Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Every single day, I lived with that weight. And yeah, maybe I used my adventurous lifestyle as a way to drown out the pressures that I constantly felt, but wasn't that better than entrusting my entire, very heavy baggage to somebody else? Somebody who might end up leaving me in the end anyway?
My eyes traveled across the audience, most of them teary-eyed and smiling at our friends, until I found Aspen.
My paid-for date.
My fake girlfriend.
The one I couldn't help but grin at as she pantomimed crying and then stealthily pointed at me, silently indicating that I was a big baby.
I checked myself, discreetly brushing away the one sliver of emotion I'd let show. But she’d made me smile. She seemed to have a knack for that. Then she covered her heart with her hands, swooning at me, and it was all I could do to not laugh out loud.
This girl.
She was nothing if not surprising, and the way she was so unapologetically herself did something to me.
I couldn't wait to find out what she was going to say or do next, and it made this little arrangement of ours incredibly interesting. It didn't help that she was also incredibly gorgeous, her body filling out that dress in a way that showed off every single one of her curves.
Curves that itched to be under my fingers.
But it was more than that. I genuinely liked being around her. Even during the plane ride over, when we'd had our crash course in personal history and dating facts, I never had the urge to put distance between us like I usually did with strangers. It was new for me.
Normally, especially on trips across the country, I found reasons to put my headphones on and lock into work.
And of course, that could be because the prior dates I’d had were casual, no-strings hookups. There’d been no reason to go in depth like Aspen and I had on the way over here.
This was all incredibly new to me. And part of me found it exciting, the unknown. But there was another part of me that was just as curious if Aspen would be acting the same if this were a real relationship. Or was she so funny and endearing and understanding because I was paying her?
I guess, in the end, it didn't really matter, did it? Because this wasn't a real relationship, and I was paying her.
I never thought I'd need to remind myself of that fact.
Applause erupted from the audience, everyone standing from their seats as they clapped for the newly crowned bride and groom. I returned my attention to my friends just in time to see them clasp hands and walk down the aisle, smiling and waving to their family and friends as they headed out of the main room.
Ethan took center stage and informed everyone where to go for the reception, just a quick walk outside to the veranda that had been fully transformed into a white silk tent and twinkle light fantasy, complete with champagne and appetizers and a live band.
I waited my turn and walked down the aisle behind my friends, only slowing to extend my arm for the designated bridesmaid that paired up with me, one of Brynn’s cousins who was a charming woman expecting her third child any day now. I walked her all the way to her assigned table and settled her in a cushioned seat, grabbing her a mocktail before I left her side.
The live band was already playing the requested songs from the bride and groom, but they were nowhere to be seen. Again.
“Insatiable,” I said when Asher found me near the bar. “Those two are absolutely insatiable.”
“Can you blame them?”
“No,” I said. “I can’t judge. Hell, you know me. I’ve treated sex like a marathon on the best of days, but these two seem determined to miss their own wedding. And what’s the point? It’s not like they’ll be spending the rest of their lives together?”
“You wouldn't understand,” Asher said, then tilted his head. “Or would you?” His eyes trailed behind me, and I turned around.
He was looking at Aspen, who was talking to someone I didn't recognize. A very tall masculine someone who was making her laugh.
“Isn't that your girlfriend?” Ethan asked, joining our group.
“Looks like Weston’s Raptor rookie tight end is finding her quite interesting,” Gareth added as he joined us, sipping from his cocktail.
“What the fuck? He's a Raptor?”
“Yep,” Gareth answered. “And a damn good one, too. Even as a rookie, he's got a shit-ton of potential. I'm hoping I can trade him from Weston in the future. Just before he gets big.”
I couldn't take my eyes off of Aspen and the way she looked up at the rookie, fully engaged in whatever the hell it was they were talking about. And then she laughed again, her smile bright, her head thrown back because whatever he said was so damn funny.