Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Blake lets out a sigh of relief and nods. “Thank you.”
“I talked with Chase Wild this morning, the policeman assigned to the case, and gave him my statement.”
“Good. Chase will do a good job.”
“I know. He’s already got the asshole in custody, and he hasn’t been able to post bail. I’m filing a restraining order, so he’s extra banned from the hospital.”
Blake nods, his shoulders loosening up a little with each step that I explain to him.
I know he’s worried. He’d be worried if I wasn’t pregnant, but add in that not-so-little detail, and he’s obsessed.
Any of my brothers would be the same. I can’t fault him for hovering.
When we arrive at the hospital, Blake parks as close to the door as possible, and we walk slowly to the legal offices on the first floor, not far from the emergency room.
Signing the paperwork only takes a couple of minutes. My purse and keys are already waiting for me, and before long, we’re walking back out again.
“See? Didn’t take long. Now, I’ll follow you—”
“No.” His voice is calm again, and he plants his lips at my temple. “Your car will stay here. You’re not driving for a few days.”
“I can drive.”
“I understand that you’re capable. But you don’t have to. Give me just a few more days, baby.”
“Will you at least ask someone to bring it home for me?”
“That I can do.” Blake finds a parking spot in front of Sage & Salt, and the restaurant is quiet when we walk in, which isn’t too surprising at just after two in the afternoon.
I wasn’t kidding earlier. I’d do a lot of illegal things for the chopped chef salad that Juliet keeps stocked in her grab-and-go section, which I grab two of, along with some bread for sandwiches and some chocolate chip cookies.
“What do you want to grab?” I ask Blake, holding my finds to my chest like they’re my treasure and I refuse to share.
Because that’s exactly what they are.
He smirks and grabs his own salad. We approach the counter to pay, but I frown when I see Juliet brush a tear from her cheek before forcing a smile at us.
“Hey, guys.”
“Whoa. What’s wrong?” I set my stuff down and walk around the counter, not giving a shit that I don’t even work here, and take her hand. “Who do I have to kill?”
Jules shakes her head and sniffs. “No one. I’m fine. You seriously love that salad.”
“Who made you cry?” I ask her, not giving in, and she side-eyes Blake, and I immediately know. “Ah. A stubborn Blackwell man.”
“I haven’t even seen Jules,” Blake insists, making us both chuckle.
“I had to call a tow truck this morning,” she says, and Blake nods. “He wasn’t happy about that.”
“You know, you live here, too,” I tell her. “You can’t just hide from him and stay out of his way so you don’t piss him off. I don’t know what the story is there, but it’s not fair of him to expect you not to live your life, Juliet.”
“Yeah, it is,” she whispers, then shakes her head. “I’m going to be just fine. Thanks for asking, though. It means a lot. I don’t have a lot of friends here anymore.”
“I’m your friend,” I remind her. “Ava is, too. I like Brooks, and his brother is mine, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a good friend to you, too. Now, ring me up because I’m starving, and if I don’t eat that salad in the next thirty minutes, I will become someone who Blake doesn’t want to see.”
Jules laughs and bags up our food but shakes her head when we try to pay.
“Enjoy it. You made me feel better, and that’s all the payment I need today.”
“Jules,” Blake begins, but she shakes her head.
“I won’t take your money today.” She winks, and more customers file in behind us, and we leave so she can get back to work.
“I hate that,” I mutter when we’re back in the car headed home. “Brooks isn’t a mean guy.”
“He can be an asshole,” Blake says. “But no, not as a rule. He’s stubborn when it comes to her.”
“Blake, I like her a lot. She’s my friend. Is that going to be a problem?”
“Not for me.” He pulls my hand up and kisses my knuckles. “I like her too. But there’s more there than either of us knows about it. And at the end of the day, it’s none of our business.”
“I know. I feel bad for them.” I clear my throat and shift in the seat. My side is a little better today, but this hip is aching like a bitch.
When we get home, we eat our lunch and then end up on the couch to watch a movie and make out.
It’s not a bad way to spend an afternoon.