Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 84000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Sophia has become… very important to me very quickly,” I say. “I felt a connection at the brunch, but things are very new.”
“We kissed for the first time thirty-six hours ago,” Sophia says.
“When were you going to tell me?” Jules says. “Do you like him?”
“I’m standing right here.” I wave at her.
She shoos me away and steps toward Sophia. “We need a debrief. Also, how did a kiss turn into a wedding?”
Sophia glances back at me. I’m not sure what she’s going to say. Does she want me to step in to explain?
I start to speak but Sophia interrupts. I’m more than happy for her to take the lead. “It was just a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“Are you annulling?” Efa asks, and it’s like someone’s hit me in the stomach with a mallet.
“It just happened late last night,” Sophia says. “We’re here celebrating you two. We both want to focus on that.”
“Awww, I love how you said that,” Jules says. “You both—like you’re a couple. Well, you are. You’re married.” She raises her glass. “Congratulations!”
Byron sidles up to me. “Everything okay?” he asks under his breath.
I nod.
“Sure?”
“Absolutely sure.”
“It’s just… not like you to make a decision like this on the fly.”
I nod. “That’s true.”
He holds my gaze. “Would you tell me if there was something wrong?”
I pull in a breath, considering my response. “Probably. But there isn’t anything wrong.” I glance over at Sophia, who’s talking to Efa and Jules in hushed tones. I know I’m biased, but she’s so fucking beautiful, I ache for her. I can’t wait to get back to New York and have some time with her on our own, without having to sneak around behind our friends’ backs. “I like her,” I say.
“I like my car. I didn’t marry it.”
“Which car?”
He narrows his eyes at me, like he doesn’t understand the question. “I like all my cars.” He tilts his head. “The new Lambo is probably a favorite.”
“Bet you’d marry it if you could.”
He fixes me with a stare.
“What?” I ask. “You started it.”
“My point is, you don’t go around marrying every woman you like.”
“It’s true, I don’t.”
“So, what’s the plan?” he asks.
I catch Bennett’s concerned gaze from where he’s talking with Fisher, Jack, and Leo. They’ve obviously sent Byron in here to figure out what’s going on. Dad’s gone rogue and they don’t know what the fuck to do about it.
“Do I need a plan?” I ask.
“Are you going to get it annulled? Divorce her? At least make her sign something to say she’s not going to take all your money?”
I scoff. “She’s not going to take my money.”
“Worth, do you realize you barely know this woman? Did you do it as a dare or something?”
I sigh. “On a whim. We’re in Vegas. Why not?”
Byron’s mouth presses into a hard line. I can tell he’s got the urge to punch me. But I can’t give him answers I don’t have.
“I don’t have it figured out yet,” I say. “Things will unfold.”
“Have you hit your head? Are you on an acid trip? What the actual fuck is going on?”
“Avril’s on academic probation. So I’ve got to sort that shit out when I get home. Looks like the building on Ninth I invested in is more of a money pit than I suspected, given Mason has fucked off with five hundred grand.”
“Fuck, Worth. That doesn’t sound good. So you were trying to escape and decided to get married? I mean, I get having an emotional reaction and everything, but maybe next time try and work it out at the gym, rather than enter into a potentially life-changing contract.”
“I didn’t get married because of Avril or Mason. I got married because I like Sophia. I really like her and… I went with my gut.”
There’s a beat of silence before Byron says, “Nothing much I can say to that, is there?”
“Nothing you need to say.”
“Just promise me you’ll come to me if you feel out of your depth. I know you’re used to handling anything and everything, but it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. We’re all here for you.”
I clink my champagne glass against his. “Thanks.”
“And congratulations,” he says, an eyebrow raised.
I grin and glance over at Sophia. If she’s the biggest mistake I make in my life, then so be it.
TWELVE
Sophia
Traveling private is the worst. I’m officially ruined when it comes to flying commercial.
We get to the bottom of the steps on the tarmac in New York to find six blacked-out SUVs waiting. We all say our goodbyes like we’re never going to see each other again, and everyone peels off into their waiting vehicles. The first one is for Jules and Leo. The second for Bennett and Efa. The third for Fisher, the fourth for Jack, the fifth for Byron.
“The last one is ours,” Worth says, as he pulls up the handle on my carry-on he just brought down the stairs.