Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
“You can’t just ignore his calls forever,” Joss said.
“I don’t understand how we didn’t know he had a son. The only thing I found on him was his brother’s death. I thought that was awful, but this…” Adeline said in a whisper. She glanced at Elias. “Did you know?”
“No.” Elias looked at Aramis, whose face fell as he nodded.
“I knew.” Aramis shut his eyes briefly as we all stared at him. “In my defense, Ben told me when we were both out of our minds, wasted. We had a heart-to-heart about it, and I didn’t give it much thought afterwards. I never met the kid. I just figured he didn’t want him around me because I was always flanked by photographers when we were together. My guess is that he doesn’t want his son in the spotlight.”
“Obviously.” Joss rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t excuse him from not telling Pilar about him though.”
“I thought you two were casual,” Aramis said.
“We are. We were,” I snapped. I swore my brother could get on my nerves faster than anyone. “That doesn’t mean I like being lied to.”
“Did he lie though?” Elias asked.
“I seriously cannot stand either of you right now. I was trying to make this a girls’ night, and you two invited yourselves over. As if anyone wanted you here. And you’re really annoying me.”
“The only reason you wanted to make it a girls’ night was so you could have people to commiserate with.” Aramis raised an eyebrow. “Since girls are haters.”
“We are not,” Joss jumped in.
“No?” He shot her a look. “You hate on me all day, every day.”
“That’s because you’re arrogant and annoying.” She took a deep breath. “And honestly, I don’t know how I’m going to play matchmaker and find someone who will actually want to put up with you.”
Aramis bit his lip as he looked at Joss, but no amount of lip biting could ever keep him from speaking his mind. So I braced myself when I saw him open his mouth. “You sure it’s not because you’d rather be the one warming my bed?”
“Oh my God.” Joss blushed as she stood up and stomped over to the door, glancing at him before walking out. “I can’t stand you.”
Aramis laughed loudly as the door slammed behind her.
“You’re such a jerk,” I said.
“She’s too easy to rile up.” He grinned momentarily before turning his attention to Elias. “See? No one wants to be responsible for this matchmaking idea of yours.”
“Well, she will be responsible for it, and you will settle down even if it’s just for pretenses,” Elias said. “You’re supposed to be giving yourself time to heal. You’ve only been out of the hospital for two weeks and the only thing you’ve done with that time is get piss drunk and sleep around more than you ever have.”
“No more than I have before,” Aramis argued.
“Can we get back to the issue at hand?” I slammed my hand on the side table. “The man I’m dating has a son that I didn’t know about, and I don’t know what to do with that information.”
“Maybe speak to him about it,” Adeline suggested.
“He should have spoken to me about it already.”
“I agree, but I’m sure he had his reasons for not doing so.”
“Maybe he doesn’t trust me.” The thought brought tears to my eyes.
“Just give him time,” Elias said. “We’re not exactly known to be the most forthcoming family.”
“But I am. I was. I’ve always been honest with him.”
“So, talk to him. Hear him out,” Aramis suggested. “You’ll see him on Sunday anyway.”
My shoulders slumped. Sunday would be the first Sunday dinner in a long time. Elias and Adeline were taking over for my mother. She hadn’t wanted to host them since my father passed away, which was understandable. Still, Adeline and Elias thought it was important to keep it going, and I understood that. Sunday dinners had become modern-day Court, where we invited old friends and new to share food and drinks with. It was so much fun and was the one place I could sneak glances at Benjamin Drake for hours without him noticing. Now, having him in the same room felt suffocating. A child. He had a child with someone. The only reason I’d been able to get this far with him was by ignoring the fact that he had a colorful past, but a child made that impossible to ignore. And the boy was adorable and looked like a carbon copy of his father. Still. A child. I still thought of myself as a child. I couldn’t even pretend to think I’d be a good stepmother to one. I grabbed my purse and stood.
“Where are you going?” Aramis asked.
“Out. I need to think, and this little meeting is doing nothing for me.”
“See you Sunday.” Aramis gave me a hug and cringed when I did the same. I let go quickly.