s… interesting.”
“So far, so good,” she says.
“But last night, he got super intense. Said he’s been looking for the right woman—looked at me as though I was the lucky girl. Then he told me about how his ex cheated on him with his brother, and how they died in a car crash, and now he takes care of their kid.”
“How awful,” Mom whispers.
“But I can’t find any record of it online. I’ve used his surname with the word ‘crash.’ Surely, that’d be enough? Plus, online, there are loads of photos of him with other women. So, what happened to not being interested in romance anymore? Plus, on his socials, there’s not a single snap of his nephew. Surely, if he were taking care of him, there would be.”
Mom frowns, her eyes glimmering.
“What?” I snap.
“Is this what I’ve done to you?”
“Mom, please, don’t make this about you.”
“Why would you assume he’s lying?” she questions.
“Men lie. It’s what they do.”
“Not all men,” she insists.
“Mom.”
I feel bad about raising my voice, but this is just ridiculous. How many times does she need to experience the same thing to get the point?
“How many boyfriends have you had since Dad passed away?”
“A few,” she says.
“Seven. How many of those have turned out to be liars? Five. Those aren’t exactly great odds, are they?”
“I thought you weren’t looking for a relationship, anyway,” Mom says, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve always said love isn’t for you.”
“It isn’t,” I say defensively.
“So why do you care if he lied or not? Why do you care if he’s in photos with other women? If you don’t want him, it shouldn’t matter.”
She’s got me there. I’ve got no good answer to that one.
My phone vibrates. It’s a text from the demanding doctor himself.
Alex: Good morning, beautiful.
CHAPTER 10
ALEX
In the break room, I sit on the couch and take out my phone. I’ve been waiting for a moment to see if Tori has texted me back all day. This morning, I shot off something simple.
Alex: Good morning, beautiful.
Things got heated last night. As we kissed, it was like I let out the beast inside me. I just couldn’t stop.
I might not have if she hadn’t looked so panicked. She stared at me as if she wanted to get as far away as quickly as possible. Suddenly, it was like she was terrified by what had happened between us.
Is it because she cares more than she wants to admit, more than she wants to, full stop?
She hasn’t texted back. Dammit.
I feel like a lovestruck teenager waiting for his crush to reply. I’m a grown man with a hospital to run. Angrily shoving my cell phone into my locker, I get back to work.
I work my body hard in the home gym after my long shift. Elliot was asleep when I got home, the nanny telling me he’d had a good day at school and had completed all his homework. To say that I sometimes feel like an absentee guardian would be an understatement.
I need to work on that, but my job is what keeps me sane. My job will make sure Elliot never has to want in life.
I’m not avoiding anything, anybody, because of the affair, dammit. Because of the betrayal.
When my cell rings, cutting through the metal music I use to block out my thoughts—or try to—I click the button on my headphones, which answers the call.
Julian sounds extremely pleased with himself. “Ask me how my night went.”
“Do I want to?” I say between heavy breaths.
“Whoa, you burying a body?”
The only thing I’m burying is any notion of a relationship with the only woman I’ve cared about since… no, there’s no fucking since. This is an ever kind of deal.
“On the assault bike,” I growl.
“You sound very happy about that.”
“Get to the point.”
“Jesus.” He chuckles. “You sure you’re interested?”
I settle myself down. “Sorry, Julian. I’m being rude.”
“No argument here.”
“So, what happened?”
“I met with my secret Valentine. We went back to her place—and get this—we’re going to have a second date.”
“That’s great,” I say, ignoring the petty voice whispering in my ear that I’m jealous. I refuse to let that brand of weakness twist me up. “What’s her name?”
“Cynthia. She’s a yoga instructor. We bonded over our shared love of the unusual shapes the body can make.”
“Ha ha.” The laughter is forced, but I’m not going to drag my buddy down with me.
“Your night didn’t go well?”
“I think I came on too strong. I hinted that she was the woman I’d been waiting for. We kissed, and she ran.”