Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 140184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 701(@200wpm)___ 561(@250wpm)___ 467(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 701(@200wpm)___ 561(@250wpm)___ 467(@300wpm)
Then I see the price listed in the description and I nearly choke.
“Why?” I look up at Milo accusingly. “Why would you show me this beautiful house we can’t afford?”
He smirks. “Who says we can’t afford it?”
“Um, the price tag.”
I don’t actually know how much money Milo makes, but I know “over budget” when I see it.
“This house is paid off,” he tells me. “If we sell it, I’ll have a hell of a down payment on the next one. That means we can up the budget a bit. What do you think of it?”
“I mean, it’s gorgeous. If those windows open up and cute little birds in kerchiefs perch on the window sill and sing every morning, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“It’s in the same city as Jet’s school, so he could even live there with us and commute if he wanted to. There are a few colleges there. Maybe one you’d like.”
I cock an eyebrow at him as another airdrop appears on my screen. “Really?”
He shrugs, looking down at his phone. “Thought you might like a challenge. Or you can be a trophy wife who shops and visits spas during the days while I work. Whatever you want to do.”
I shake my head, but I scroll down to get a look at the campus, anyway. It’s nice, and a couple of the spotlighted classes do look interesting.
“I thought you were over there working,” I state.
“I was. Working on making my wife happy.”
I shoot him a look. He grins and winks at me.
Before I can say any more, I hear the front door close and my gaze jerks up. I know who it will be before anyone enters the room, but I still feel relieved when it’s Jonathan who comes sauntering in and not someone even more uninvited.
Glancing from me to his dad, he says, “You could hear a fucking pin drop in here. Are you two already out of shit to talk about, or did I interrupt something?”
“We were just debating whether I should contribute something to society or live a luxurious life as a kept woman.”
“Got it. Well, if you want my two cents—”
“I don’t.”
Jonathan goes on as if I haven’t spoken. “—Why not both?”
“Of course that’s your answer,” Milo says dryly.
He shrugs unapologetically. “She won’t be hot forever. When her physical charms fade, she’ll need to have a well-exercised brain or you’ll get bored.” He glances at me. “Take advantage of having a sugar daddy to pay for it and take some classes. Get a degree. Maybe you’ll use it later, maybe you won’t, but at least you’ll have it. I’m an advocate that after high school, everyone should spend some time in college or a similarly educational setting, regardless of what they do in life. Why waste your potential? Plus, life’s too short to spend it being a dumbass.”
“Such wisdom,” I say dryly. “Maybe I’ll skip college and you can be my teacher.”
“Sure. You can have all my old textbooks. But I don’t work for free,” he says with a wink. “We can talk about your payment plan later.”
“Ugh.” I turn to drop my measuring cup in the sink. “That’s no way to talk to your future stepmother.”
“Ew, don’t be gross,” he says.
When I look back and see him grimacing, I realize he doesn’t know we’re engaged.
I don’t know why I feel a little queasy at the thought, or why I feel so uneasy searching for the words.
He won’t care. We went over this. He’s totally fine with me and his dad…
I still find myself speechless for the second time today as I hold up my left hand to let the sparkly diamond do the talking for me.
I watch his face as his gaze catches on it, but other than a slight widening of his eyes, I can’t read his reaction. His dark eyebrows rise and he nods slowly as he processes, but I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
His gaze flickers to his dad who is also watching him closely. “Huh. I guess congratulations are in order.”
Milo clears his throat. “We were going to tell you at dinner.”
“Right. Sorry,” I murmur. We were going to tell “the boys,” but I didn’t think we would have to tell Jonathan separately. I guess we didn’t have to, I just did.
My chest feels fluttery and tight at the same time. The cavity seems to shrink as Jonathan walks closer. My eyes widen as he grabs my wrist, but he’s just taking a closer look at the ring.
He’s so close, though.
Too close.
I can smell his cologne and it reminds me of his bed sheets.
Cotton, like the inside of my mouth right now.
He looks up at me and smiles. It’s a half smile, laced with mischief. “Nice rock.”
I will disintegrate into a pile of dust right here in the kitchen if I don’t get a drink immediately. I tug my hand free from his firm grip and turn around, momentarily abandoning the remnants of dinner prep to grab a bottle of water. “Anyone else want a drink?”