Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Or maybe I just don’t want to admit the actual reasons aloud.
“Do you want my advice?” Cecy asks in a sly tone.
“Always.”
“Isn’t Lan around?”
“Ugh. That shit-stirrer? Yeah, and he didn’t even come with Mia or Bran, who could momentarily keep him on a leash.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but that’s even better since you can use him to do what you do best.”
“Which is?”
“Provoke Eli.”
“Um, Cecy? Weren’t you the one who always advised me not to do that? Who are you and what have you done to my bestie?”
“That was before you guys got married. I thought you could escape his orbit if you stopped provoking him, but that ship has sailed now.”
“What makes you think it’ll work when he’s been acting like I’m invisible?
“If it doesn’t, you might want to start thinking about whether or not those compromises are your hard limits. If they are, you might also want to think about the usability of this marriage and if the convenience outweighs the heartache.”
My eyes burn and blur. “Why didn’t you stop me from marrying him, Cecy? It was obviously a disaster waiting to happen.”
“I tried. I even told you it’s going to hurt, but you said it was worth it. I’m not sure that’s still the case.”
“I wish I could hug you right now.”
“Me, too. But, Ava?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t give up. Show him what you’ve got.”
What I’ve got is a lot of social contacts and Lan. He can count as his own social curriculum wrapped in a bow of trouble.
There’s also Remi, who’s in line for second in trouble.
The three of us do what we do best—party.
We throw one on the massive yacht Eli owns. I would’ve thrown it at the house just to smash his OCD to pieces, but it’s also my house, and I’m the only one who can wreak havoc inside it.
Besides, Sam would’ve killed me if I ever attempted to bring chaos to her carefully curated order, so we came up with this compromise and she provided the catering while Leo smuggled me the keys.
I’m wearing a little pink dress with a tulle skirt and a tight sheer lace corset with built-in bra cups that cover my breasts.
In a matter of an hour, the yacht is brimming with people that I barely remember their names or where I met them. But then again, this is about quantity, not quality. So the more the merrier.
I needed to get out of the funk that Eli forced me into by ignoring my existence.
“Not bad for an amateur,” Remi says over the trendy DJ music as we dance to the beat. He has a drink in hand while I nurse a virgin piña colada and sway from side to side.
“Bitch, please. This isn’t my first rodeo.”
“To be fair, she was more of a party animal than you, Rems.” Lan barely moves and is more content typing away at his phone. Judging by the pleasant expression on his face, he’s definitely talking to Mia.
“See?” I raise a brow.
“Blasphemy! My lordship is the hallmark of partying. You might dress like me, talk like me, and try to be the next best thing, but it’s not quite me.”
“Stop stealing Eminem’s lines.” I push him jokingly. “And while you’re at it, try not to be jealous of my goddess superiority.”
“Yeah, I left that to your annoying husband.” He puffs out a breath. “He made my life hell after your last impromptu visit. Tripled my workload, gave Ariella full access to my schedule, and even assigned me some stupid project that’s been single-handedly destroying my colorful social life.”
“Sucks to be you,” Lan says with a smirk, still focused on his phone. “But then again, you’re not on my cousin’s level, so you better cut your losses and take whatever he dishes out in your direction.”
“Hey!” I stop dancing. “I didn’t invite you guys to make He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named the topic of discussion.”
“Oh my.” Lan pockets his phone and smirks with a knowing edge. “And here I thought that was the entire point of this fiasco.”
“You’re such a wanker.”
“Which is the exact reason why you invited me, Barbie. I accept gratitude in the form of mayhem. The bigger, the better.”
“Dear Lord,” Remi mutters. “You invited Ariella?”
“She kind of invited herself when she found out you’d be here.” I’m barely finished speaking when my sister jumps him in a koala embrace.
“I’m here! Miss me?”
“Absolutely not.” He pries her off with great difficulty.
“I know you did.” She smiles and blows him a kiss, then hugs me. “Sick party, sissy.”
“I have a feeling it’ll be even better with your presence,” I mutter.
“You can bet.” She kisses me several times on the cheek. “Now, where’s that brother-in-law of mine, and why isn’t he behaving like a caveman for once?”
“He’s not invited,” I say. “It’s a party for my friends, and he doesn’t belong on the list.”