Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
It would have to be a long-distance relationship for the time being. A relationship filled with goodbyes. Knowing what life with Flynn’s parents had been like, I could only imagine how rough that would be on him. And hell, I wasn’t much better. Thinking about leaving him tomorrow was already killing me.
“That’s one thing Flynn and I have in common.”
I frowned distractedly. “Hmm?”
Mother lifted a shoulder, looking almost… embarrassed. “Your father and I have had many chances to leave Honeybridge over the years. Your father would say, ‘But Patricia, there’s so much more diversity in New York, more museums in Boston, more political opportunity in Washington.’ But I could never understand running off to find something better when I could simply improve what was already here.”
I blinked at her in surprise. “The Honeybridge Diversity Committee? The Friends of the Arts Council? That’s what those things are all about?” I’d assumed that all of those organizations were simply excuses for my mother to chair another committee.
She inclined her head regally, and the feathers on her hat dipped and swayed in the breeze.
I grinned at her—a real, full-on grin—for the first time in years. “That’s… truly impressive, Mother.”
“Hmph.” I caught sight of a tiny smile playing about her lips before she ruthlessly suppressed it. “When a Wellbridge wants something, Jonathan, we don’t allow ourselves to be limited by circumstances,” she said imperiously. She gave me a significant look. “We make our own.”
I nodded slowly. It turned out Pop Honeycutt wasn’t the only one in Honeybridge who could turn a conversation into a life lesson.
“Now.” She folded her hands in her lap. “What can I do to help you with your endeavor?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Truly. Just… Keep it under your hat.” I tweaked one of her feather plumes. “I’ll figure it out. Somehow.”
She nodded solemnly. “Of course you will.”
I tilted my head. “And you’re really willing to accept me dating a Honeycutt? Really?”
Mother sighed. “Obviously, it wouldn’t be… an ideal connection. But I want you to be happy and to do the Wellbridge name proud, Jonathan. In that order. So if dating one of those Honeycutts helps you achieve that purpose and helps you to be in Honeybridge more, too… well, I suppose there are stranger things in the world.” She shrugged like she couldn’t imagine any of them.
Then her brow lowered as if a thought had just occurred to her. “Just to be clear, though… at the softball game this afternoon, will you and Flynn be playing on opposite teams, or…”
“Oh, heck yeah. I’m gonna make him eat dirt,” I said cheerfully. “The town sign is gonna say ‘Home of the Ultimate Softball Champion Wellbridge Family’ by the end of the season. Flynn wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Mother smiled and reached out a hand to cup my cheek. “You’ll make me proud.” She pulled away a second later and wrinkled her nose. “You smell like honey and oranges,” she said. “And something decidedly… earthy.”
I pressed my lips together to hide my smile. “Flynn’s mead.”
“Ah.” My mother sighed gustily. “Well. I’ll get used to it, I’m sure.” She patted my chest. “Go get dressed, darling. I need to finish my centerpieces, and the ladies will be arriving shortly. You know your Aunt Louise believes in being fashionably early. So gauche.”
I laughed as I bent to press a kiss to her cheek.
As I headed back to the house, I began brainstorming ways that I could make everything work out. Ways that would give me the job I wanted… and the man I was coming to believe I couldn’t live without.
“Jonathan,” a voice said from the shadow of a latticed archway.
I jumped two feet in the air and made a very unmanly eep sound. “Jesus Christ, Brantleigh!” I yelled. “Warn a person. What the fuck are you doing out here?”
“Waiting for something fun to happen. And now it has.” He smiled and stepped into the sunshine wearing a tennis outfit so white it seared my eyes. “I was hoping you’d walk by.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Oh?”
“I need a doubles partner, and your brother’s terrible at it. No killer instinct.” He winked and gave me a flirty grin that put all his very white teeth on display. “Come play with me. Please?” He pouted prettily and fluttered his eyelashes. “I don’t handle rejection well.”
I let out a breath. I hadn’t been very patient with Brantleigh over the past few weeks. He was spoiled and entitled, yes, but he was young. And if I’d learned nothing else from my time in Honeybridge, it was that people sometimes could surprise you.
“Look, Brantleigh, you’re very… handsome,” I said. It was the truth. Sort of. “And it really sucks that you’re having a rough time right now. I sincerely hope that gets better. But you and I…” I blew out a breath. “Look, my mother had an idea that you and I would be a great match, but I’m sure you’re as aware as I am that we don’t have anything in common, so—”