Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“A date?” I blurt in shock. “You do understand I wasn’t serious, right?”
“Yes, I noted the sarcasm dripping in your beautiful voice. I just chose not to acknowledge it.” I stay where I am as he takes a step closer. “A date. Please.”
“Did it hurt to say please to me?”
“No, it came out naturally, which is unusual for me.”
“Noted.”
“So, will you go on a date with me?”
“Sure, I’ll meet you.”
He eyes me skeptically before he says, “I can work with that.” I go to step around him, but he blocks my path again. “I’ll send you the address.”
I remain silent as he stands there, looking way too good, which makes me even angrier. He notices. I know he does, but he says nothing about it.
“Okay,” I finally answer. And this time, when I go to pass him, he allows it. I get into the car and try my hardest not to look back at him. But just as Matty turns the corner, I chance a quick glance and find him watching me drive away.
A few moments later, a text comes through—luckily, I had unblocked him. It’s his location, asking me to come to his place. I delete it and then call Delaney to check on her. She doesn’t answer, which makes me a little concerned because she always answers, or at least replies with a text saying she’s busy. I send her a text, asking her to call me when she can because I want to make sure she’s okay. She still hasn’t replied by the time I get to work. Right now, I’m worried about her headspace because I know she was falling in love with James—Rylas—and someone like Delaney falls hard.
I spend most of the day checking my phone for a reply from her, but I don’t get one. I even made a point to call her office, but they told me she didn’t come in today, which has me even more worried.
I finish up my last meeting, and then I immediately have Matty take me to her house. Checking my watch, I see I was supposed to be meeting up with Arlo right now. But, to be honest, I wasn’t really planning to go on a date. I just agreed so he would move out of the way.
She doesn’t answer when I knock and wait several minutes. Then I remember I have a spare key at home. After running back to the car, I tell Matty to drive me home. I call her repeatedly on the way, but she never answers. By the time we arrive at my place, I’m frantic.
When I arrive at my apartment, I find Arlo sitting on the steps. He stands when he sees my car pull up, and before I can even open my door, he’s opening it for me.
“You knew I wasn’t coming.” It’s a statement, not a question.
“Of course I did.” He waves for me to get out, but I stay seated.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
“I want something more from you, Cora. I need something more.”
I blink a few times at his declaration, my pulse fluttering wildly.
“You don’t just want sex. We both know you deserve more than that. And while I would be ecstatic to fuck you from here to eternity, I know I wouldn’t be happy only having that small piece of you. I’m a greedy, obsessive man when it comes to you. I want it all. So, the plan tonight was to ask you to be more with me.”
“You want me to be your girlfriend? After you lied to me?” I heard everything he just said, but it also hurts and confuses me. Arlo declaring that he wants more is not what I was expecting. Does it make me feel a certain way about him? Sure. He is literally throwing everything at me that I asked for, but at the same time...
“I never lied to you.”
“It felt that way,” I shoot back. “And I can’t discuss this right now. I have an emergency.” Just as I say that, a text comes through from Delaney. My heart rate picks up when I see her name flash on the screen.
Delaney: I just need some time away.
Time away? I get that. She’s hurting. But it doesn’t sit right with me. We go through everything together. There is never a day that she doesn’t reply to me or call me back. It’s just not who we are.
“What’s wrong?” Arlo asks as I step out of the car.
Reaching back inside, I grab my bag and then pull it over my shoulder, not wanting to make eye contact with him.
“You hold a lot of secrets, am I correct?” I ask, finally looking at him.
“Yes.” He doesn’t bother lying about it.
“And these secrets. How bad are they that you can’t share them with me?”