Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Patience watches them, the slyest grin turning up the corners of her mouth. I realize the doll was no mistake. She came down here with it, not just to show us her latest creation, but because she knew it would motivate our dads into behaving. Patience is good and sweet, and I don’t think she’d ever turn our dads into dolls, but the possibility is there, hanging over them like a threat.
I want to laugh. I want to race over and hug her and tell her she’s brilliant. I want to lift her up and swing her and that wretched doll around and kiss her. Fuck, now I’m rocking Boner 3.0.
I settle for a grin instead. One that I hope conveys how thankful and hopeful I feel about this day.
CHAPTER 10
Patience
“I know it’s been a hard few days. I have something I want to show you.”
I think this is a terrible idea for several reasons. Firstly, the way Apollo says it has his eyes glistening and his feet shuffling. He totally shifts from one foot to the other, which makes him look like a little boy. It’s not the least bit charming. Not at all. I do not get sucked in. No, not at all. I don’t want to find out what this ultra-mysterious surprise is. Not at all.
Secondly, he’s wearing his freaking T-shirt and shorts combo, and the shorts are like the khaki kind that shouldn’t be hot on anyone, and the T-shirt has a kitten face on the front, which also shouldn’t be hot. Cute, yes. Hot, no. But he looks unreasonably attractive, and he smells unreasonably good. My hormones are currently doing unreasonable things. Thirdly, it seems like this surprise is going to take me out of the house, and I don’t want to go anywhere alone with Apollo. He used to be good at surprises. Really good. Now he has unlimited amounts of money, so there’s no telling what he planned.
I’ll probably like it.
But I don’t want to like it.
I don’t want to like him.
I don’t want to be attracted to him.
It’s too late in the day for surprises. It’s evening already. That would make the surprise seem a touch too romantic because the sun is so low and golden, and in a few hours, it will be sunset time. They’re so glorious out here. I don’t want to be charmed by them. Surprises can be dangerous.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave our dads alone. They need constant supervision.” That might be true, but it’s also true that after a few days together in the house, we all could use a break, even if it’s just for a few hours.
He does the casual shoulder-shrug thing that looks so natural on tall guys. He actually pulls it off as though he means it, not like it’s a gesture that says you’re probably right. If we leave, who knows what will happen here? “They’re getting along.”
“Extremely doubtful. They might end up in the pool again.”
“If they do, it will only be for a swim.”
“They might engage in another card game,” I counter.
“I’ve removed all cards from the house.”
“They might…get a sunburn while tanning outside and then blame each other for it and start another decades-long feud.”
He doesn’t sigh in my face. Is it even possible to make this man lose his composure? He’s still all twinkly-eyed and hopeful. And then he grins at me, and it seals my fate. It’s not a grin at my expense. It just promises all sorts of fun that I’m going to one hundred and ten percent like.
“I just don’t want to.” There. I say it. I push it out, and I even manage to make it sound legit.
It doesn’t work. Apollo bats that away with a swat of his hand and a blink of his eyes. He knows I’m as good as a cat right now, and my curiosity is killing me. I always said I hated surprises.
I have a surprise.
“Why do I feel like this is actually a trap?”
“Live a little, Patience. Take a chance. You might just find that there are good things left for you in this life after all. So many good things.”
“The best thing is yet to come.”
His brow curls up. Now he’s on guard. “What’s that?”
“The day we end this fake marriage.”
“That’s great.” He rolls his eyes and sighs at me, but he’s back to grinning in three-point-seven-eight seconds. Damn it, it’s like he knows me. Adult me and childhood me and everything in between that he couldn’t possibly know. It’s like he knew before he even walked in here that I’d end up saying yes because I couldn’t not end up saying yes.
My face is probably doing funny things. It’s probably doing the transparent thing where it lets everyone read every single thought and emotion I’m having. I frown, wince, pull odd expressions, try and channel my inner demons, and summon up a whole lot of shade. Negative, negative, Nancy. I don’t want to be excited. I don’t want to look like I’m excited. I don’t want him to see that it matters to me that he’s apparently done something even the slightest bit special.