Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“I’m glad you’re all so entertained,” I deadpan.
“When did this happen?” Mom asks, her excitement building. She pulls away. “I didn’t know you were seeing her.”
Here we go … “But, if you do this, it must look real. It must be believable.”
I clear my throat. “We’ve been seeing each other for a while and decided to get married. We don’t want to go to the courthouse. So I was thinking maybe you knew a pastor or a preacher who could come over to my house and perform a quick ceremony. Nothing fancy.”
“Can I at least meet her first?” Mom asks. I think she might cry. “I’m so happy for you, Foxx. I … When can we meet her?”
“I can bring her to dinner tonight.”
Mom’s eyes light up. “That would be wonderful.”
“So the preacher?” I ask, my skin feeling too small for my body. I need to get the hell out of here. “Can you help me?”
“Yes. You know I can. I’ll have options tonight at dinner.”
I nod, relieved. “Thanks. When do you think you can get it done?”
“Well, you’ll need to go get a marriage license. But I don’t see why you can’t get it done tomorrow, probably. Tuesday at the latest.”
Perfect.
“Do you need help with anything else?” Moss asks.
“Can I throw you a bachelor party?” Banks asks.
“No,” everyone in the room says.
Banks sighs, dejected.
“Pippa and I know this great place not too far from here,” Jess says. “We’ve gone there a couple of times. Great hotel. Great food. Lots of stuff to do if you’re into that. If you want the information for a honeymoon or something, let me know, and I’ll hook you up.”
Beyond fucking her brains out, I haven’t thought about the honeymoon. The only thing I could think about as she taunted me with her sweet little body was needing to be inside her. I nearly came when I felt how wet and tight she was after she dragged my fingers down her sinful body.
There were no brain cells available to find a honeymoon location. But damn if I don’t want to take her somewhere that would blow her mind.
“I’d appreciate that, Jess. I’m thinking just a night or two somewhere close.”
He nods. “I’ll text you when I get home and see Pippa.”
“What about flowers?” Mom asks.
I hold out a hand. “Slow down.”
“Did you get her a ring?” Maddox asks.
Fuck. I scramble to come up with an excuse. “Actually, no. We’ve been talking about marriage for a while but decided to do it as soon as possible this morning.”
“I got a ring for Ashley for her birthday in Breakwater,” Maddox says. “I’d be happy to go over there with you if you want.”
Moss slides a chair out and sits beside Maddox.
“Does she need a dress or anything?” Moss asks. “Brooke has all kinds of shit she could borrow. Or I’m sure she’d be happy to take her shopping. God knows she knows every shop in Eastern Florida.”
I stare at my family and feel a strange twist in my chest. I’m unsure what to say to them or how to respond to their offers. The whole thing makes me twitchy. Yet, especially considering Reid Brewer’s contemptible betrayal, I can’t help but be grateful for my family. They might drive me nuts and make me want to hide from them most days, but we always take care of our own.
Always.
Even Banks.
“I’ll get back to all of you. I appreciate you,” I say, looking at Mom. “So you’ll call around for someone to marry us? And you’ll let me know at dinner?”
She scurries back to the kitchen. “I’m on it right now.”
Well, okay. I take a deep breath. “Well, then, I’m going home. I’ll see you all tonight at dinner.”
“Come bearing an apology!” Banks shouts.
I’m too preoccupied to respond.
My family is ready to help me plan a wedding.
And my soon-to-be wife waits for me at home.
What in the hell is going on?
And how did I get so damn lucky?
CHAPTER 13
Bianca
“This is not how I expected to end the week,” I say, laughing and walking down the hallway to the guest room.
It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting at my desk and Jason came in, asking me to join him on a daytime adventure. That’s because it was yesterday.
My life has taken a one-eighty in the last twenty-four hours. That should bother me. I should be concerned that things in my life, massive things, are changing at the speed of light. People go to therapy over this level of change in this short period.
So why am I excited about it? Invigorated? Refreshed, even?
It’s a sensible question, but one I can’t answer.
The last exciting thing that happened to me was the realization I could buy pumpkin spice creamer year-round and that my favorite pens were available in bulk.
But marriage, when you were fine being a bachelorette, isn’t a coup like scoring a case of individual creamers you can keep in your office. And getting married to protect your family’s legacy, and not for love, isn’t exactly a reason to celebrate. Neither of those things would make a rational person feel … free.