Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“You’re funny,” he pointed out, smiling and his eyes lit up.
“You’re not,” I retorted, and he just threw his head back and laughed even louder. Even though the bar was overwhelmed with noise, all I heard was his laugh.
“I’m Matthew.” He extended his hand to me. “People call me Matty.”
I thought about not answering him and ignoring him, but my hand moved before my head told it no. “I’m Sofia.” I smiled. “People call me Princess Sofia.” His hand enveloped mine and I felt the tingle go from the tips of my fingers toward the tip of my toes. That was the night I had my first ever kiss. It was also the same night I fell under the spell that was Matthew Petrov.
“Sofia.” I hear Shelby calling my name and I blink twice. I turn back to look at the table instead of looking out the window at the vast countryside. “Are you okay?”
I tap my finger on the desk. “I think I should start dating again,” I say to the three of them, and they all look at me with their eyes shining up.
“Um, yes, please,” Clarabella agrees.
“I think that is a fantastic idea,” Shelby says, clapping her hands in front of her.
Presley stands and reaches out, grabbing my phone. “No time like the present,” she declares with a huge smile on her face. “Let’s create a profile now.”
“This is the best meeting I’ve been to in a while,” Clarabella grabs the phone, making Shelby look over at her and glare. “Oh, please, Presley said it also.”
“No, I didn’t,” Presley denies.
“I have it on text,” Clarabella retorts, lifting her phone.
“Can we focus on Sofia?” Presley says. “What are you doing?”
“I’m filling out her name and stuff,” Clarabella explains.
“Don’t put her real name!” Shelby shouts.
“They only share her account name which is Sunshine45,” Clarabella says. “Okay, what do you do at the end of the day?”
“Watch reality television,” I answer and the three of them look at me.
“Curl up with a good book or watch an action movie,” Clarabella redirects and I gasp.
“Why?”
“Well, a good book, you are going to get the studious guy, and an action movie, you get an adventurous guy.” Clarabella looks at me.
“Oh, good idea,” Presley concurs. “You should put hiking in there so you get the ones who like to do all that outdoorsy stuff.”
“Yes.” Shelby snaps her fingers. “Also loves going out.” We all look over at her. “We don’t want him to think that she stays inside with her eight cats.”
“Oh, yes,” Clarabella says and starts typing things. “Cat person or dog person?”
“I’m a horse girl,” I state, and they all shake their heads. “What? I love my horse.” I point at Clarabella. “Put that I prefer horses.”
“Can you put save a horse, ride a cowboy?” Presley asks Clarabella, who just smirks.
“Do not put that,” I grumble between clenched teeth.
The phone in her hand starts ringing and she hands it to me. I see that it’s a number not stored in my phone, so I put it on speaker and answer, “Sofia Barnes.”
“Sofia.” I close my eyes when I hear the female voice. “It’s Helena.” I open my eyes and look over toward the girls, whose eyes go big. “We met last week, my fiancé is Matthew Petrov.”
Why does she always name-drop his name? I ask myself. “Yes, of course,” I say, my finger tapping the desk. “How are you doing?”
“I’m doing amazing,” she replies cheerfully. “I’m calling because we would like to come in and meet with you.”
I look up to the sky, thinking this can’t be happening. “That would be great,” I say, and I hold up my hand to stop the girls from talking. They jump out of their chairs. “When would you be free?”
“How is next Tuesday?” she asks me, and I pull up my calendar.
“I have one o’clock on Tuesday, if that works for you,” I tell her, and she squeals.
“I’ll make it work. Worse case, Matty can meet me there,” she says. “Thank you so, so much, Sofia.”
“I’ll see you then,” I reply, and the phone disconnects.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Clarabella asks, putting her hands on her hips. It’s the same question my head was screaming at me.
“I’m doing my job,” I shoot back, pissed now. “Fuck him. If he doesn’t care that I’ll plan his wedding, why the hell should I?”
“That’s the spirit,” Clarabella says and my heart speeds up even more when it finally sinks in that he’s coming in, and I have to plan his wedding.
I pick the phone up again. “What are you doing?” Shelby asks.
“Calling my great-grandfather.” I look at them. “If I’m going to be doing this, I’m going to need a case of sweet tea to get me through it.”
matthew
I walk off the plane and the cold air runs through me. Holding on to the metal stair handle with one hand while I hold my bag in the other, I make my way down the stairs. No one says anything as each of us makes our way over to our respective cars. I’ve just come back from a four-day road trip where we got our asses handed to us on a silver platter. There was nothing good that came out of this road trip, and I’m not the only one glad to be home.