Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 146548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Maximoff wipes sand off his hands and onto his bathing suit trunks. He’s eagle-eyeing the two other sandcastles-in-the-making.
“Someone’s competitive,” I tease him.
He fixates on my upturning lips and my piercing. “I’m compensating for your slacking,” he rebuts.
“That’s cute.” I just stop there.
His neck almost flushes, and he’s trying to stay on course. But I’m definitely distracting him. When he gets a better look at the competition, he says, “Christ.”
“What?” Lily pops up. “Are we losing?”
“We’re definitely losing,” I answer, not needing to look. Bodyguard Facts: if you’re looking to win a wager, you don’t bet on the Hales. I was the only one who ever did. And right about now, the radio in my ear would be full of nonsensical shit.
I almost roll my eyes at myself. Fuck, I really, really don’t want to reflect on that. Because at the end of the day, I would never trade being a concierge doctor for security. Medicine is a part of me, and I can’t shake that need and that hunger. Being able to help these families with my medical skillset, it’s invaluable to me.
And my father would say, I told you so.
But at least he never gave me a hard time when I quit my residency and decided not to be board-certified. He was just proud I’m still working as a doctor. Because using my talent matters more to him than any prestige.
On top of that, he texted me this morning.
I’m sorry about Rowin. We should have enough hands on the med team with you and me, and Trip may end his sabbatical. I wanted to let you know there’s no plan to hire. We’re keeping it in the family. – Dad
I sleep easy knowing that I chose the Keene legacy the second time around, and my father never forced my hand.
Back on the beach, Loren Hale scours the competition like his son just did. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Lo says.
I turn my head and try to peer around all the famous ones and distinguish the sand structures. The Cobalts are going the traditional route and building a huge castle. Complete with four turrets and the structure has motherfucking windows.
“Is that a moat?” Luna asks.
Sure enough, Eliot and Tom dig a hole towards the ocean, and Team Hale watches as the water fills up the tunnel that surrounds the Cobalt’s castle.
“We’re screwed,” Kinney deadpans.
Next to Team Cobalt, the Meadows family compacts sand in the shape of a mermaid. Since they only have four team members, they were given a head start. Winona uses a twig to draw scales on the tail, and Sulli places seaweed as a bikini top. Their parents, Ryke and Daisy, make the mermaid’s hair with seashells.
All the Hales look back at our sandcastle. The mound of sand resembles a mound of sand.
“I kinda like our sand thingie,” Luna muses.
Xander nods. “It’s more like the mountain of Hogwarts without the castle.”
“Hogwarts Mountain,” Kinney says flatly.
Maximoff pats the sand mound. “Better than their muggle castle.” He looks over at me like he knows a word that I don’t know.
He’s always such a fucking dork. And I actually skimmed a few Harry Potter books after his mom gave them to me when I was on her security detail.
I’m about to tell him that he doesn’t know more than me, but his gaze suddenly shifts towards his dad. Lo just stood up, and his attention is cemented onto me.
“Farrow, walk with me.” Lo brushes sand off his hands. “The rest of Team Hale can build Hogwarts Mountain.”
I look to my boyfriend, and Maximoff shakes his head like he’s unsure of what this is about. I roll onto my knees, and seamlessly rise to my feet.
Maximoff is about to stand, but his dad quickly tells his son, “I’ll bring him back in one piece. Sit. Relax. Eat a sandwich, you look pale.”
He’s not pale at all.
“Thanks, Dad,” Maximoff says, sarcasm thick, and his brows scrunch at me like, see you later, and you’ll tell me every damn thing?
I will.
But let’s be honest, he’s going to be agonizing over every second when I’m gone. Wondering what the hell his dad is talking to me about.
And truthfully, I don’t have a good guess.
I follow Lo, step-for-step with him, and I rub my palms together, trying to scrape off the wet sand. We pass Team Cobalt, and their ridiculously large castle. Nine people are building this thing.
Lo edges closer and purposefully steps on one of the turrets. Demolishing it flat to the ground.
“Cheater!” most of the Cobalts boo and yell.
“Loren!” Rose yells above her seven kids. “You’ve reached a new level of low. Ruining the children’s sandcastle.”
“So now they’re children?!” he yells back. “Because for two decades, I thought you’ve been calling them gremlins.” She does call her kids gremlins.
It’s widely known.
Rose curses at him, and he walks off, smiling.