Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
"No, she's not." Spencer shuts the door right in the man's face without a single apology. "Does Geoff know you're allergic?" When I nod, he presses his lips together in frustration before glancing around. "Okay, let's get your things together. I need you out of here." He runs his fingers through his short locks. "I'll help, or we can call a moving crew."
"A moving crew? Why would we need all that? I thought this would be for a few days until we get everything worked out.”
"All right, we’ll start with bags then." He goes into my room, and I hurry after him.
There’s a small closet in there, and I grab a couple bags out. I also grab the box of comics I keep in there. They are the ones I've written myself, and I don’t want to leave them behind.
Spencer starts to take the box from me, but I hold on to it tighter.
"Not this one." It's not only what they mean to me that makes me protective of them, but I also have never let anyone else see them before.
"Super secrets?" he teases.
"Comics." I lick my lips nervously. "Ones I made. They're personal."
My comics are a little different because they carry a romantic element. They aren't the norm, but they are what I often crave more of when I read comics. It made me think I can't be the only one.
“They're all you?” he asks, a half-smile tugging at his lips. Lips that keep catching my attention. I want to draw them—hell, I want to draw all of him. I’m already certain he's going to be an inspiration in my future work. Geoff can’t take that away from me. I might not be able to do anything with my work, but I can keep creating it.
“Yeah, I’m shy about them,” I say and shrug one shoulder.
Spencer’s smile is soft and genuine. “If I work on getting you to be not so shy, maybe you’ll share them with me?”
“I’d like that,” I say and hold the box tighter. “But not yet.”
“No pressure, and I promise not to peek. You don’t need a death grip on it.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that you’d—”
“You didn’t. And it’s okay.” Spencer reaches out, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “You had someone close to you break your trust, so you’re hesitant. It’s understandable.”
“You’re really sweet, you know that?”
“For you.” He winks at me, and I have to turn around and start packing again to distract myself.
While I pack my clothes and toiletries, I show Spencer what items I want to take with me so I have things to work on. A little while after that, I hear a knock at the door and flinch.
Spencer is immediately by my side. “It’s okay, I’m here. Whoever it is would have to get through me first.” He places his hand gently against my back, and I relax.
“Good thing for me, because I don’t think that would be an easy feat.”
"Especially when I’ve got someone worth protecting." He walks over to the door, and this time when he opens it, there’s a man in slacks and a buttoned-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He’s got lots of tattoos, and he's built broader than Spencer. He might not be as tall by an inch or two, which isn't saying much. It still puts the man well over six feet.
"Spencer," he greets before giving me a chin nod. "What you got for me?"
“Laptop,” Spencer says and hands it over to the guy. “I need your phone too, babe.”
I momentarily pause, wondering if I heard Spencer correctly. Did he call me babe? It might be a name he uses as endearment, but I can’t see Spencer calling random women babe. He’s not the type, but what do I know? I’m shit at thinking I know a person.
“Oh yeah, right.” I grab it out of my purse and hand it over to Taylor.
“I’ll see what I come up with and let you know tomorrow. Unless something big pops off.”
“I appreciate it,” Spencer says.
“Anything else?” Taylor asks, his eyes bouncing between the two of us.
“That should do it.” Spencer looks at me, and I nod.
Taylor lingers in the doorway. “Is this why Scout cut out early?”
“I told her she could leave early if she wanted. Why?”
Now I’m watching the two of them. I’m missing something, but I’m not sure what it is.
“No reason. I’ll be in contact.” Taylor steps back before disappearing out of sight, and Spencer lets the door fall closed.
“Are you okay?” he asks when he turns to face me.
“Better than I was this morning.”
“I’ll get you a new one,” Spencer says.
“A new what?” I’m not sure what he’s talking about.
“A new phone.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. You’ve done too much, and I don’t need it for anything, really.” I’ve isolated myself so much that all I’ve been using it for since I deleted my social media is ordering groceries.