Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“You promise?” she finally whispers and I can feel wetness on my shirt.
“Yes,” I confirm. At this moment, I would promise her the world because there is no one who deserves it more. There is no one who has busted their ass more than Eva to get where she is. There is no one who has put other people before herself. There is no one, and I mean no one, who deserves to finally have smooth sailing more than Eva. “I promise.”
She finally looks up at me and I can see the tears in her eyes as she tries to blink them away. She puts a smile on her face. “Thank you,” she finally says to me.
I smile down at her. “What’s a fake wedding between friends?” She throws her head back and laughs. Filling the empty night with her laughter is like music to my ears.
“It’s going to be okay,” she finally declares. “Now let’s get in there and eat some food. Maybe drink a little and head on home.”
“Sounds like a great plan,” I tell her as she slips out of my arms. “I, for one, need a nice big drink.”
“Wow, married for an hour and I’m already pushing you to drink.” I look over at her and she winks at me. “It’s starting off very promising.”
I don’t answer her; instead I walk into the reception space where everyone is sitting down to eat. I walk over and pull out a chair for her as she sits down. For the next three hours, it feels like it’s normal. Or at least our brand of normal. Until I’m at the bar getting a bottle of water when Markos slides up to the bar. “What are you drinking?” he asks, leaning on the bar and looking toward the dance floor where the girls are dancing.
“Water.” I lean against the bar looking at him. “Do you want anything?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I’m just here to do my duty.” My eyebrows pinch together. “Her father was my uncle,” he starts, “and it’s my place to inform you that if you hurt her, I’ll hurt you.”
I look at him. “Why would you even think I’m going to hurt her?” I ask. “I would never hurt her.”
“Well, I had to make sure you know that if you do, I’ll kick your ass.”
“Message received,” I assure him as the bartender gives me my bottle of water. “Sadly, this isn’t the weirdest thing that has happened to me today.” I unscrew the top of the bottle and take a sip, looking back at the dance floor, watching Eva throw her head back and laughing. Her hair is now pinned up in a ponytail.
“Something tells me this day is going to change your life,” Mark states before pushing off and walking over to his wife. I don’t move from the bar; instead I watch Eva dancing around to “Dancing Queen,” thinking that maybe Mark isn’t wrong.
When the plane touches down the day after, I have to wake her up. “Eva,” I say softly to her and she opens her eyes. “We’re home.” She nods for a second, closing her eyes and getting up. I unbuckle my seat belt, standing up and opening the overhead bin.
The black band on my hand catches my attention. “I can’t believe I fell asleep,” she says as I hand her her bag. She reaches out and grabs it and her ring catches my attention. “We really did it,” I say to myself as she steps out of the row and walks off the plane.
We walk down toward the baggage claim, neither of us saying anything to the other as we wait for our bags to come out. They are the first two out, and when we get into the car, I look over at her, her head buried in her phone.
I pull up to her house. “I have to head home and pack,” I tell her and she nods at me, “get things settled there. I’ll swing by and get you tomorrow morning.”
“Okay.” She opens the door and I follow her out to grab the bag for her.
“I’m leaving right after the lawyer’s office,” I remind her. “I have to head out, it was scheduled before all of this.”
“You mean before you married me,” she jokes with me and I chuckle.
“Have fun, husband.” She grabs her bag from me. “Be safe.” She turns to walk away, looking over her shoulder. “The last thing I want is another kid in the house and a baby momma.” I can’t help but really laugh now.
“Never imagined my wife telling me to have safe sex with someone else.” I put my hand on my hip.
She gasps and turns to look at me. “You imagined yourself with a wife and didn’t tell me?” She pffts. “Regardless, I’m the perfect wife.” She walks backward. “I wonder if they give out trophies and stuff.” She tries not to laugh at her own joke but fails. “I could put it on the fireplace mantel.” She walks up the steps to her front door.