Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Deb’s waving to everyone, gritting her teeth, smiling, and just as I look away I spot Lisa, the date I stood up last weekend.
“You invited Lisa?” I groan.
“Yes, did you not just go on a date with her?” She meets my eye. “I was trying to be polite, since you weren’t and didn’t invite her.”
“I stood her up,” I wave to Lisa from across the way.
“God, Josh, you can be such an asshole!” Deb waves to another couple walking by as I roll my eyes. “Why don’t you hang out with Victoria?” She asks. “She’s looking pretty tonight.”
“Not a good idea,” I shake my head, pushing aside the bad memories of her coming on too strong. “Plus, she’s hanging out with Holly, which by the way, thanks for warning me that she actually RSVP’d yes.”
“It’s Mom and Dad,” she sighs. “You know I would never.”
“I know,” I sigh. “This is just the worst!”
“Hey,” She stops me, and I bite my tongue. “This is still my engagement party!”
“Sorry,” I mumble.
“And way to really have a date like you had said?” She raises her eyebrows. “I knew it was a lie!”
“I did,” I run my fingers through my hair. “Something came up and she couldn’t make it. Family emergency.”
“Right,” Deb rolls her eyes. I know she doesn’t believe me, and I’m about to defend myself, but I decide not to bother.
“I should finish schmoozing,” she laughs, and her expression changes. “Hey isn’t that Luci Cunningham? From the high school?”
I follow her stare and my jaw nearly drops when I see her. She’s a vision, with her hair to the side, twisted and hanging over one shoulder, wearing a pale, flowing dress. It’s not tight, but it’s also not like the ridiculous ball gowns everyone else has on. The top is silver and sparkles, just like her eyes. She’s breathtaking.
“She was a student,” Deb explains, mistaking my shock for confusion, as if I don’t remember her.
“Yeah,” I’m in a daze, watching as a waiter approaches her, offering a glass of champagne.
“Well she’s grown up,” Deb comments. “I wonder who she knows?”
“Yeah?” I don’t really register her words, and I find myself smiling, watching as the waiter says something to Luci. She laughs in response, lighting up brighter than the fucking sun. She looks up and meets my gaze, and my smile widens.
“Why is she looking at you like that?” I sense Deb’s confusion in the background.
“Yeah,” I absentmindedly respond.
“Josh?” My sister’s familiar voice takes me out of my moment, and I finally look at her.
“Why is she looking at you like that?” She demands, but my gaze immediately returns to the gorgeous girl at the other end of the tent, where I can’t pinpoint what it is exactly, but something about her entirely illuminates my world.
“Josh?” Deb shoves at me.
“What?” I answer, but my eyes don’t leave Luci’s.
“Why is she looking at you like that?” She demands, harshly this time.
“I guess,” I swallow hesitantly. “Because she always looks at me like that.” I shrug, because I’ll never understand why.
“Wait,” Deb’s shocked voice cracks. “Why are you looking at HER like that?”
I turn back to Deb and wink, before heading towards Luci, because I’ve already been away from her for far too long.
“What don't I know?” Deb’s eyes widen. “Josh? Josh!” Her voice gets lower as I get further, and I don’t stop until I’m standing directly in front of my very own person sun.
“Hi,” I smile, as she takes a sip of the champagne, and I can’t help the way my eyes wander all over her body, exploring her. It takes me all that I have to control my rapidly growing hard on, because her in that dress has me loosing control. “You are,” I fathom, trying to find the right words to accurately tell her how wonderful she looks. “The most exquisite person I have ever met.”
She blushes a wonderful color.
“Why is your sister staring daggers at me?”
I look over at Deb before focusing back on Luci. “It’s me, not you.”
“Oh... Okay?” She asks, confused.
“I think she just found out that I have a massive crush on you.” I smile, and her laugh is like music to my ears.
Chapter 5
-Luci-
“Speaking of your sister, I have a card for her, but I didn’t know how to address it,” I hand Josh my glass of champagne before going through my purse and fishing it out. “Do I put Ms. Harrington? Deb? The Future Mr-”
“Don’t worry about it,” he laughs.
“No, I mean, it’s only right that I give her something,” I grab a pen and look up, spotting - is that his ex-wife?”
“Is that?”
“Yeah, sorry,” he sighs. “I don’t-”
“No, it’s fine,” I laugh awkwardly. “It’s only natural. You have a lot of mutual friends, I’m sure.”
“Yeah,” he swallows uncomfortably. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve been doing a stellar job at avoiding her.”