Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
James: Grunt. Wife. Mine.
Me: Send me a selfie. Make it look good.
Seconds later, he sends me a picture. He’s trying to look broody, but I see straight through it. James is kind of a nerd. But he’s a good guy and deserves a good woman. Linda has done her best with her kids. They might be a perfect match. I know I’ll have my fingers crossed.
Once the toasts are over and the cakes have been cut, I leave Casey and Brayden to find Linda. Eric’s gaze tracks me and I shiver.
“Hey, girl,” I say, sidling up to Linda. “You drunk yet?”
She snorts out a laugh. “Toasty but good. Reid and Emma are going to drive us home, though. Don’t worry.”
“You’re a good mom. I’m not worried.”
Her eyes fill with tears and she jerks me to her for a hug. “Thank you. I don’t hear that enough and I needed that.”
Emotion clogs my throat. I feel like a witch for not trying to get to know her better. That ends today. Especially if we’re going to see a lot more of her soon.
“So,” I say, beaming at her. “You have a secret admirer.”
She laughs and waves me off. “Oh, stop.”
I pull up my phone and show her a picture of James. “Seriously. He thinks you’re hot and wants me to introduce the two of you. James is a childhood friend of mine.”
“Oh,” she says tugging my phone closer. “That man is fine. Are you sure he was talking about me?”
“You’re literally the only cute redhead here besides your two spawns.”
She smirks. “Give him my number. Don’t let him get away.”
“He’s not going anywhere,” I assure her with a laugh. “He said you’re going to be his wife.”
Her eyes widen and she gapes at me. “That’s so hot.”
“I mean, I guess in a creeper kind of way.”
“Hey, that’s my move,” a deep voice says before I’m enveloped in a tight hug from behind. “I can’t believe he’s stealing all my tricks. What a douchebag.”
“Be nice to my husband,” Linda teases.
Riko chooses this moment and kisses Linda noisily on the cheek. “Did I hear husband? Speaking of husbands, mine is hot as fuck. I can’t wait to make this marriage official later. Will he like my jeweled butt plug?”
Oh my God. He’s so loud. Half the reception hall glances our way.
“Stop,” I hiss and shake my head. “Don’t you have any other volume besides max?”
“Nope.” He grins at me.
Linda snatches my phone and shows Riko James’s picture. “Start planning the wedding. I want it just like yours. This was perfect.”
Riko chuckles. “That guy is cute. Wait. You’re serious?”
“Total daddy material,” Linda says, gushing. “Am I right?”
“I want to see,” Eloise exclaims, showing up out of nowhere. “Who’s that guy?”
“Your new daddy,” Riko blurts out.
“Oh shit,” Eric rumbles against my ear. “You really made a mess of this one.”
“They’re just kidding,” I hiss, really hoping they are.
I pluck my phone from Eloise’s grip and then hurry away from them. Linda and Riko are already discussing cake flavors. They’re ridiculous.
“Now he’s texting me,” Eric says as he tugs on my hand, guiding me back over to our table. “Oh shit.”
I peer over at his phone and burst out laughing.
James: Give me Linda’s number, man. If another guy finds out she’s single, they’re going to snatch her up. I can’t let that happen. I mean LOOK AT HER.
He sends a picture. The same one I sent him, but it’s cropped to just her smiling face.
“Are we that gross and annoying?” I ask with a giggle.
“I think we’re worse.” He replies that he’s on it and then tucks away his phone. “Want to dance, sass?”
I allow Eric to take me to the dance floor where the DJ begins playing the first song of the night. He wraps me up in his arms and we stay that way until the night is over.
Two months later…
I wake to the sound of buzzing. Groaning, I reach over and snatch up my phone. It’s a text from James. Squinting, I try to make out what’s happening in the picture. Eloise and James are showing a mouthful of chewed food. Linda is covering her eyes and Topher is pretending to gag.
Why are they so weird?
Me: Disgusting. Send that shit to Eric, not me.
Me: Also, I’m glad you guys are having fun.
Bile creeps up my throat. Thanks, James. Ugh, not again. I bolt to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before I purge stomach acid. I’m hungry and sick all at once. This sucks.
A few seconds later, footsteps thud into the bathroom. Eric squats behind me and pulls back my hair.
“I got you some ginger ale and crackers. Can you try and get that down this morning?”
I shudder at the thought of eating or drinking anything, but I know it’ll help. It did yesterday and the day before that and the days before those.