Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Wade
The amber-colored liquid burns as it slides down my throat.
I eye my phone and twirl the remainder of the liquid in the glass.
I’ve sat at my kitchen table for far too long—long enough for the leftover potatoes in front of me to grow ice cold. Much to my dismay, time hasn’t delivered an answer to my problem.
Do I reach out to Dara or not?
If I do, does it send the wrong message? It would be communication that’s not related to the house design. Would she get the wrong idea?
But if I don’t, is that rude? Moreover, will it make the task of picking her up tomorrow even more cumbersome?
I growl into the air.
My entire day was spent with half of my brain where it was supposed to be—on work. The other half was mulling over what to do about Dara and this stupid fucking wedding that I don’t want to go to anyway.
It shouldn’t—there’s not a reason in the world for it to—but this feels like a date.
I look at the chandelier and flex my jaw.
The stress of the day—the pressure of the impending … doom, and the fact that I have no resolution and may not until I pick her up eats at me.
I can’t take it anymore.
Before I can overthink it, I reach for my phone. My fingers fly across the screen. When the send button has been pressed, I drop the phone like it’s hot.
Me: I’ll pick you up at four.
Dara responds almost immediately.
Dara: Sounds good.
I stare at the words. That’s it? Sounds good?
I chew on my bottom lip and wonder if she’s even in possession of her phone. She doesn’t sound like that.
Me: Do you have any questions?
I grimace after I’ve hit the button to send the message to her. It was a stupid question to send, but it was the first thing that came to my mind.
Almost immediately, her response appears on my screen.
Dara: I’ve been to weddings before, Wade. I think I understand how it works.
It’s her.
A grin slides across my mouth thanks to the whiskey. I get up and head for the shower, needing a little relief from the day … and in preparation for seeing her tomorrow.
Dara in a dress?
Lord, help me.