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)
“It’s fine, I’ll get you one.”
“You’re going to make me feel bad. You already paid a hundred bucks to make the daisies disappear.” At the mention of the flowers, Spencer clenches his fists at his sides.
“It’s nothing,” he says and comes over to me.
“It’s not nothing.” Right now, it means everything to me.
“I’m saying that a hundred bucks is nothing to me. I’m not telling you to be cocky or brag, I only want you to know so that it doesn’t bother you.”
This man can’t be real.
“Thank—”
“No more thank yous,” he cuts me off. “Let’s finish. I’m going to tell my driver we’re almost done.” I nod and put the rest of the items I want to take into my bags.
When we get outside, I hand the small bag that I carried over to the driver. I had to basically beg Spencer into letting me carry one.
“Are you thinking city or country?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, confused by his question.
“I have a place in the city and one in the country. Which would you prefer?"
“Whatever works for you.” I don’t want to be more trouble.
“What works for me is you picking.”
Okay, so he’s not going to make this easy on me. I let out a small laugh.
“Normally I’m a city girl, but the country sounds nice right now.”
“Country it is,” he says and helps me into the car.
With every mile we drive away from the city, the more relaxed I become. If I don’t think about it too much, it could almost feel like I’m going on a vacation.
“It’s been a minute since I’ve been there, so it will be good to check on the place.”
“How many homes do you have?” I tease. I’ve been in isolation for a while, so I’m not used to conversations, but something about Spencer makes me want to keep talking to him.
“The ones I own myself, or do I count the ones I own with Landon and Gideon?”
“Is this you not bragging again?” I laugh.
“Damn, I forgot to mention the beach house. I should have offered that instead.”
“No swimsuit.”
“You’re in luck, it’s a private beach.” He wiggles his eyebrows, and another laugh bubbles free. It feels nice to be laughing and carefree. It’s been so long, and I know that with Spencer I’m safe.
"You're being serious, aren't you?" I say, when he doesn't laugh with me.
"There is a cabin in Aspen too if you'd rather have snow."
“You own those with Landon and Gideon?”
“I do. It’s convenient for us to share.” That makes sense if they are vacation homes. I can’t see them putting their houses up on Airbnb.
“That sounds nice. Having friends like that.” After high school, my friend group broke apart, and I didn’t have the means for college. It’s not so easy making friends as an adult. Plus, a lot of people think my hobby is strange.
"They actually took off on vacation today with their new wives."
Oh, shit. My eyes drop to Spencer's hand to see if I somehow missed a ring. Thank goodness there’s not one, but he catches me looking.
"Oh, I’m single. Well, unless you count being married to the job. But I guess all three of us have been at some point."
He’s young for how successful he is, so I imagine he had to devote all of his time to the firm. Spencer is a great guy, so it’s the single part that surprises me the most.
Chapter Six
SPENCER
How is it that I met this woman today and now I’m taking her to my place upstate? On paper, this might be the beginning of a horror story. Although from everything that Abbie told me, her life while working with Geoff more closely resembled that.
We got to the house about an hour ago, and since then, I’ve been showing Abbie around and helping her settle in. There’s a husband and wife that live at the edge of the property and take care of the place when I’m not here. When I texted them that I was on the way, they were kind enough to restock the kitchen. What I didn’t mention was that I was bringing someone with me, so they only got one bedroom ready.
“Are you sure it’s okay to put my stuff in here?” Abbie looks around as I place her bags on the bench at the foot of the bed.
“Absolutely. I showed you the other rooms. I’ll find one to crash in.”
“But there aren’t any beds in them.” She bites her bottom lip nervously.
I wasn’t in a rush to furnish the place since it was only me that came up here when I needed some alone time. “It’s fine, really. I promise.”
“Spencer, there’s no way I’m staying in your house and making you sleep on the floor. I can’t even make myself feel better about you sleeping on the couch because it’s not big enough to hold you.”