Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“We’re meeting my sisters at Neptune’s,” Natalia answers. “They’re in town.”
“Who’s we?” I ask, glaring her way.
“You agreed!” Natalia huffs. “It’s Galentine’s Day, a day to celebrate friendship, and as my best friend, I’m insisting that you come out and celebrate with me. And before you even try to come up with an excuse, Scott has already confirmed I was your last appointment tonight and you’re free to leave.”
I sigh, knowing there’s no way I’m getting out of this, at least not without Natalia throwing a fit, and since she’s only in town for the week—she lives in the city since that’s where Leblanc, her mom’s fashion company, is run—the least I can do is plaster on a smile and have a drink with my cousins. They’ve been here for me through every up and down, and I owe them more than I’ll ever be able to pay back. My family is the best, and I don’t deserve any of them.
“All right,” I agree. “One drink …”
“Two,” she counters.
“Fine. But I’m not changing.”
I’m dressed in my black Exposed Ink shirt and ripped jeans, paired with my black Chucks, and if she thinks I’m going to change …
“Fine,” she parrots. “Let’s go.”
She hooks her arm with mine and pulls me out the door, waving behind her to my dad and Scott.
“Have fun!” Dad yells as the door shuts behind us.
“Did you drive?” I ask once we’re outside, the cool breeze wrapping around me and sending a shiver up my spine.
“Nope. I knew you wouldn’t agree to that,” she says as we walk down the sidewalk toward Neptune’s, one of the more popular bars in town.
Since I was older when my parents moved here, I stayed in the city, not moving back until three years ago, when my entire life changed and staying in the city was no longer an option.
It’s been an adjustment, to say the least, going from the hustle and bustle of the city to the quiet of a small town. But it’s been less hard, having zero memories or reminders of the past everywhere I look, like I would if I still lived in the city.
I don’t have to drive anywhere since everything is pretty much in walking distance, and whatever isn’t is reachable with the town’s public transportation—i.e., the one bus that goes around town, picking up and dropping people off.
“I have to go to Milan for Fashion Week,” she says, glancing at me. “You know, if you wanted to join me …”
“As much as I appreciate the invite, I promise I’m doing okay. I’m working and keeping busy. I have the shop, and I recently joined the health club in town.”
“Oh! I heard it’s nice. My mom and Skyla said they’ve been doing yoga and Pilates there.”
Skyla is her older sister, but since she’s twenty years older, married with kids, and busy running Leblanc with their mom, they’re not as close as Natalia is with her other two sisters, who are only two years older than her.
“I haven’t checked out the classes yet,” I tell her, “but I’ve been making use of their treadmill and steam room. And … I’ve started thinking about moving out of my parents’ place. This year will be easier. I’ll be okay.”
“All right,” Natalia concedes. “But if you aren’t …”
Her eyes meet mine briefly, and despite her being over-the-top zealous, I’m thankful for my best friend. We might be opposites, but I love her with every fiber in my being, and I can’t imagine I’d have gotten through everything without her—and the rest of my family.
“You’ll be the first person I call,” I promise.
Before she can argue, we arrive at Neptune’s, the bass from the music drowning everything else out. The second we step foot into the bar, our names are called, followed by Natalia’s twin sisters, Melanie and Melina, waving us over.
“Hey, you!” I give Melanie a quick hug. “I can’t believe you’re out.”
Melanie is married with two kids—one of who is only a couple of months old—and lives in Brookside, where she owns a cute clothing boutique that sells Leblanc as well as other high-end brands.
“Hector practically pushed me out the door after Nat told him she wanted to do a Galentine’s Day girls’ night out,” Melanie says with a laugh.
“As he should,” Natalia says. “You’ve been stuck in that house for months.”
“I haven’t been stuck.” Melanie rolls her eyes. “I’ve been recuperating after giving birth.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Natalia waves her off.
“And look at you,” I say to Melina, changing the subject. “You look amazing!”
Melina has been gone for months, traveling for Leblanc. The last time I saw her, she was a mess over her breakup from her fiancé, who she’d caught cheating. She left with black hair and a broken heart, but the woman in front of me looks refreshed and happy. With beautiful blonde hair and a smile, it’s clear she’s past her breakup—or doing a damn good job of hiding it.