Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 139789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
"Eyes forward, groom," I muttered.
Jason chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."
"Is everyone ready?" the photographer asked.
"Yes," we replied.
"Smile!" the man shouted.
I smiled along with everyone else and for a spilt second it felt like I was part of a real family picture, that was until a hand touched my arse.
"Whoops, my bad."
I turned and glared at Jason. "Don't do it again, I'm warnin' you, Bane."
Jason smiled. "Understood, Daley."
He was trying to be funny but I just found him annoying.
"Oh, here's daddy."
I looked over my shoulder when Micah's voice chirped.
Uncle Brandon was walking in our direction, but Alec wasn't with him.
I panicked and rushed forward.
"Where is he?" I asked.
My uncle put his hands on my shoulders.
"He has gone up to your room, he said join him when you're ready."
I was ready now.
I made a move to walk away to go upstairs when Everly shouted, "Brandon, get a picture with your girls."
Damn.
"Great idea, sweetheart."
I sighed and my uncle frowned.
"You don't want a picture with me?"
Oh, for the love of God.
"Don't frown, you should not be allowed to frown. That look isn't fair on an old man's face."
My uncle gasped. "I'm forty you cheeky little shite, that's not old."
I laughed and so did my uncle as he looked down at me. I turned to my right when a flash went off and found the photographer smiling at us.
"Sorry, but unexpected pictures are the best."
I smiled then looked to my uncle. "I want a copy of that one."
"You got it, baby girl."
I smiled and my uncle beamed down at me then kissed my head.
"I only want what's best for you... You know that don't you? I love you, Keela."
I smiled. "I know you do and I love you too."
I looked to Micah when she came up beside me then switched to the other side of my uncle.
"Make this a good picture you two, the last picture we have of the three of us is from years ago when we were kids."
I glanced at Micah surprised that she knew that.
"There would be more pictures of us all together if I could stand to be around you."
Micah cleared her throat and looked down. "Yeah, I know."
No smart reply?
"Can you two please just get along? I'd like to be in a room with me girls without an argument starting between the two of you for once."
I nudged his side. "We wouldn't be Daley’s if we didn't argue about everythin'."
My uncle laughed. "Right you are, sweetheart."
We each looked to the photographer when he stood a few feet in front of us.
"Ready?"
"Keela," Everly murmured in a low voice while gesturing to my tummy with her hand. "Suck it in."
I flushed with embarrassment and nodded to my auntie before sucking in. I bloody hated sucking it, after a while it just got uncomfortable and just plain hurt.
"What are you doin'?" My uncle asked me.
"I'm just standing here waitin' for the man to take our picture," I replied.
"No, you look constipated or somethin'."
I couldn't suck in anymore so I gave in and let my gut relax.
"I was suckin' it in," I murmured to my uncle.
Uncle Brandon looked at me like I had ten heads.
"Why?"
I shrugged. "'Cause me belly sticks out."
My uncle looked at me for a few seconds longer then shook his head. "You don't need to 'suck it in', you're perfectly fine the way you are."
I smiled. "You're just sayin' that 'case you're me uncle."
"No, I'm sayin' it because it's the truth. You're beautiful Keela and it's time you realised it."
I felt my cheeks heat up.
"Thank you."
My uncle kissed my head and said, "Who told you that you have to suck it in anyway, your mother?"
Micah heard what my uncle said and listened in.
"Um, no... Everly just told me to suck it in a minute ago."
"Everly!" my uncle snarled making Everly jump. "Don't be tellin' Keela she has to suck it in, she doesn't have to do anythin' like that."
"Hun, I just want her to look her best in the weddin' album. A chubby stomach isn't attractive."
Thanks very fucking much!
I’d had it with Everly and her mouth and I was about to turn and walk away when Micah reached over and stopped me by taking hold of my hand.
"Don't you move," she said to me then looked at Everly. "Leave her alone, she looks great."
What. The. Fuck?
"What is goin' on here?" I asked Micah.
She looked at me a shrugged. "Looks like you aren't the only one who is turnin' over a new leaf, cuz."
I widened my eyes. "You want to change?"
Micah nodded. "Yeah, I'm gettin' married. I can't act like a spoilt brat for the rest of me life. Besides, you're me family and we should stick together not tear each other down which is what I've always done to you. But I'm workin' on makin' it up to you."
I was suspicious. "How?"
Micah laughed. "By not bein' a miserable bitch all the time."
I didn't trust her obviously, but I was open to the idea of her not being a bitch anymore because that would make everyone's life easier.
"Okay," I said to Micah.
Myself, Micah, and my uncle smiled as the photographer took our picture.
"The dinner was lovely, but I'm goin' to get goin' on up to me room."
Micah was whisked away by Everly for more pictures so my uncle nodded his head to me and said, "Have fun... but not too much. I don't want to have to hurt Alec."
I didn't know whether he was joking or not so I just smiled and gave him a tight hug.
"I'll see you later."
I moved through the crowds of people in the ballroom until I was in the lobby.
The nice, quiet, and spacious lobby.
I took the lift up to my floor and when the doors opened I reached down and took off my heels.
"That's so much better," I murmured to myself.
I walked down the hallway in my bare feet with my heels in my hand. I didn't bring a bag with me but I had put my key card in the back of my iPhone case earlier.
Once the keycard was in my hand I put in the into the card slot in the door and when the green light flashed, I pulled down the handle and opened the door.