Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Goodbye, Tiffany. Enjoy your party.”
“Thanks a lot for listening, Rex. It’s really helped to unravel things in my head. Umm... please don’t tell anyone, not even Willow, what I told you. I’ll tell everyone in my own time and in my own way.”
Then she turned away and started walking back towards the hotel.
22
WILLOW
My stomach churned with anxiety as my feet got closer and closer to the Green Bison restaurant. In just twenty-four hours I’d gotten used to having Rex with me when I had to face my family. He was my shield, making me feel safe and protected from my own family.
Now, I was going to have to face them alone.
My feet faltered, but I took a deep breath and gave myself a firm pep talk. No, I was not going to be a little coward. None of what had happened was my fault. I wasn’t the betrayer or the boyfriend stealer.
I smiled as I recalled the look of surprised admiration on everyone’s face when they met Rex. I threw my shoulders back. I had no reason to be anxious when everyone was under the impression I’d landed myself the ultimate man.
All I had to remind myself over and over again was: Steven and Tiffany had done me a favor when they slept with each other behind my back. By the time I reached the doors of the restaurant I was grinning and raring to go.
They had booked the whole restaurant for the party and it was decorated with strings of tiny lights and gorgeous center flowers on each table. I started to frown when I noticed large, photographer-quality photos of Steven and Tiffany hanging on all the walls. Great, they were going to be in my face the whole freaking time.
Caroline was the first to notice me. She smiled at me and started walking towards me.
“Hi and welcome,” she said, her eyes sliding to the love bite on my neck. “We weren’t sure whether you’d come.”
My own smile faltered a little and immediately I went on the defensive. “Why would I not come? I haven’t wronged anybody.”
“No, you haven’t. By the way, I love your top,” she complimented quickly.
Tiffany stood up from where she was sitting and came over.
“Hi,” she said. Her eyes also instantly clocked the love bite on my neck, but there was something else in her eyes. Anxiety about tomorrow? Or was it guilt?
“Hi,” I said, smiling as if I was ecstatic to be there.
“I was just telling Willow how lovely her top was,” Caroline said.
Tiffany let her gaze rove over my clothes. A frown appeared on her brow. “Is that top from Gucci’s new season?”
I shrugged carelessly. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not into fashion. A personal shopper found it for me.”
Tiffany’s eyes widened with surprise and envy. “You have a personal shopper?”
“Actually, she’s a friend of Rex’s. She has very good taste,” I said casually.
Tiffany and Caroline looked at each other. I bet they wished they hadn’t invited me. Well, by the time their pathetic, alcohol-free party was over, I planned to leave them in no doubt I was more than okay. I moved away, determined to have fun.
“Hey you, I made some non-alcoholic cocktails. Try one,” Olivia said loudly, shoving a tray in front of me.
I glanced at the lurid cocktails without interest.
She leaned close and whispered, “Try the green ones. They are lethal. I made them green because Tiffany hates green.”
I grabbed a drink from the tray and tossed it back, placed the empty glass, and took another one.
“Let the party begin,” I said, and Olivia winked at me.
She wasn’t exaggerating. The cocktails were lethally strong. I could feel their warmth spreading from my stomach up to my chest, then run like fire through my veins. Good. It was exactly what I needed.
I was seated on the table with the bride, Olivia, two of my cousins, and Tiffany’s friend. We said hello, but I didn’t miss the look they all exchanged. Well, I was going to show them that I was absolutely okay with Tiffany marrying Steven. Absolutely, completely, and totally.
Lunch was served, and I believe it was good, because everyone else said so, but I barely ate, moving it around my plate until it was cleared away.
“It was nice to meet Rex,” my cousin Ashley said. “He’s a catch alright.”
I swelled with pride. “Rex is awesome. He can’t do enough for me,” I said, loud enough for my voice to reach Tiffany.
Everyone smiled including Tiffany, even though her smile was more than a little forced. I wonder whether she still thought Steven was a catch when she compared him to Rex.
I seriously doubted it.
After lunch, it was time to play a game. I stifled a yawn. The idea of playing a game didn’t sound like fun, until Caroline explained the rules. We were playing ‘I solemnly swear I’ve been up to no good.’ It involved writing down on a piece of paper something you had done that was either raunchy or crazy.