Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
I also knew I didn’t want to process everything that meant until after the wedding, so I accepted it and put it away for another day. Smiling, I took her hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
She paused as if taken off guard. “For?”
“Three decades of good memories.” It was more than most people got and I decided to be grateful for the good times we shared.
Her expression eased. “We did have fun, didn’t we?”
I laughed, thinking back to the keggers, breakouts, breakups, bad dates, sleepovers, dances, and all the other special memories. “A lot of fun.”
Maybe Elle was only meant to be a part of my earlier life. I wasn’t even mad about the things she said anymore. I was sad that that chapter of my life was coming to an end, sure, but not devastated. I had a new chapter to look forward to, now, and I couldn’t wait for the next adventure to begin.
I scanned the table, my gaze falling on Hale as he had a lively discussion with Noah about sports. There was my real best friend. And he was in his glory, surrounded by those he loved.
“Rayne, taste this.” My mom nudged her way between Elle and I and Elle took the interruption as a chance to return to Paul. “It’s made from passion fruit. I couldn’t even tell you what a passion fruit looks like.” She was tipsy, but no longer hosting regular inquisitions with strangers.
I tasted her drink, my face pursing tightly. “Wow, Mom, that’s really tart.”
“You think it’s too sweet? I like it.” She hiccupped. “This is my second one. That’s the most passion I’ve had in one night in probably… Well…” As she started counting on her fingers I moved on.
Barrett seemed to be handling the Paul situation better. He’d been flirting with the waitress as a distraction. Elara was behaving, and Remington had made what was probably one of the sweetest gestures of my lifetime.
In short, I was happy.
Odette was in attendance, which I thought might be weird since Hale’s mom was also there, but Naomi had a special relationship with her ex-husband no other woman could touch. As Remington’s first love, Naomi was the only person alive who could get away with calling him Remy. It was as if Remington was perpetually a young man in her eyes. Odette was happy to give them their memories and claim the seasoned version of the man he was now.
As I looked around the table at our family and closest friends, excitement swirled in my stomach. No cramps. No nerves. Just excitement.
Hale had spent the day with Clayton and that seemed to be enough to cool off his temper from the night before. That, and I think he realized that I was dealing with a lot on account of my father. And he didn’t even know the worst of it.
Learning that my dad wasn’t going to show up for our wedding, brought out Hale’s compassionate side, which was probably why he didn’t open the manilla folder he had in hand when he returned from Clayton’s office earlier that afternoon.
I knew what it was.
When Hale was in the shower I unwound the fastened string and peeked at the cover page. I’d seen our names printed like that before and I knew perfectly well what those red SIGN HERE tabs implied.
We were going to sign the prenup after all. That was fine. I knew he wouldn’t be able to get out of it. I’d already come to terms with the fact that these things came with obscenely wealthy spouses. The sting would wear off eventually.
Strangely, the impending ick wasn’t associated with Hale. I connected those unsavory feelings of marital business deals to his father, a man who admittedly loved me, but would always love his assets a little more.
I didn’t want Hale’s money so I didn’t care if he or his father protected it. I just wanted him. A piece of paper wasn’t going to change that. And my love wasn’t enough to change how the Davenports conducted their affairs.
Remington did love me. But he wasn’t the person that should give me away.
I looked to my mother. Should I ask her? She’d been the one to raise me after all. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that assigning her such a duty might stress her out more than flatter her. She’d been having such a good time all week I didn’t want to ruin it.
As I looked across the table, I watched my mother laugh and pat Hale’s cheek with such affection. Hale teased her, sort of the way he teased me. It was such a sweet picture, I took a mental snapshot, wanting to keep it in my heart always.
A glass clanked and voices quieted.
“Can I have your attention, please?” Barrett stood, something amber filling the rocks glass in his hand, strong enough to cause his words to come out slightly slurred. He leaned heavily into the chair at his left. “When my brother told me he was going to ask Rayne to be his wife, my first thought was it’s too soon. But then I considered Hale and I got to know Rayne, and it somehow made complete sense.”