Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Ace and Julia laugh as they run toward the door, having done it a million times in their lifetime. They’re comfortable and happy and loved.
I don’t have any fucking clue what that must be like.
Hands in my pockets, I slow nearly to a stop as Ace pushes the door open to the waiting crowd, all of whom yell, “Surprise!” with the kind of volume that seems like it would rattle the building.
Julia screams in response, covering her face and bursting into tears. Ace is the first to wrap her in a hug but is followed shortly by a beautiful, older version of Julia and a dapper dude in a suit I have to assume is her dad.
I feel incredibly out of place for about ten seconds or so, but as soon as the initial hugs are over, Julia turns and runs to me, throwing her arms around my neck for a hug of our own.
It’s awkward and unexpected, but as Ace looks on with a giant grin, I extricate my hands from my pockets and hug her back. “Happy birthday, Jules.”
She pulls away with a brilliant smile and then kisses me on the cheek. “Thanks, Finn.”
I nod as she runs off again, back into the apartment where a whole host of people are waiting, and Ace takes her place, swinging an arm around my shoulders and dragging me inside.
It’s just as elaborate as I imagined it would be upon stepping out of the elevator, but also ten times more surreal. Every edge of trim, every surface, every piece of furniture is perfect. Perfect in size and proportion to the place and in style and condition—the exact opposite of our hand-me-downs in Westchester.
The black cabinets in the kitchen stretch all the way to the twelve-foot ceilings, and candles burn in both the center of the fireplace to the left of the living room and on the mantel. Servers in bow ties circle the crowd, handing out appetizers from gleaming silver trays.
Floor-to-ceiling windows make up the entire back wall, the center of which contains two giant French doors. They’re open to the patio, which is enormous on its own and adorned with more purple flowers than I’ve ever seen before, and fancy white sofas. Heaters run in the corners to keep the space from chilling too much.
I spin in a circle, trying to take it all in. “Hi, Finn,” Ace’s mom greets me warmly when I come to a stop facing her. My eyes are the size of saucers—I know they have to be—but she doesn’t say anything. “I’m so glad you could come tonight.”
“Hi, Mrs. Kelly,” I reply.
She waves a hand in between us. “Call me Cassie, please.” It feels weird, but so does everything else about being here. It’s not worth it to disagree.
“Right. Cassie. Thanks for having me.”
Out of nowhere, Ace is on my shoulders like a monkey—a regular occurrence in our relationship—yanking me around the couch and off to the balcony where all of the young people have evidently gathered. I wave to Cassie in apology, but Ace’s shout overshadows it. “Come on, Finn. Stop talking to my mom and come meet the cool people.”
I take a Coke from a waiter as we scoot out the door, and Ace grabs a Dr Pepper for himself. An uneasiness creeps back into my stomach as we approach the large group outside, but Ace keeps me close so Julia can introduce me to everyone.
“Oh! Mom, Dad, this is my friend Finn,” she says excitedly, turning her parents around from the photo they were taking to face me. I hold out my hand for her dad, and he takes it and shakes it with a smile.
“Nice to meet you, sir.” Julia’s mom is beautiful as she offers a friendly grin and a wave. I nod. “Ma’am.”
“No, need to be formal, Finn! I’ve heard all about you from both Julia and Ace. They speak very highly of you,” Julia’s mom says then. An undeniable warmth spreads in my abdomen and ends in a blush that radiates to my ears. “I’m Georgia, and this is Kline.” She turns behind her and yells to the other side of the balcony. “Evie, come meet Julia’s friend!”
Another blonde with bright-blue eyes and the boy who’s with her—who is undoubtedly Ace’s little brother, Gunnar—walk our direction at Georgia’s call.
I’m introduced to them and a whole other group of men and their wives—members of his dad’s book club, according to Ace’s whispered info—and several other rambunctious children before things get really interesting.
On the far side of the patio, a TV is playing the Dickson away game against Duke, with a whole other group watching.
I notice Lexi Winslow immediately, standing with a pretty lady with a kind smile. Her hair is a dirty-blond color, and she’s got her arm looped through the elbow of a man in an expensive suit.