Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Where are we going?”
“Out on my yacht.”
“Groovy.” He made some kind of move and the driver opened my door while he got out on the other side and walked me into the lobby.
“Should I take you up?”
“Where are your people?” I looked around and saw no one.
“Around, stop looking; you won’t find them.” He pulled me to him and kissed my hair again, and I felt that hitch in my chest.
“Sleep well, my love.” He seemed to have shocked himself because he acted like someone had goosed him after saying those words.
“You too.” I started to walk away because I felt like smiling for no damn reason.
I felt his eyes on me as I walked away, then turned back to look at him. “Don’t forget my fleas.” I hissed whispered the words at him and he grinned and walked away out of the resort. Why did I feel as if I’d lost something? I don’t like this shit. No way, no how.
ALYSSA
My family was congregated in my room thanks to Mom, who shared the suite with me. I walked through the door, and they were all just sitting around drinking and waiting. “Haha, you’re all here; what a surprise. Dad, how come Helen let you stay here with your real family? I would’ve thought she and her spawn would’ve dragged you off to their room by now.”
“They haven’t arrived.”
“Haven’t arrived? What time was their flight?”
“They were supposed to be here hours ago. I guess they changed their mind about coming.”
“Did you call?”
“No, if something was wrong, I would’ve heard. I don’t really wanna talk about it; this weekend is all about you.”
My ass. If I hadn’t blocked that witch, she’d have been up your ass like a pike. “That’s for the best because I didn’t want to see their faces anyway. So, fire away; I know you have a lot of questions, all of you. Let me say now: I don’t know nothing about nothing. That man is nuts.”
“Did you agree to marry him?”
“Well, yeah, he bought my house.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“What do you think? When have I ever been materialistic?”
“It’s not that; it’s just… you’ve been acting kind of off the last few weeks.”
“The word you’re looking for is manic.”
“It’s not funny; we need to know that you’re okay.”
“Bri, you’re always telling me how smart she is; why are you questioning her now?”
“Thanks, Daisy. All kidding aside, I thought about it logically, and there’s no reason not to marry him. I like him, I felt a spark when we first met, but since I was engaged to that jackass, I didn’t acknowledge it. Now, there’s nothing standing in the way.”
“But marriage?”
“Hey, Mom and Dad spent a lot of money to make this wedding happen. Look at it this way: an annulment cost less. If I don’t like him, come Sunday morning, I’ll kick his ass to the curb.”
“Will you be serious? What is the plan?”
“Oh, that, now that you mention it, I have to look for a place to go in New Zealand.”
“You’ve been dying to go there since you saw Lord of The Rings.”
“Yeah, I know, right? Oh, by the way, he’s picking us all up at nine tomorrow to take us out on his yacht.”
“Ooh, fancy.” Jilly was busy eating her way through a charcuterie board.
“Where did all this come from?” There was food on every possible surface in the room.
“Your beaux had it sent up to the room, along with some lovely wine.”
Mom was acting kind of weird, if you ask me. She’s been more talkative than I’ve seen her in years, and she was in the same room with Dad without looking like she wanted to die. I can’t think about those two now, though; I have to think about what the hell I’d gotten myself into saying yes to his proposal.
Of course, they didn’t leave me alone until they were satisfied that I really wanted this and wasn’t being forced into anything. I don’t know where they get these ideas. Dad was getting a firsthand up close and personal view of how we interact as a family, something he hasn’t seen in years because he was never invited to shit with us, and when I was forced to go to his home back in the day, we usually spent all of our time away from the common areas in his house.
I guess I should feel some guilt about the way I’ve treated him over the years after Mom’s story, but I don’t. He was an adult, and more so, Helen wouldn’t have had anything to threaten him with if he hadn’t fucked her in the first place. As for their dead bedroom and Mom hating him after giving birth, I’m not an expert, but they should’ve both sought help before things got out of hand, but that’s just me.