Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Now, I don’t know what to think about my fake fiancé.
Chapter 16
Screwed
“Aunt Penny, do you want this one?” Dash asks in his sweet little voice, holding out a brown—to the point of black—marshmallow on the end of a stick in my direction. I don’t know who told him that he should call me Aunt Penny, but the first time he said it this evening, I almost passed out.
I knew going into this that I would have to lie, but it feels really wrong to lie to a kid. Especially one as sweet as he is. Heck who am I kidding I hate lying to everyone.
“Sure.” I lean forward in my seat, careful of the red solo in my hand, and take the stick from him. As soon as I have it in my grasp, he’s on the move back to his grandma, who’s been loading his sticks for him. So far, he’s had twelve failed attempts at browning the perfect marshmallow for his consumption. Or maybe he’s just ruining them all on purpose so he can continue to play with the fire that Daniel started when the sun began to set. My guess is the latter.
“Where is Jace?” At that question from Janet, I look in her direction.
“He’s inside, working.” I wrap the sweater I have on tighter around my shoulders.
“He doesn’t want to spend time with his fiancée and his family?” She gives me a disapproving look, like it’s my fault he’s not around.
“He said he’ll be down. He’s just got something big going on at work right now that he’s been trying to focus on,” I tell her, then take a sip of wine.
Okay, not a sip, a gulp. And it’s not really wine—it’s some concoction that Janelle and Eva made. Whatever it is, it’s delicious, and I’m already a little tipsy. Not that I’m complaining. Since Jace and I got back this afternoon, he’s been MIA. I want to be annoyed with him for ditching me to work, but this is what I signed up for, so I’m sucking it up and making the best of it. And honestly it could be worse.
Hearing people laughing, I look toward the beach and see that Sammy, Mel, Ian, his brother Troy—who looks almost like his twin but is a year younger than him—and Ryan—who isn’t related to anyone but a friend of Troy’s—are all starting up a game of volleyball.
“Penny, come join us,” Sammy yells when she catches my eye.
“Oh no, it’s okay.” I wave her offer off.
“You should go join them,” Janelle urges, and damn but if one look from her doesn’t have me giving in.
“All right.” I place my cup on the ground next to my chair and get up. “I should warn you guys that I probably won’t be any help. I was the kid in high school who was in band and theater, not in sports,” I say as I walk toward the volleyball net, and everyone laughs.
“That’s okay.” Sammy grins at me as I take up a spot in the back behind her and Mel.
“You’re up first.” Ian tosses the ball to Ryan, and he serves it over the net toward Sammy, who sends it right back over, and Troy just barely keeps it off the ground. It heads for Mel, and she jumps up with her arm in the air and knocks it down over the net, right between both guys, where it lands at their feet.
“Zero to one.” Sammy dances and claps, making me laugh.
“No more taking it easy on them, guys,” Ian says, and I roll my eyes, because that is such a dude thing to say.
Sammy serves next, and Ryan keeps it off the ground with ease, sending it over and I realize as it’s in the air that it’s coming right to me. Holding my hands together, I start to go for it, but before I can, Mel steps back in my space, bodily moving me out of the way, and sends it flying back over the net.
“Sorry,” she chirps without looking at me, which doesn’t do her any good, because Troy power-hits it down over the net at her feet. I want to laugh, but since that’s a point for them, I don’t.
As the game carries on, I start to feel like I did when I was nine and my mom signed me up for softball and I got put in the outfield, where I spent every game picking flowers out of boredom.
“Mel, you could at least let Penny try to get it,” Troy bites out when Mel goes for the ball in front of me again but fails and lands on her hands and knees.
“She said she’s not good at this game,” she huffs, dusting herself off. “I’m trying to help her.”
“Or you’re showing off.” Ryan shakes his head, and her cheeks turn red.