Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
When he’s done and the room is set up, the author enters the shop. I smile back at Joey and go over to talk to her. The line outside is long—at least over a hundred people waiting—and I’m so excited to host my first ever book signing. I’ve been following this author’s work for ages, and I admire the way she sucks you into the story from the prologue.
Joey slips out the back as the room becomes more crowded, and as it’s finishing up a few hours later, I go into my office to find him sitting at my desk, his legs up, his phone on, and a plate of sushi next to my laptop.
“Eat,” he commands. I’m about to tell him no, but he pushes the food my way without looking and stays glued to whatever is on his phone.
“Sailor has been hooked on this show, Euphoria. Have you seen it?” he asks, his eyes finally leaving the screen to lock on mine.
I hate that his eyes are so beautiful.
So damn captivating.
He doesn’t have to say much to mean much because those eyes say it all.
“No, I don’t watch much TV. I read.”
He nods as if he gets it. “It’s good. You should give it a go.”
“I’ll think about it.” I pick up the first piece of sushi and then say, “Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome.” He glances at me and goes back to his show.
“Do you think we’ll last?” I ask him the question that’s been circling in my mind all day every day because really, how is this ever going to work long-term?
He pauses his show, shifts his feet down off my desk, and sits up straight.
“Last?” he asks, leaning forward.
“Yes, us.” I wave a finger between us, popping another piece of sushi into my mouth.
“I don’t intend to marry another woman in my lifetime.”
“That could change. I’m sure your brother didn’t want to either, yet he did.” I shrug.
“Are you hoping I back out first?”
“Yes,” I answer truthfully, and he sighs.
“You know the only way to end the agreement is to be married for ten years or have a baby, so unless you want to jump on this desk, spread your legs, and give me a kid, it’s not happening any time soon. Why, do you want to marry your little blonde?”
“I hardly know her.” It’s a lie, I do know her. Probably better than I have known anyone, and it’s only been just over a week. We talk every day for hours. She tells me everything. I know all about from when she went to school to her first kiss with a girl.
She knows a lot about me too, but not everything.
I’m not sure how she would react if she knew I killed my father. That piece of information isn’t something you tell someone who isn’t in our circle.
I know Joey doesn’t care.
He didn’t even flinch.
But that’s because it’s the life he knows.
Death is rarely a shock to people like us. People come and go. You make connections in this world and hope they’re strong. That’s it. I’ve tried as much as possible to distance myself from that life, and I thought I had a way out. My first mistake was underestimating them.
It won’t be a mistake I repeat.
“You have feelings for her,” he states, his gaze following the movement as I lick soy sauce from my lip before they meet my eyes again.
“I do.” I don’t even bother lying.
“She’s a liability,” he argues, then he abruptly stands and walks toward the door. “Your girlfriend is here.” And for the first time, I hear the venom in his voice. “I’ll see you tomorrow, at our wedding.” Then he stalks out, leaving me wondering how tomorrow is going to play out. I push the sushi away, suddenly not so hungry anymore.
“Becca.” He growls her name as he passes her, and she enters my office, holding her hands over her chest.
“He doesn’t like me very much, does he?” she says, wincing.
“It doesn’t matter if he does, it only matters if I do,” I reply softly, smiling.
“This is true.” She nods. “But he’s going to be in your life.”
I can’t deny that fact.
“I’m moving in with him,” I admit. Her mouth drops open, and she looks back over her shoulder, and I think it’s so I don’t see the look on her face. The hurt, anguish, despair.
“This is a lot.”
“It is.” I should’ve told her sooner, but I was trying to pretend it wasn’t happening. I can’t do that any longer as the time is looming so close now that I need to be totally honest with her. She deserves the truth. She deserves a genuine answer. Becca is a decent woman with, quite frankly, honorable intentions.
“I don’t…” She pauses. “I’ve been trying to work it all out in my head. When I’m with you, I’m happy. You make me happy, Adora.”