Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I make a face. “I wish there was shrimp cocktail, she’s allergic. She threw a fit when I had it at my reception and told me I was trying to murder her.”
“Ah, at your own wedding, how very Dateline of you.”
I smack him lightly on the chest and laugh. “I could get away with it.”
He leans in and whispers low in his throat, “I believe you.”
A shiver runs down my spine. I grab a bottle of water out of one of the many ice buckets around the bar and take a sip. “So, what are we singing?”
A drop of water slides down my chin, but before I can wipe the drip away, Killian’s thumbs are already there. He smells so good and he’s so close it’s hard to focus on the beautiful balcony that overlooks the entire restaurant and lobby downstairs or the Vineyards just outside.
I break eye contact and take a step back reminding myself that this isn’t real, not even a little bit. “Um, so, what song are doing? I’m guessing you’re going to ignore all of the F words.”
“Oh, there will be so many internal F words, but not the kind she wanted me to use when ordering me to make a special song. You know the new Taylor Swift?”
I roll my eyes. “I’d have to be dead, which one?”
“To all the girls you’ve loved before… but why don’t we switch up one perfect word.”
I gasp and smack him on the chest. “You’re a genius!”
“Yes!” Dustin’s voice sounds from behind us. “He really is, so I have the list of the words and why are both of you looking at me like that?”
“We’re changing the script.” Killian grabs him by the shoulders and turns him toward the small stage. “I decided to do a Taylor Swift cover.”
“We aren’t licensed to—”
“It’s a cover, I’m not stealing it, plus you’ll love it.”
“Should we maybe call management first and get this greenlit—”
“Oh shit, that reminds me, Dustin I forgot my throat spray back at the room. I can’t do this without it, I’ll freak out, you know how I get when my vocal cords aren’t warm!”
Dustin actually salutes Killian like they’re in the military and then runs off, yelling behind him, “You can count on me!”
When he’s safely out the door, I turn to Killian. “Throat spray?”
“Meh, he’s a slow runner when there are hills, we’ll be half done singing by the time he gets back and by then he’ll be so out of breath he’ll be disoriented.”
“You like torturing him.”
“I think he actually likes the attention, you should see how his cousin treats him. The guy’s certifiable.” Killian grabs my hand and squeezes it. “All right, so I’m not going to give you a mic, I’m just going to have you sing it along with me like you’re so in love you forgot it wasn’t your own wedding rehearsal, all right? Make all the guests swoon, I’ll do half the song, then congratulate the cheaters and we can go eat food. Sound good?”
“I like the food part the best.” I scrunch up my nose. “But yes, it’s good, I won’t puke—again.” Gross, I can still taste bourbon. Never again.
Killian slaps me on the ass. “Let’s get out there and have a good game.”
“Ouch.” I rub my ass and stick out my tongue at his back and get annoyed when my sister watches us with narrowed eyes.
I know that look.
She still doesn’t believe us. Which means I have to do this even if it’s the most painful thing in the world. Killian grabs two black stools. I slide onto the first, trying not to give the guests a free show via the slit in my dress. Heart pounding, I wait for him to get adjusted on his own stool with the brown acoustic guitar.
Fender. Nice. He starts playing the Taylor Swift song. “When you think of all the late nights…” His voice is effortless, so effortless I almost forget to join in; I just want the free show.
He nods his head at me, plucking the strings of the guitar and locking eyes with me that says nobody else exists in the world. He gets to the chorus. “All the guys you’ve loved before.”
I love that he changed it and that my ex is the one sitting by Addison and I get to sway and sing along with a rockstar… ”But I love you more,” he rasps.
I press a hand to his thigh.
It’s just us.
Before I know it, the song’s ended, but Killian still has other ideas. He turns his head to the crowd. Everyone’s clapping and smiling at us, and I wish again it was real. “Let’s hear it for the happy couple in the back.” His smile is wide, I know him well enough now to know it’s all a show, it’s his fake smile, I think I prefer his scowl.