Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Even Rina’s okay with the whole affair after hearing about it from Colt.
I thought she’d be bitter when I called to tell her Winnie and I were engaged, but she just sounded amused.
“I knew it was coming,” she’d told me. “Just don’t fuck it up this time, Archer.”
This time.
I resented that because it almost implied I was at fault last time, but hell, why argue?
A man can learn from his mistakes. He can bury his darkest days. He can seize a second chance and make it thrive.
Colt aside, everything with Rina was a mistake.
Winnie is not.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way she loves me.
I don’t think I ever want to—not if it means losing my sense of awe that I could ever win a woman like this.
It’s a beautiful spring morning when our wedding day arrives.
We adhered to tradition and slept in separate rooms, even if I hated how weird it felt waking up without her by my side.
I’ve gotten used to having her morning bed head in my face.
Still, it’s just one day and I can’t be mad.
My phone pings with a text and even without looking, I know it’s her.
Winnie: I’m excited. Are you freaking out yet?
Me: Only because I have to wait at least twelve more hours to fuck you boneless.
I smile at her emoji-speak of laughing faces and hearts before I set my phone aside.
The only two parts of this wedding I had much say in is the officiant—goddamned Patton, who got himself licensed specifically so he could marry us—and the rings.
Oh, and the food, stacks of gourmet pizzas and snacks because we didn’t want white-glove fancy.
We’ve both lived enough of that.
I only wish I’d been able to talk my way out of getting stuffed into this monkey suit, but she wasn’t having anything less than her groom dressed like a prince. According to my brothers, that’s the best part.
“All the girls go on about the dude’s face forever,” Patton told me, “but watch hers when she sees you for the first time. Odds are, she’s never seen you look so good.”
I grin like the sappy, lovesick fool I am today and roll over, ready to get up.
Good timing too because someone’s banging on my door.
“Hey, Sleeping Beauty!” Patton calls. “You up yet? We have less than an hour to get there and settle in.”
“Fuck off. Don’t rush me.”
He opens the door and sticks his head in, his hair sticking up all over the place.
Mom has Winnie and her friends over for a ‘bridal brunch’ before the ceremony. They’ll probably do their hair and makeup with plenty of time to spare.
“Not too late for a stag party,” he tells me. “Let me know and I’ll call the strippers.”
“And I’ll call your wife,” I growl back.
He winces. “Hey, I only offered for your sake. Last chance to be a dirty old man since you decided to tie the knot and try to be normal. Blah.”
“Like hell. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t rather see your wife, twerking her ass off.”
“Not for your eyes, I don’t.” He clucks his tongue. “But her and Junie are with Winnie now, so who knows what debauchery they’ll get into. Women are twice as crazy.”
“Oh, yeah. Mom will give them a workout flipping through her artbooks. I swear every one of those things weighs thirty pounds.” I smile.
“So are you nervous yet?” He gives me a once-over.
“No. Are you?”
He snorts.
“Hell no. I memorized all my lines just for you, Bro.” He beams at me like this is something to be proud of and not just a stunt he signed up for purely to screw with me.
Groaning, I flop back on the bed.
“I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this,” I mutter.
He walks in and starts tossing my clothes at me, belting me in the stomach with my shoes.
“Tough luck, buttercup. It’s all about to go down and I’m gonna make you a married man. Have you heard from Winnie? How’s she holding up?”
“She’s alive. Reaching critical mass from the excitement right now, I’m sure,” I say dryly.
“As long as she doesn’t bolt.”
“Shut up. She won’t,” I snap, shaking my head. “Jesus. Are you always this good at wedding shit?”
“What do you mean? Dex had it worse. I spilled the beans to Mom about his fake engagement. I figured the poor girl would bail the next day.” He shrugs. “Still might be true.”
“You’re so full of shit.”
“I mean, I hope not. I’m pretty fond of those eclairs she’s been bringing over lately.” He grins.
Perfect timing.
Dexter appears in the doorway, already showered and dressed. “And I warned you about office romances. You didn’t listen.”
“Bastard. Glad I didn’t, we see how it worked out.”
“Only because you knocked her up before she ever called you boss. Without little Arlo around to give you an in, you would’ve been boned, my man.”