Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
But I can't see us. Only clips from movies. Even in my head, I can't imagine an equal partnership. Only one where I lose myself in someone else's wishes. Where I give up my dreams or he gives up his.
He needs to be here.
I need to be somewhere else.
All the eyeliner and pink cocktail dresses in the world won't change that.
Chapter Thirty
Jackson
"You really had to upstage Nathan and Kenji, didn't you." Zack pats me on the shoulder. He motions to the room as if he's addressing an audience of thousands, not four. As if we're in a fully decorated dance hall, not a hotel room with a table of single-serving alcohol and mixers, and a single Just Married banner. "Or maybe you're trying to serve as a warning for them. Like how we watched Gone Girl when you told me you wanted to pop the question."
Kenji laughs. "Did he really make you watch Gone Girl?"
"Make me? Please. I watch it every year on Valentine's Day. That's our tradition," Nathan says.
"That or another erotic thriller," Kenji says. "Where are the gay ones, by the way?"
"Is that the representation you want?" Zack asks.
"An icy blonde psycho. That's obviously my type." Kenji winks at Nathan.
"You flatter me, baby." Nathan pulls his fiancé into a close embrace. Then a soft kiss. A not so soft kiss.
Zack shakes his head. "We've lost them." He turns his attention back to me. "Do we need to watch Gone Girl. What do you think, Romeo?" For the first time, he acknowledges the guy's presence. "Have you seen the film?"
"I've read the book," he says.
"A sharp portrayal of marriage, huh?" Zack asks.
"How would you know?" I ask. "You're not married."
"Right. Of course." Zack's eyes go wide with evil glee. "You are married now. I can ask you."
"He's been married for twelve hours," Rome says.
"More like sixteen, but, still, that's more than either of us. What do you think, J?" Zack asks.
I don't answer.
"Not sure yet? That's fair." Zack nods. "So let's give the guys what they want. The Last Seduction or Basic Instinct. Your choice, J."
"As long as there's nothing in a courtroom, I'm happy." I can't watch these terrible, unrealistic movies. I know they're not meant to present accurate versions of police work or legal drama, but I can't get past the ridiculous twists. They cause actual pain.
The door beeps open. I turn, expecting Daphne, but it's the other Webb.
Damon steps inside, holding a bag of soda and sparkling cider. He sets the drinks on the table and returns to us. "Can I borrow your brother?" he asks Zack.
"I'm not sure," Zack says. "I'm still thinking of movies where wives turn on their husbands. Do you promise to take over that threat?"
"Daphne killing Jackson?" Damon asks. "Of course. If she asks, I'll help."
"All she has to do is ask? She doesn't need a reason?" Zack asks.
"I'm sure she'll have a reason," Damon says.
"But you don't need to know?" Zack asks.
Damon shakes his head. "Of course not. You wouldn't kill me if Cass asked?"
"Well, yeah, but I don't need to question that. You broke her heart once. And you're fucking annoying. No offense," Zack says.
Damon chuckles. "And you know what? If she asked me to kill you, I'd do that too."
"No questions asked?" Zack asks.
"Of course," Damon says. "She wouldn't ask if she didn't have a good reason."
Zack nods. "I appreciate you trusting her like that."
I walk away from my deranged brother before he can continue his strange banter with Damon or return to listing films. When did he find time to watch all these movies?
I guess that's a perk of life as a professional athlete. He has a lot of time in the offseason.
Damon leads me to the tiny table. He pours himself a club soda and fills a cup with ice for me. "What are you drinking?"
"What if I want it neat?" I ask.
He pours the ice into his drink, hands me the empty cup, motions go ahead. "Not in a friendly mood, huh? I don't blame you." He looks to Zack. "Your brother is a lot."
I nod as I mix a gin and tonic. It's not my usual drink, but it is my favorite highball, and there's no way I'm drinking whiskey out of a red Solo cup. That's wrong. "I don't know that our friendship is at the letting go of drunk marrying a sister level."
"It's not, is it," Damon says. "You only barely like me."
"As a guy, I like you fine," I say. "As Cass's boyfriend…"
"You're apprehensive. I get it. I made my bed. I won't argue." He doesn't add and I know you used to say hell no, never. So, while not a vote of confidence, is a huge improvement. "And I told my sister to go for it."
"You told her to propose marriage?" I ask.