Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“I’ve only known for a second, and things have been a little busy.” I snort. That’s putting it lightly.
“So?” I nudge her to spit out whatever it is she’s not saying.
“The whole reason you and Mace aren’t together might be mine and Heath’s fault.”
“That doesn’t even make sense. Why would you have anything to do with it?”
“Mace wasn’t on board with waiting for us to finish school. He was going to pounce on you when we turned eighteen, but I jumped the gun and told Heath I was in love with him. Heath freaked out because he thought I was still too young. I got hurt and—”
“I got mad.” I fill in for her, and she nods. After that night, I declared war on the Monroe brothers. “Mace wanted to be with me this whole time?” Meadow nods her head. “And I’ve been a jerk to him.” I inwardly wince, thinking about all the times I called him the wrong name. Gosh, if he called me Meadow, I’d die.
“I mean, in all fairness, they destroyed any men that got near us.”
“But they weren't out there getting with other women,” I point out.
“It’s hindsight and all that. We’re past that now.” Meadow tries to downplay it, knowing I’m going to feel like a jerk. “So about the dress.” She pets it the same way I did and tries to encourage me.
“What are you doing? Do you think I’m going to put this dress on and get married in a few weeks?” It’s not out of the realm of possibility because I’m living with Mace, but that was an accident of my own doing.
“I didn’t say that.” She looks defensive and then shrugs. “I mean, why not this weekend?”
“Meadow!” I hiss. She’s gone and lost her mind.
“What?”
“What has gotten into you?” I look at her expectantly, and she smirks. “You whore, that’s not what I meant.” I playfully smack her arm, and we both burst into laughter.
“So are you gonna try it on or what?” I can tell her goal is to get me into this dress. When Meadow has her sights set on something, there’s no stopping her, and I know I’m not going to win this round.
When I look at the beautiful dress, I realize that maybe I don't want to win it.
FOURTEEN
MACE
“And these will be ready in time for the wedding?” I ask the owner of the shop, who is taking measurements on my tux.
This suit shop is right across the street from our office building. Heath and I have always come here when we needed a fitting, and even our dad bought his suits from here.
“Of course, Mr. Monroe. We’ve made them our priority,” he assures me as he helps me take off the jacket and I turn to face Heath.
“If they’re not, we can wear matching T-shirts and jeans.” The way Heath shrugs it off like it’s not his wedding day is blowing my mind.
“I’ll be honest, you seem entirely too calm for this to be happening in a matter of days.” Even as I wonder how he can possibly be so calm about this, I think about marrying Briar, and a peace falls over me. “But maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”
“Exactly,” our dad says as he joins us in the front of the store. “Since we’re all finished, should we grab lunch?”
“Let me text Meadow.” Heath reaches for his phone, but our dad waves him off.
“I called your mom. The girls are still trying on wedding dresses.”
“Both of them?” I ask, and my dad shrugs.
“Don’t know. Your mom just said they were busy and would see us later. I’m starving. Let’s go to the deli down the street. I haven't eaten there in forever.”
My dad is thanking the owner and out the door before I have a chance to follow up with what he just said. “Did that seem weird to you?” I ask Heath as we say our goodbyes and try to catch up.
“Nah, Dad’s just excited. Listen, I wanted to tell you earlier, but we didn’t have time. Jinx is back.”
“What?” All thoughts of Briar in a wedding dress dissolve as I focus on what my twin is saying.
“Late last night, I got a text from Nelly and Dave. They were staking out his house, and he and his wife got back from France after midnight.” Up ahead, I see our dad turning into the deli that Heath and I frequent for lunch when we’re both in the office. “I haven’t told Dad anything about it yet.”
“Not until we know for sure,” I say, echoing his thoughts.
He nods and slows his walking. “Yes, and if it turns out Jinx is hiding money, it’s going to crush him. He’s always thought of Jinx as more of a close friend than an employee.”
“The first question he’s going to ask is why.” I think about all of the reasons his friend would steal from the company, and it could be a million reasons. I’d like to think it was for a noble cause like his wife is sick or his kids need it, or anything other than just plain greed.