Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Dylan grinned. “Maybe. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s true.”
A strange feeling gripped me because I felt the same way about Yvonne. I’d wanted her since I was eighteen. Twelve years. Twelve years wanting a woman who was finally right in front of me, yet I still hadn’t managed to convince her how good we could be together.
I’d done my best not to push, to be charming and flirtatious, letting her know I was very much interested without being overbearing, but I couldn’t think of a way to bridge that final gap.
I glanced once more at my best friend. “I guess this means I’m putting on a suit today.”
Dylan smiled. “Well, of course. The best man needs to be dressed appropriately, after all.”
“Damn you, O’Dea!” I jokingly complained. “Don’t make me cry. You’ll mess up my make up.”
***
Despite the last minute nature of it all, the wedding was perfect, an intimate affair with family and friends. We went through the quick ceremony at City Hall before heading for drinks and food in a bar on the lower east side.
Dylan and Evelyn were wrapped up in each other and very much in love as they swung around the dancefloor. I took the free seat next to Yvonne, handing her some champagne. I’d already had a few glasses myself, which meant I was lubricated enough to think putting my hand on her thigh under the table was a good idea.
She stilled, glancing at me tensely and I saw I’d made her nervous. I removed my hand and swallowed thickly. Maybe she really didn’t want this and I was wasting my time trying to convince her. Then I remembered my parents were sitting across the table from us, which probably made her self-conscious.
I noticed how she was digging her fingers into her temples and wondered if she wasn’t feeling well.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“It’s just a migraine,” she replied. “It’ll pass.”
“There’s a pharmacy at the end of this block,” I told her. “Want me to go grab you some painkillers?”
“Oh, I might walk there myself. I need some fresh air.”
“I’ll go with you,” I said, belatedly realising she might want some space but she only nodded, shooting me a grateful smile.
“Thanks,” she said and I helped her into her coat.
“We’ll be back in ten minutes,” I told my dad. “Just nipping out to the shop.”
“No bother,” Dad replied, his attention returning to the glass of bubbly in front of him.
We stepped out onto the street and cold hit my face immediately. I burrowed into my thick coat, tucking Yvonne to my side, my arm instinctively going around her waist. She didn’t protest, seeming to huddle closer to me for warmth. A feeling of possessiveness took over. I liked having her close, liked tucking her into my side like she belonged there.
“I know it was only short, but the ceremony was beautiful, don’t you think?” Yvonne said quietly as we walked.
“It was,” I agreed, glancing down at her. “You think that’s what you’ll want? A quick trip to City Hall, or are there aspirations for a big extravagant wedding in your future?”
At this she scoffed, and I could tell from her faintly strained expression that her headache was still bad. “I doubt there’ll be a wedding in my future at all, but if there is I’ll likely keep it small. I don’t enjoy being the centre of attention very much.”
I frowned at her. “Why do you doubt there’ll be a wedding in your future?”
“I have told you of my failed past relationships,” she reminded. “Besides, no one’s ever proposed to me.”
“Not true,” I argued and her eyes flicked up, curious. I grinned before continuing, “If you recall I proposed to you by text that day you offered to bring me soup. A proposal you still haven’t responded to, might I add.” I shot her a look like I was greatly pained by this fact which got a laugh out of her. God, I really did love her laugh.
“Right. How could I forget? An offer of marriage by text. How thoroughly romantic.”
“Hey! It was spontaneous. You have to give me points for that.”
She pursed her lips, suppressing a smile. “Okay, one point for spontaneity,” she allowed, biting her lip. It made me want to bite it, too, then suck it into my mouth while I…
Okay, maybe don’t think about fucking her when she’s suffering with a migraine and we’re on a quest for painkillers. We reached the pharmacy and I followed Yvonne as she wandered down the aisles, searching for the right section. I watched as she scanned the options, casting me a speculative glance. “Your sister said something to me the other night. She was drunk at the time so perhaps what she said wasn’t accurate—”
“What did she say?” I questioned, preparing to have a word with Bethany. My sister’s filter tended to disappear once she’d had a few drinks.