Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Where would you go?”
I shouldn’t risk this, I shouldn’t waste my time because when she does find out, which she eventually will, it’s going to be game over and I’m going to be wrecked.
I know I’m already invested, I was invested a year ago but how does a person even bring up that conversation?
“Mom.” Scarlett moves to her feet. “You look great!” Her mom doesn’t look like she could be over the age of sixty with short blonde hair and a sleek floor length red dress and matching jacket.
Her mom smiles and immediately her eyes lock onto mine. “So, you’re him.” Uh oh. “You know, since my husband hired you—twice now—I haven’t ever met you face to face, and now here you are, with Scarlett.”
I can’t tell if this is going to be a good conversation, but I stand anyway and hold out my hand. “Nice to meet you…”
“Karen.” She smiles. “You can call me Karen or Kitty for short.”
Do not laugh, do not laugh.
“Moooommmmm.” Scarlett draws her name out. “No more Kitty because you know what ends up happening, Dad cracks an inappropriate joke, and everything goes to hell.”
“True.” She sips her glass of champagne. “I’m genuinely curious, Killian, how long have you guys been dating behind her father’s and my back? Since the failed wedding, or is this more recent?”
I’m going to kill Scarlett. “It’s newer, I had to get my head together, but it doesn’t mean it’s not real or deep.”
She raises a shaky hand to her face. “Donald, Donald get over here!”
Scarlett’s dad rushes over in his black suit and presses a kiss to her cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“It’s real!” Karen giggles. “Just look at the way he looks at her, and oh, my, I knew it, I knew Addison was being a little twat.”
Scarlett chokes on her next sip of wine, and I have a sudden urge to pull Karen into my arms and give her a hug.
“Sweetheart!” Donald exclaims through clenched teeth. “Remember, we’re on our best behavior for our youngest daughter’s wedding.”
Karen rolls her eyes. “Doesn’t make it any less true. I blame you. You spoiled her all through high school.” She waves him off, looking slightly tipsy. “But now that Addison wants to surprise them and make up for it, I don’t see why we can’t just do it!”
Scarlett leans in and whispers in my ear, “What are we doing?”
“It was Addison’s idea.” Karen grins. “After all, she ruined the first wedding and now look at her, I think deep down—”
“So very deep.” Her dad chimes in.
He gets elbowed again.
Karen rolls her eyes. “Deep down she feels bad and embarrassed it happened that way, I mean who wouldn’t?”
Addison. Addison wouldn’t. And I barely know her.
“Anyway, what better way to make up for a failed wedding than throw an impromptu one for you two? I mean it won’t be legal since we don’t have the license, but since Adrian’s here we thought we could have a small family ceremony, you can say your vows and stay an extra day if your busy rockstar schedule allows it.” Her mom is literally beaming, and I’m ready to have a panic attack because I know Addison is doing it on purpose so if I say no, Scarlett loses face, and if I say yes my agent’s going to murder me because, you know, Addison would post it everywhere along with whoever else she’s going to gossip to around the wedding.
My phone burns in my pocket.
“Um…” It’s all I have before Addison grabs a microphone and stares directly at me like she knows and is seconds away from exposing both of us.
I do something any desperate person would do in front of parents.
I pull them both in for a hug and say yes.
I don’t even wait for Scarlett to say anything.
“But we need to keep it private. I can’t let the press find out, you understand, plus we would never want to take away from Addison’s very special day.” I lie through my teeth.
“Good for you.” Karen taps me lightly on the cheek and leans in. “Your eyes are so green.”
Donald reaches for her. “Okay, now that that’s been settled, we’ll go back to our table. Hydrate honey, you need to hydrate.”
They walk off.
Scarlett stares me down, a look of total shock on her face. “Are you insane?”
“We’re already knee deep. Plus, it’s not going to be legal, we don’t have to write our names down, we can play it off as a publicity stunt, if need be, but I can also, I think get any guest that stays for the family wedding to sign something legally binding by Dustin, I haven’t had a chance to really digest what needs to happen, but she can’t win. I refuse it.”
Scarlett’s eyes light up. “You’re so freaking hot for saying that.”