Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Maybe,” Sienna says noncommittally. “We’ll have to see how my morning sickness is. With Brooklyn, it was more like night sickness.”
“I give up.” Lincoln sighs, making Micah and Sienna laugh. “I’m going back to my place. Let me know when Santa comes, so I can come over.”
“You watch the girls open gifts?” I ask.
“Of course,” Lincoln says, standing and walking over to the door. “I wish they didn’t get up at the ass-crack of dawn, but the look on their faces as they open their presents is worth it.”
His words make me realize how much I’ve missed by staying away. I came to visit last year, but it was only for a few days after Christmas, leaving before New Year’s.
Once he’s gone, I excuse myself to my room to give Sienna and Micah some alone time. While I’m getting changed for bed, my phone goes off with a text from Raelyn asking how it’s going. Instead of texting back, I hit call, and she answers on the first ring.
“You fuck him yet?” she asks without so much as a hello.
“Yeah, right under the Christmas tree,” I say, sarcasm dripping in my words.
Raelyn laughs. “Damn, talk about unwrapping presents.”
“Ha ha,” I deadpan.
“In all seriousness, how’s it going?”
I sigh and plop onto my bed. “I’ve decided not to tell her anything.”
“El,” she groans.
“She’s pregnant again and happy, Rae. So fucking happy. Telling her will only open old wounds that she’s had a hard enough time closing. I’m not doing that to her.”
“So, what are you going to do? Avoid her forever?”
“No, I’m going to figure my shit out once and for all. Then I’m going to move home in May and be the best damn sister and aunt I can be.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“The masquerade party.”
CHAPTER FIVE
ELLIE
Six Weeks Later
“This is a mistake.”
“No, it’s not,” Raelyn argues. “We’ll go in, you’ll finally get laid, hopefully overcome your aversion to being intimate with the opposite sex, and then we’ll get out. And while I’m waiting for you, I’ll hopefully get laid too.” She waggles her brows suggestively, and I groan, praying this plan doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass. In my head, it sounded like the perfect plan: show up, have anonymous sex with a guy I trust, and then leave. But now, as we walk toward Elite, a million thoughts are plaguing my mind.
“What if I can’t do it?” I stop and look at Raelyn, my heart pounding behind my ribcage. “What if I freak out? It’s anonymous sex because it’s in a dark room. What if all I see are those men who—”
“Stop,” Raelyn says gently. “We’ve talked about this. You’ll focus on his voice, his scent. And you’ll take charge, insisting on being on top so it’s all in your control.”
“Okay, right, yeah.” I nod nervously.
“It’ll be okay, and if it’s not, you’ll get out of there, and I’ll be right outside the door waiting for you.”
“And what about you getting laid?” I lift a brow.
“You know I was only joking,” she says with a pointed look. “We’re here for you and I have your back.”
“Thank you.” I glance behind me and take a deep breath. “All right, let’s do this.” We both put on our masks and walk around the corner toward the entrance of the underground sex club. “And don’t forget you’re me,” I remind her. “And I’m Sienna.” If we’re questioned, I know enough about my sister to bullshit my way out of it, and Raelyn knows enough about me. But my hope is that once I flash Sienna’s ID, they won’t ask for mine, so it’ll be as if I was never here.
I hand the bouncer Sienna’s license that I swiped out of her wallet on our way out, when I told her we were going to watch a late Broadway show in the city. Despite her being surprised to see me visiting so soon after my last visit, she was so excited to see me again, she didn’t question it.
“She’s with me,” I tell the bouncer when he glances from me to Raelyn. “My husband should be here soon.” I’m lying through my teeth—the kids are with their grandparents, so Sienna and Micah can enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day at home—but I just need the lie to stick long enough to do what I came here to do. If all goes as planned, I’ll get in and out without anyone ever knowing I was here—or questioning if Sienna was ever here.
“Sounds good,” the bouncer says. “Have a nice evening, Mrs. Alexander.”
As we walk through the club toward the bar, I keep an eye out for Lincoln. Because there’s no way to recognize someone with their mask on, I snuck into his place earlier today and snapped a picture of his mask, so I’ll be able to recognize it. Thankfully, it was on his desk, in his home office. Otherwise, I’d be going at this blind, and that would not be good.