Free Just Want Somebody to Love (Bella Warren Book 1) by Keri Ford Page B

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    Whitney hadn’t ever experienced it, but she’d witnessed it.
    Her fingers curled as she watched her phone. Please, please, please . At this point, she didn’t give two shits why he was late. She’d all but jump in his arms just for showing up.
    The phone buzzed, and she snatched it faster than she’d meant to. Tasha’s name was highlighted, and Whitney hurried across the messages for news she didn’t want.
    She sank against her chair as she read the text another two times.
    Brandon’s truck was there. No car .
    Dare she hope that meant he was on the way? Her phone buzzed again as another message came through from Tasha.
    OMG, I just realized it was almost 2. U been there for 2hrs & u haven’t heard anything?
    Whitney slumped. It seemed so much worse reading it than living it. Oh God, Maddy was right. Pathetic. She sent the depressing word back. Yeah .
    It took moments and her phone rattled once more. That piece of shift!
    Then it buzzed again. *shit. Tell me you’re leaving. Don’t waste another second on him!
    Whitney glanced at the road once more. She’d planned to wait a few minutes. What if Tasha just missed him after he left? Not like it was far. He should have been here by now. And if not now, then by the time she got to the door. For sure by the time she reached her car. She fished a couple dollars out for her drink and left it on the table.
    I’m going. She sent the message as she headed for the door. Even after the text was sent and gone, she didn’t look up from her phone. The last thing she wanted right now was to be stopped by anyone.
    But no running. On top of the rumors that would be in full force before she got home, having “she ran out of there. Probably crying” added to the list wasn’t appealing. If she could just make it to her car. She rounded the front of the building and was able to slip in without being stopped. She wasted no more time and got the hell out of there.
    The basket Kara had made was still on the car seat next to her. All those snacks just for her to eat later. All alone. When they were meant to be shared. They probably would have already been eaten by now. Her jaws clenched together.
    He. Stood. Her. Up.
    Worst of all, she’d waited a ridiculous long length of time while he stood her up.
    Two hours. Just to be extra infuriating, she’d made excuses for him. Whitney dropped her head against her car seat as she idled down the drive back home. Somehow, she’d spent the same amount of time waiting for him as she’d used digging for the perfect pair of underwear.
    At least while searching for panties, she’d had privacy.
    Grr , she could just about rip her steering wheel from the dash. Planting season finally had some highlights coming. In another week, she’d be so busy with work, she wouldn’t have time to think about him or last night.
    Or all the pity looks and touches and buck-up comments.
    She rumbled around the last curve, and the trees parted for their property. In front of her brother’s house was Mom’s car. She was early. Whitney sat up in her seat and hit the gas for the last bit of the driveway. Something happy on this wretched afternoon.
    Mom was home. That’s what she needed to get her mind off things. She hadn’t seen her mom since Christmas, and she had to have some gossip to share. Up until the day when planting season officially started, they could stay up late, watch reruns on TV, and just talk. Have some fun like they always did.
    She stopped at her house. The basket stared at her from the seat. She didn’t know what Kara had put in there, but there was mention of protein. “Yeah, yeah. I see you.”
    She grabbed the handle because she didn’t want to add spoiled meat in her car to today’s list. Actually, screw him. She was getting cozy with this basket soon. All hers. Fine, all hers and her mom’s. And probably Kara’s too. She made it all the way to the front door when she was yelled at.
    “Whitney!” She turned to the source