Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“How’s the setup going?” Lala asked.
“Good.” Billie arranged a few things on the table. “We’re all ready to go whenever you are.”
Billie then introduced us to her friend Cash, the photographer.
Lala looked around. “Where’s Colby?”
“He took Saylor and Mav out while we set up. They should be on their way back soon.” Billie turned to me. “Okay, so I have to confess, Devyn. Your reputation precedes you…”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, for a while, inquiring minds have been wondering who you were. You’ve been spotted around the building, but you were a mystery.”
I arched a brow. “There are a lot of inquiring minds around here?”
“You have no idea.” Billie laughed. “Anyway, I’m sorry if I seemed a little weird when you first walked in. I’d just put two and two together. It’s really great to meet you.”
The door opened, and a handsome tatted guy wearing a beanie over his longish hair entered. I assumed that was Lala’s baby daddy since he wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. He immediately took baby Hope from her.
Lala brought him over to me. “Babe, this is the mystery woman in four-ten. She has a name! Devyn.”
“Ah.” Holden’s eyes sparkled. “Very nice to meet you, Devyn.” He held out a hand, and we shook.
“You, too.”
A few moments later, another guy who looked to be in his late twenties strolled in. He clasped hands with Holden, and I wondered if he was one of the other friends who owned this place. He was super good-looking, too. Was there something in the air around here? Every single guy was hot.
His mouth spread into a smile as he made a beeline for me. “Who do we have here?”
Lala smiled. “This is Devyn. The woman in four-ten.”
“I know. I recognize her.” He grinned. “I’m Brayden. It’s amazing to finally meet you.”
“I hadn’t realized people were waiting to meet me,” I said with a laugh. “But it’s wonderful to meet you, too.” All the attention made me feel a little warm. Maybe I needed to get out of here before it was totally overwhelming.
“Well, it’s just that no one knew who you were for a while there,” Brayden explained. “And I mean, we typically know everything around here, so it threw us for a loop.” He chuckled. “What brings you to New York?”
“Just here temporarily, looking after my brother and sister while my mother is away.”
“Is she on vacation?” he asked.
“Something like that.” I gritted my teeth.
“Cool.” He nodded. “Well, welcome.”
“Thank you.” I exhaled.
A few minutes later, yet another handsome dude walked in, this one flanked by two kids: a little girl and an infant in a car seat.
The girl ran up to me—even faster than Brayden had. “Who are you?”
I smiled down at her. “My name is Devyn. And you are?”
“Saylor Lennon.” She pointed over to the baby. “And that’s my baby brother, Maverick Ryan Lennon.”
These must be Billie’s kids.
I looked over at the baby. “He’s got so much black hair.”
“I know. It looks like a teepee!”
“A toupee,” Colby corrected, holding out his hand. “I’m Colby, Billie’s husband. Nice to meet you.”
“Colby, Devyn is currently living in four-ten,” Billie added. “She’s the mystery woman.”
“Ah…the famous mystery woman.” He snickered.
I felt myself blush. “That’s me, apparently.”
The next thing I knew, Saylor had brought out a guinea pig to show me. “This is Guinevere,” she announced.
I petted the chubby animal. “He’s so cute.”
“It’s a she…”
Duh. Guinevere would be a girl’s name.
Brayden slipped into the spot next to me. “Who’s cute? Me?” He winked.
This one was such a flirt.
“I’m kidding, of course,” he said. “So, how do you like living here, Devyn?”
I spent the next few minutes chatting with him—told him all about my job and briefly alluded to the challenge of keeping up with my siblings. Brayden was certainly a charmer, attentive to every word that came out of my mouth and seemingly very interested in me. This was a problem for multiple reasons.
Then Holden had grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him away.
“I’ll be back.” Brayden lifted a finger as he walked backwards, looking confused.
Odd.
I was left standing there, feeling awkward among this group of close friends. It felt like the right time to leave as everyone started noshing on the food, and Holden and Lala prepared to take a family photo.
I debated sneaking out but decided to say a quick goodbye to Billie, who wasn’t in the middle of anything at the moment.
“I have to head back to my apartment. It was great meeting you.”
“Why don’t you stay? We have plenty of food!”
I placed my hand on my stomach. “Oh, thank you so much. But I have to be home when my brother and sister return from the Y.”
“Okay, well…we should do lunch sometime. You, me, and Lala.”
“That would be great.” I smiled.
Agreeing to that seemed harmless enough. They were nice women, and it wouldn’t kill me to get to know them. That was certainly safer than getting to know say, Owen better. Billie and I exchanged phone numbers.