Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
The crew all went silent, though I saw an assistant or two trying to cover their smiles.
I didn’t bother covering mine. I beamed, like the proud fiancée I was.
Bruno swallowed hard, his face blanching as if realizing he’d just upset the fiancée of a six-foot-five Scottish goalkeeper. “Right. Of course. We’ll manage fine as we are.”
Will had never stood up for me like that. Neither had Mum. Grace had. Dad had. But no one since them.
Until Baird.
In the empty ballroom, when he finally let me up for air, I’d squinted up at him because he’d pushed my glasses up into my hair so he could kiss me. I whispered hoarsely, “Thanks for having my back today.”
Baird stroked my cheek tenderly, before popping my glasses back onto my nose. His gorgeous features sharpened into focus as he eased away from me. “You’re my family now, My. In my family, we always have each other’s backs.”
I grinned a little too giddily. “Same.”
If my smile gave away too much of my feelings, Baird seemed delighted, not frightened. He hugged me into his side, pressing a slow kiss to my temple before we reluctantly rejoined the crew.
By the time we got into the car to drive home, I switched my phone back on to a ton of texts from friends and family. Grace was annoyed we’d left the party before they’d arrived and insisted that we make it up to her, Dad, and Lockie. Even though I was exhausted, I promised her we’d have dinner with them in the coming week. Baird agreed amiably. It was refreshingly unlike Will who always hemmed and hawed and insisted he needed to check his calendar a thousand times before committing to spending time with my family.
I had a missed call and text from Beth. A text from Lily, one from January, and even one from Luke. I really needed to apologize to Luke for bailing on his graduation party. However, the fact that all their texts were filled with cheeky innuendo about why we’d left early meant my responses could wait. Nosy buggers, I thought with a small smile on my face.
That was seconds before I dozed off.
I woke up to Baird trying to lift me gently out of the car. I assured him I was awake when I was really only semiconscious, and I sleep-drunkenly got into my flat with his help. We had this to do all over again tomorrow, and I just wanted to snuggle into Baird’s chest and sleep for a hundred hours first.
Instead, Baird insisted I stay awake long enough to eat the takeout he’d apparently picked up on the way home. I’d slept through him stopping to go into a Chinese restaurant to collect food!
“You were totally out.” He stroked my cheek after I watched him place lettuce wraps on a plate. It was the exact right thing to order for me.
He saw me gaping at the wraps and stated, “Lettuce wraps when you’re not that hungry. Kung pao chicken when you are. And I got vegetable spring rolls.”
It was weird. Even after all the lovely, amazing things he’d said to me when he confessed that he’d wanted me romantically since the beginning … it was at this moment when it finally hit. Our entire friendship, Baird had been so into me, he’d soaked up every minute detail. Including the fact that when my stomach was feeling a bit sensitive or I wasn’t hungry, I always ordered lettuce wraps.
“What else do you know about me?” I whispered.
Whatever he heard in my tone, Baird’s expression turned serious. “I know you swim three times a week, not just for the fitness but because it’s the one place your mind focuses and all your stress melts away for a while.”
Facts.
I held my breath, waiting.
“I know you love fashion and that you take your time presenting yourself to the world, not because you’re hung up on your looks but because it’s your armor. Because your mum’s situation made people look at you like you were less than, and you never want to feel that way again. I know you listen to Taylor Swift when you’re in a good mood, Paramore when you’re pissed off, and Lord Huron when you’re chilled out.” His lips twitched. “This is just a guess, but I think Hozier might be when you’re horny.”
My lips parted on a “Uh!” squeak as I whacked his arm. “How did you know that?”
Baird threw his head back in laughter.
I was half shocked at everything he said.
When his laughter trailed off, his eyes still danced with humor. “I pay attention, My. And believe me, there were days I came over and you were listening to Hozier, and I wondered what the fuck Will wasn’t doing for you, and it was really hard not to make an arsehole move.”