Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
“Love hurts, Amelia Gracie Lazenby.” She takes me in a squishy hug.
“I don’t love him,” I whisper.
“Oh, you silly, silly girl.” Breaking away, she takes my cheeks, getting her nose close to mine. Her old eyes shine knowingly. “The best kind of love hurts the most.”
“Clark and Rachel are on the floor,” I whisper, my voice noticeably broken. I can’t talk about him.
“So they are,” she murmurs, hooking her arm through mine and turning us to face the floor, just as Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You” starts and Clark swoops Rachel into his hold. My bottom lip wobbles. He looks so happy, and no one can deny Rachel is perfect for him. She catches my eye as Clark twirls her, and I smile through my emotions as she puts a finger discreetly to her lips. Clark’s told her I know about the baby. My mum will be on cloud nine when they decide to break the news.
I find Grandpa on my right and pull him close, replacing my arm through Grandma’s with his. “I just need to use the ladies’,” I say, leaving them, but I don’t go to the ladies’. I take a fresh drink off the bar and head outside, hoping the cooling air will clear the glaze in my eyes.
Avoiding the gathering of smokers at the far corner, I take a moment before I’m undoubtedly discovered hiding. I underestimated how hard today would be. Keeping my game face on, trying not to let my heartbreak show. How I wish my family had never found out about Jude.
I sigh, glancing over my shoulder.
And freeze when I see Nick through the smattering of guests who’ve stepped out onto the balcony too. “Shit,” I whisper, moving myself between one of the tall pyramid lanterns and the edge of the balcony so he can’t see me.
My position gives me direct sight down onto Regent Street, and I nearly stop breathing when I see a man standing on the pavement across the road, his head tilted back to see up to the balcony, people dodging his static form. My stomach drops into my gold heels as I take him in, unable to look away. Messages and calls are easy to ignore. But when he’s within sight? He’s tired, I can see it even from up here. But despite that, he’s still too stunning for words. And I hate him for that too. His white shirt is tucked into grey trousers, his sleeves folded neatly to his elbows, the knot of his tie perfect.
I meet his eyes, and once they lock, I can’t tear them away, no matter how hard I try. No matter how much I know I should. He lifts his phone to his ear, and mine starts ringing from the satin purse dangling from my wrist. On autopilot, I knock back the drink in my hand, parched, and set the glass on the ledge before getting my mobile out. I know I shouldn’t take this call. Everything is screaming at me to reject it. Reject him. And yet I still swipe the green icon and press my mobile to my ear.
The sound of the street below becomes amplified down the line. “Come to me, Amelia,” he says, his voice strong. Commanding. It’s the kind of tone I should scoff at. The kind of demand I should rebuff with a plain fuck off. “Don’t make me come up there.”
I take a breath, feeling every muscle engaging. Tightening. To keep me here, or to take me to him? Jude hangs up first, leaving that threat hanging.
Stop.
Don’t go.
But that’s the power of Jude Harrison.
I tuck my phone away and dip out from behind the lantern, and the second I do, Nick spots me. He smiles mildly, coming my way, and I start to shake my head, warning him off. I take no pleasure from the hurt that dilutes his expression as he halts. “Your dad said you’re not seeing that guy anymore.”
I pick up my feet. “I can’t, Nick.” I pass him, trying to keep my cool. Today is not the day to lose it, not with Nick or my father.
“Amelia, please.”
Skirting around the edge of the room, I follow my feet to the stairs that’ll get me to the lobby. Or am I following my heart? No. I stop at the top of the stairs, taking the rail. Then turn around and take a few steps back towards the wedding. My teeth grit. I feel like I’m being pulled in two directions, but I need answers. Deserve some answers.
“God damn it,” I say, a little too loudly, pivoting and taking the stairs down to the lobby, my feet fast. My heart is out of control, pumping hard, but it’s leading me to him.
You were a bet.
I stop abruptly, trying to catch my breath, feeling panicked. My head and my heart are at war; I’m cursing constantly, fighting to ignore my heart and listen to my head.