Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Once upon a time, I wanted my mother to touch me like that.
“Oh, dear.” She squeezed my hand tighter, rubbing her thumb over the curve, totally unaware of how the gesture unraveled me. “I didn’t mean to upset you further.”
I’d stood up to my mother without batting an eyelash. They hadn’t brought me to tears. The von Bismarcks – all of them – did. I wanted to be a part of this family, a real family, more than anything else. The thought rattled me.
“You’re not.” I shook the thought away, quickly wiping the tears with the back of my free hand. “I’m grateful to see you again. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
Oliver slung an arm around my shoulders. “Not that it’s a competition, but I missed Briar the most.”
His words broke the heaviness of the conversation. I leaned into him as Philomena and Jason returned, their cheeks flushed. They both heaved out heavy breaths as if they’d just had a big fight.
Jason sat first, smiling as though nothing happened. “Where were we?”
“My biological dad,” I reminded him. “And his identity, which your wife is refusing to share with me.”
“I’m sorry, Briar. There’s nothing to reveal.” Philomena claimed her seat beside Jason, haunted by her own nerves. “You two must’ve misheard. It wasn’t even me, probably. Jason is your father. This is my final answer for you.”
Oliver slid his tongue along his upper teeth, clearly ready to burst with anger. “Very well.” He tossed his napkin on his plate. “If this is how you want to play, I shall abide by your fucked-up rules.”
“Oliver,” Agnes whined.
He ignored her. “We will find Briar’s biological father. And unlike you, he might even be invited to the wedding. Now, sweetheart.” He stood up, offering me his hand. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes.” I followed his lead, tossing my parents one last smile on my way out. “Enjoy the fine dining. Who knows? It might be your last.”
Chapter Seventy-Nine
Oliver
Her façade lasted two seconds.
We reached the end of the hall when Briar stumbled into my side. I scooped her up, carried her to the car, and tucked her into her seat beneath my jacket, strapping the seat belt over her. Her teeth started clattering as I cruised down the driveway and through eleven fucking acres of grass.
I cranked up the heat, despite the sweat building at my temples.
Briar pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees, still swathed by my jacket. “I don’t even know if I want to find him.”
“It’s okay, Cuddlebug. I just said that to piss them off. You do you.”
And me, please.
Three times a day.
“I can’t believe they showed up there.” She rested her head on her knees, slanting it to face me. “They contacted your parents and pretended we were still in touch. Obviously, they wanted to use you to regain your parents’ friendship.”
“I very much doubt they can rekindle what’s been doused with ice water.” I switched my left hand onto the steering wheel and gave her my right one when she reached for it. “First, they were never friends. Dad hated Jason from the start, but they placed nice because I was fucking obsessed with you. And second, my parents were pretty turned off by the serious allegations against Jason. I think they only invited him tonight to appease you.”
Her index finger began drawing invisible patterns on the inside of my palm, vibrating with her groan. “Mission failed.”
“My mom is never going to forgive herself.”
“It’s not her fault. I’ll call her tomorrow and tell her I appreciate all she did for me.”
“You can, but she still won’t forgive herself.”
“Just like you’ll never forgive yourself for Sebastian?”
She laced our fingers together, resting them on the center console. I resisted the urge to close my eyes and drown in that feeling of both of us, connected.
I shook my head. “It’s different.”
“It shouldn’t be,” she whispered.
“You know he lives in the south wing, don’t you?” I blurted out.
I promised myself I wouldn’t tell them I was onto them, but I also didn’t want Briar to think I kept secrets from her.
“I know. And I adore you for it. You are a good big brother, Ollie.”
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. “If only Seb agreed.”
“He does.” She squeezed my hand. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Chapter Eighty
Oliver
Zach Sun: Is there a reason I was sent an invite to … wherever the fuck it is?
Ollie vB: Nauru.
Romeo Costa: Basically Australia.
Ollie vB: Okay, Columbus.
Zach Sun: Wrong continent, but I’ll allow it on the grounds that at least you know how to spell his name.
Ollie vB: Save the date.
Romeo Costa: DID I JUST WIN A YACHT?
Zach Sun: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Briar still hasn’t walked down the aisle, and knowing our boy, he can fuck this up at any point.