Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Although, it’s not a fairy tale.
Our relationship is real.
Very. Fucking. Real.
It’s so real that I may have called her dad in Hawaii last night under the pretense to talk shop about hockey, yet really used it to discuss marrying his only daughter.
I didn’t have to ask, but I know Angel Cake.
She’d want his blessing.
Hell, she’s gonna want all of her family’s blessings.
Truthfully, her parents and Monte are the easy ones while Morris will come around with a simple man to man chat over steak and whiskey. Now, T on the other hand? I’m not so sure. Yeah, he likes me as her best friend, her protector, the man who’d rip out his own kidney with his bare hands to give it to her, but as the man who wants to marry her until death pries her out of my hands?
Something tells me that’s gonna be a different story.
After their laughter fades, Arley wiggles the hot pink earplug around in her ear, prompting me to investigate, “You doin’ okay, Angel Cake?”
She offers me a bashful grin and a small nod. “I’m good, Cowboy.”
“They helpin’?”
“A lot, actually.”
“Perfect.”
I’m more than familiar with her ability to get easily overwhelmed in a crowd – hence why she wears a pair when we go to the rodeo each year – but wasn’t sure if the trick would work the same at a bar. She gets a little self-conscious about it then, so I expected the same now. Part of me thinks she’s just putting on a brave face in front of our friends. And if that’s the case I fucking hate it.
I would never ask her to be something she’s not.
Not for me.
Not for anything.
The other part of me hopes she’s stretching her comfort zones because she wants to.
Because she wants to actually try new shit like she’s been saying.
And if new shit just so happens to be being the eye candy on my arm that keeps the Backwoods Barbies at bay while we toss back a beer and listen to Dierks Bentley then who am I to complain?
My eyes have just finished doing a quick sweep of our surroundings when a woman cautiously calls out, “Vi Vi?”
Our groups attention immediately swings to the smiling, cut off jean shorts wearing woman.
“Ohmygod, Li Li?!” Aviva squeaks in return to the brunette I’ve met.
That right now I wish I hadn’t.
That the knot in my gut is telling me I’m gonna regret that I have.
The two embrace in a quick, cordial hug that’s followed with Blu’s girlfriend stating, “I didn’t know you were back in town already!”
“Hey, Lila,” Blu greets, momentarily giving up on the bartender who is blatantly ignoring our area.
I’m not that intimidating.
At the moment, anyway.
Guy’s just being a prick.
“Hey Blu.” Lila offhandedly acknowledges back before resuming her convo with her friend. “Yeah, it was just this small sales retreat up in Applecourt, Michigan. Gorgeous scenery, but-”
“Way too many apples?” I unconsciously interject.
“Exactly!” Her expression lights up even more at the sight of me. “Like does anyone really eat that many apples?”
“Accordin’ to the locals, yeah. And if they ain’t eatin’ ‘em, they damn sure are drinkin’ em.”
“Did you happen to try the Apple Pie Moonshine when you were there?”
The beam the memory summons causes me to chuckle. “Which type? The one with vodka or Everclear?”
“Ugh,” she gags without hesitation, “there’s one with fucking Everclear?”
“My feelin’s exactly.”
Our exchange of snickers easily segues her into a warm greeting. “Good to see you again, Wahl. Didn’t think I ever would…”
There’s no time to acknowledge or retort due to Arley unhappily snipping, “Again?” Her blue and brown flannel covered arms fold defensively across her chest. “As in you two know each other? As in you two have previously met?”
“Yeah, we went out awhile back,” Lila nonchalantly answers.
Huh.
This assignment is about to hit an unexpected complication, isn’t it?
“Like right before you two started dating,” Aviva describes to Arley yet gravitates closer to Blu. “Like the day you had that whole hospital scare and Khar had to leave our potpies in the oven to get to the office and Wahl had to like drop everything to come be with you-”
“I’m everything,” Lila states in such a way there’s no denying it makes my girlfriend’s skin crawl.
Did I say complicated?
I meant compromised.
This information pickup disguised as a date has been compromised.
If I hadn’t already been waiting for over forty-eight fucking hours for this shit, we would abort right the fuck now.
Still might.
Lila sticks an open palm out in her direction. “You must be Harley.”
“Arley,” the love of my life snarls at the same time she shakes her hand.
“Right.” She offers her what appears to be a polite grin. “Sorry. Wahl mainly called you Angel Cake, so it must not have stuck.”
The title has her leaning slightly more into my hold that’s remained steady.
“I’m so happy he took my advice about the whole situation.”