Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“Can he do that?”
I shrugged. “Probably.”
“But why would he even do that? You’re Campbell’s best friend.”
“That’s why. Bobby thinks he has less influence on him when I’m there. And look, I’m only trying to help. I didn’t ask for anything that’s been given. Everything that has happened has been at Campbell’s insistence.”
“Which Bobby hates?”
“Yes.” I shrugged. “I’m sure he’d rather I take the production offer from the studio than to keep working directly with Cosmere.”
Nora’s lips pursed. “I’m sure he would. But you don’t want that?”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to keep working with Cosmere. But that offer is better than anything I’ve ever had before.”
“Last resort,” she mused.
“It’s a pretty good last resort. Just waiting to see where all of this goes, and Bobby Rogers didn’t make me feel any better about it.”
“Hmm…have you talked to my brother about this?”
“Nah, I don’t want to bug him.”
“But it sounds serious.”
“It’s not. Like I said, just a feeling.” My eyes returned to hers. “Don’t worry about it.”
“If you say so.” She looked skeptical, and honestly, I felt the same way. I didn’t know how to broach it with Campbell anyway.
We were kept from saying anything else with a music change to announce Jordan and Annie Wright. They moved immediately into their first dance, and then the buffet opened.
“I’m going to check on something with Tessi. Save me a seat?” Nora said.
“Sure. I can do that.”
“And a dance,” she said with another smile before disappearing.
As I watched her skirt swish away, I knew that I was truly and utterly fucked. I’d been able to deflect for a moment, but I wasn’t sure how long I could hold out. How long I wanted to hold out.
I glanced up and found Campbell’s eyes on me. How long had he been watching? Did he know? I nodded my head at him, and he waved me over.
“Got you a seat.”
“Thanks.”
And I swore it wasn’t strange to hold the seat next to me for his sister. She would be sitting here normally anyway…right?
I’d worried for nothing.
The rest of the reception went off without a hitch. Nora and I danced in the crowd of people to all the typical wedding songs. I only got a look from Campbell once when Nora and I slow danced and she rested her cheek against my chest. I held her tight to me and pretended that I couldn’t see his glare. Blaire hit him to get him to leave us alone.
Nora laughed with a flush on her face at the whole thing. At one point, Whitt and Eve slipped out.
“Did you see that?” Nora said, gesturing to the door.
My phone dinged in my pocket, and I checked the message from Whitt.
See you later.
I waggled my eyebrows at her. “Well, well…”
“Think he can handle Eve?” Nora asked with a wink.
“Oh, she might not even be crazy enough for him.”
She gaped at me. “Eve? Eve?”
I laughed. “Oh, the stories I could tell.”
“I would never have guessed. He seems so buttoned up.”
“Oh, he is.” I glanced around the room. “Mostly, I’m surprised he left without Harley.”
Nora followed my line of sight and found my baby sister dancing with Chase Sinclair. I took a step forward as anger coursed through me. She grabbed my arm to stop me.
“Hey, leave her.”
“She’s nineteen,” I growled.
“They’re just dancing.”
“One, I thought you hated the Sinclairs. And two, isn’t he thirty?”
“I don’t hate Chase, and I think he and Annie are the same age. Twenty-nine?” she said, watching them move together.
“That’s a ten-year age gap.”
“They’re just dancing,” she reminded me. “Just like us.”
Our eyes met as we twirled under the chandelier light.
“Fine. I’ll let them dance. But she is not leaving with him.”
Nora laughed lightly. “I’m sure Chase would like the distraction, but even he’s not dumb enough to take home a teenager.”
“Why would he need the distraction?”
“Oh right. Sometimes, I forget you weren’t here for all the drama. Annie and Chase were best friends growing up. Both always thought they’d end up together, but obviously…she just married Jordan.”
“And he still showed for the wedding?”
“Yep.”
“But he still loves her?”
“Yep.”
“Damn,” I said softly.
I glanced back over at him laughing with my little sister. That was never ever happening as far as I was concerned. I ignored how hypocritical that sounded, coming from me. But I couldn’t deny he needed the distraction. Just so long as it didn’t go past dancing.
“Leave them be,” Nora said, pulling me back into the dance.
As the night wore on, I watched Chase and Harley dance a half-dozen more times.
When all was said and done, I stood with a sparkler in my hand as Annie and Jordan walked down the makeshift aisle to the old-timey car they’d rented for the occasion. They kissed at the apex as we cheered for them and then drove off into the night.