Free Chosen by a Stranger (Craved Series #5) by Hazel Kelly Page B

back towards the mirror.
     
    "I didn't know that was the plan."
    "Neither did I," I said, shaking some shaving cream off
into the sink. "It just sort of happened."
     
    "Congratulations?"
    "Maybe not just yet," I said. "But I'll let you
know when I hear from her."
    "So you're waiting for her answer?"
     
    "Yeah."
     
    Jin laughed.
     
    "What's so funny?" I asked, sliding the razor down my
neck.
     
    "I never saw a girl play you like this."
     
    "What do you mean?"
     
    "You know, keep you guessing," he said. "Maybe you
finally met your match."
     
    I smiled. "I hope so, Jin."
     
    "Maybe you should get busy hoping she thinks so
instead."
     
    I raised my eyebrows. "No shit."
     
    "You teaching today?"
     
    I nodded. "Yeah, at nine."
     
    "I'll let you get ready then."
    "Thanks for stopping by," I said. "And for the
wheels. That's really too kind of you."
     
    "Mai pen rai," he said. “No worries.”
     
    I bent over and splashed water over my face, rinsing my stubble down
the drain.
    "Better," he said when I righted myself again.
    "Agreed."
    "You want to come by the club for drinks later? Let me know
how the new bike's treating you?"
     
    "Maybe.”
     
    “It would be better than staring at the phone and hoping it
rings.”
    I shook my head. “You watch too many American movies."
    “Still.”
     
    “We’ll see,” I said. "Depends on whether my jet lag catches
up to me."
    But
the truth was I felt like the club would remind me too much of Audrey and the
antics we got up to on the roof. Then again, I was starting to feel like there
was nowhere on Earth that wouldn't make me think of her. Certainly Thailand
made the memories of her come flooding back. And being in the States hadn't
been any better.
    In fact, I was starting to feel like I'd never belong anywhere she
wasn't, like she was the closest thing to home I would ever know.
     
    And I still didn't even know if she loved me back.
     
    The little moped Jin gave me got me to the club in record time. It
was cheap and cheerful, but the gesture was so grand I was beside myself, and
the salty sea air blowing in my face seemed to lift my mood almost immediately.
    When I pulled up, Sammy and Mai were already waiting outside,
drinking Thai coffee and eating seaweed chips.
     
    "Sawasdee khap," I said, slipping the keys from the
ignition.
     
    They greeted me and stepped away from the doors.
     
    "You guys are early today," I said, opening the metal gate
across the club's entrance.
    "Mai has big news for you, Jack," Sammy said, speaking
out of turn as usual.
     
    "Oh?" I turned to Mai's small frame. "What might
that be?"
    "Remember when I told you about the handsome man who was
buying the coffees from me?"
    "Of course."
     
    Unable to control herself, Sammy grabbed Mai's hand and shoved it
in my direction.
     
    My eyes settled on the modest ring immediately.
     
    "You're getting married?" I asked, looking into Mai's
brown eyes.
    "I'm getting married."
    "Congratulations," I said, wrapping my arms around her.
"That's wonderful news."
     
    "It never would've happened without your excellent
advice," Sammy said. "That's what Mai told me anyway."
     
    Mai nodded. "It's true."
     
    "Well, I hope I can meet the lucky guy sometime," I
said. "I can only imagine how happy he must be."

Chapter
16: Audrey

     
    It was easy to find out where he would be. Everyone I asked seemed
to know him or someone who did.
     
    But as I followed the trail of coffee vendors, banana pancake
sellers, and shop keepers, I became increasingly nervous.
     
    I tried to take deep breaths, reminding myself what I was doing as
I did it.
    I was going to find him.
    I was going to tell him I loved him.
    And then what?
    Hopefully my mouth would be so full of his tongue I wouldn't have
to say anything more.
    That was the plan.
    Of course, if he needed an answer, I had one for him. After all, chances
were he'd been thinking about that last morning in my apartment as much as I
had.
    And I knew I shouldn't be as nervous as