Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“I was so lucky to get this place,” she says to the woman next to her. “I thought Charles and I were going to have to look somewhere else or even wait! Could you imagine that?” She finally sees me, and her eyes go wide as if she’s seen a ghost. Everyone else around her turns and looks at me too, which makes me feel more uncomfortable than I can ever remember feeling, but I do my best to force a smile and wave.
“Hey, McKenzie!”
“Allie?” she asks, almost like she can’t believe I’m here. “Is that you?”
“Um…yeah?” I shrug. Don’t sweat. Don’t sweat!
McKenzie threads her way through the crowd, her eyes intent on me. “What are you doing here, you little rascal?”
“Well, I got an invitation…” God, this is torturous already.
“Oh, I’m just messing with you!” She laughs, waving a hand as she throws an arm around me. “I am so glad you came! You got your dress, I see!”
An enormous weight shifts off my shoulders, and I take a deep breath. “Yes, I did! It’s gorgeous, Kenz. So beautiful.”
“I know, right? Wait until you see my dress.” She smiles, taking a sip of her champagne. “Let’s get you a drink. You want a drink?”
“Oh, I can’t,” I reply. “I’m only nineteen. Remember?”
McKenzie waves a dismissive hand in the air as she snaps her fingers and a waiter with a tray of champagne glasses comes over to us. She takes one and hands it to me. “Relax, Allie. This is my wedding. No one’s going to call the police on you for underaged drinking.”
She laughs, so I fake a laugh and try to find a way to take the glass from her, considering all the other things I’m carrying.
“Come on,” she says. “Let me show you to your room.”
I have to admit, the house is absolutely gorgeous. Wood floors and paneling everywhere, chandeliers, banisters, and enormous paintings. It’s so decadent. I can’t even imagine what McKenzie’s family is paying to rent this place, but from what I’ve heard, her fiancé, Charlie, is a really rich guy who works in tech or something.
I follow her up to the second floor and down a hallway to the left where there are rows and rows of doors like a grand hotel. She takes me to the second to the last on the right and leans against the wall beside it.
“Unfortunately, we only had so much room,” she says. “But I know you live in a dorm at school, so you won’t have much problem sharing for a few days, right?”
“No, no problem,” I say with a smile.
McKenzie smiles and nods. “Great. I really appreciate that.”
“Of course,” I reply. I’m still really quite nervous about all this, but I’m putting on a good show because I do want to get to the bottom of everything—like why I’m in the bridal party and why McKenzie even invited me in the first place.
“You’re sweet,” she says, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. “Well, this is your room. I’ll let you and your temporary roommate get acquainted. The bride can’t stay away long! You understand.”
“Sure, that’s fine,” I say, forcing yet another smile.
“Great. I’ll see you a bit later. We’ve got plenty of great things planned.”
“See you later, Kenz.”
McKenzie gives me a little wave, then turns around and heads back down the hallway. I don’t even wait until she’s gone before I grab the doorknob and give it a twist and push.
The room is amazing—way nicer than my dorm back at school, but that’s no surprise. Whoever my roommate is supposed to be doesn’t appear to be here, so I go and set my things down on the open bed and try to get my head straight with a couple of deep breaths.
I’m no closer to figuring out why I’m here or what McKenzie is up to than when I first arrived, but I just got here. There’s still time.
Then I hear the sound of water running from a door I hadn’t noticed before. Apparently there’s a bathroom attached to this bedroom. I turn my head and look at the door just as it opens and my roommate steps out. And that’s when my head just about explodes.
“Oh my God…” I mutter when I see him.
Standing there drying his hands, with his shirt half open and his wet hair in his face, is Grant.
He’s seven years older, a little more rugged, with a few more tattoos poking out from underneath the gray suit he’s wearing. And he’s even more muscled than I remember him, but it’s definitely Grant.
Instantly, my breath is gone from my lungs, and I have to fight to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor.
“Hey there,” he says with a grin. “How’s it going, gorgeous?”
3
Grant
In front of me is the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen in my life. She’s wearing a long black skirt and a white top with a single strap that goes over her left shoulder. It’s kind of Grecian in its vibes, which is fitting because of how much she looks like a goddess as she stands in front of me.