Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Their eyes held for a tad too long.
Ooh, there was a definite spark there between my engaged cousin and the sexy football player.
“You two know each other?” I asked, my curiosity running rampant.
“I introduced them months ago,” Beth replied.
“And then Baird came into Pennington’s looking for a tux for some event or other.” Maia shrugged. “We started chatting.”
“Then Maia came to see me in the hospital.”
“She did?” Beth frowned. “You did?”
Maia nodded. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“So, you’re friends?” Beth’s gaze darted between them. “Since when?”
Baird shrugged. “A while. Shouldn’t we be?”
“Does Will know?”
Frowning, Maia sighed. “I’m allowed to have male friends.”
“Callan would not be amused if I had a friend who looked like Baird.”
Baird scowled. “Eh, you do have a friend who looks like me.”
“You know what I mean. You’re more like a brother than a ‘male friend.’”
“Och, well … now I’m equally offended and honored.”
“What’s the chat?” Callan said as he and Sebastian approached our group.
Sebastian wound his arms around my waist, pulling me back against his chest where I went happily.
Callan slid his arm around Beth as she peered at him with drawn eyebrows. “Did you know Maia and Baird are buddies?”
Her fiancé shrugged. “Didn’t I tell you that?”
“Nope.”
“Why are you being weird about this?” Maia crossed her arms over her chest. “Is it because I’m older than you guys?”
“Oh, aye, you’re ancient, gorgeous,” Baird teased.
“I’m not being weird. I’m … surprised. Usually I know these things.”
Luckily, Beth was saved from having to explain her awkward reaction to Baird and Maia’s newly developed friendship because our pseudo-cousin Sara arrived.
Mum, Dad, Uncle Cam, Aunt Jo, and Belle reached her first as the rest of us crowded around, waiting to greet her. Sara blushed at the exuberant welcome, her eyes misty with grateful tears. As we waited our turn, I explained to Sebastian who Sara was, that after her parents died our own parents had made sure she never felt as if she was without family.
Sebastian processed this and then replied, “Now I understand why you’re so amazing.”
I couldn’t hold back my giddy smile. “Oh?”
He nodded solemnly. “This room is filled with very good people.”
Emotion clogged my throat. “It is. I’m lucky.”
“Thanks for bringing me here, Sawyer.”
“You’re not overwhelmed?” I teased.
“Oh, absolutely.” He bent his head to press a quick kiss to my lips. “But only in the best way possible.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
SEBASTIAN
Two Months Later
My small suitcase sat open on the bedroom floor, clothes and toiletries piled on and near it, readying to be packed. Lily sat at my desk, her laptop open as she edited her dissertation. She’d gotten some feedback from her advisor and had given herself the impossible task of attempting to execute the changes before we left for spring vacation. Even though my parents were in the middle of reconciliation, they hadn’t taken back their invitation for me to use our family villa in the south of France.
Miraculously, I’d already submitted my dissertation. Classes had finished and we had three weeks before final exams started. Lily had agreed to accompany me and my friends to the villa, so long as I didn’t tease her mercilessly for studying while we were there. I promised I wouldn’t as I would also be studying. Sometimes. However, I had villainous plans to distract Lily a little so she had some fun before her exams.
I’d invited Sierra and Maddie along because I knew Lily was sad about her friendship group breaking up. As much as I wanted Lily all to myself, I wasn’t going anywhere. Sierra and Maddie were leaving at the end of May, and the girls should have what time they could together.
Two months, I thought staring at my gorgeous girlfriend as she frowned at her laptop. We’d been dating for two months. It was public knowledge now. When I’d posted a photo of us on social media, I got a call from my family’s PR department. Apparently, the press was asking for a comment about the status of my relationship. I didn’t think anyone cared. However, I was strangely elated at the idea of the world knowing Lily was mine. I told them to confirm the relationship and warned Lily there might be some articles published about us.
Sure enough, a few tabloids, clearly in want of better stories, tried to contact us both for comment. We ignored it and the articles that were published. Most of the public weren’t interested in who I was dating when there were so many people between me and the throne.
Mercifully.
Lily addressed our relationship on the podcast, but she refused to make it an anecdote. She offered advice to other people and couples as per usual, but my girlfriend was very determined that our relationship remain private.
I would have done whatever made her happy. But I liked the fact that what happened between us was, well, just between us. It made her mine and only mine in a way that soothed my inner caveman. I didn’t even know that bloke existed inside me until Sawyer.