Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I nodded, and she then introduced me to Jennifer, who was sitting across from me, and Bentley, who was across from Sienna. The men, seated at the other end of the table, showed no interest in me—one of them, whom I saw when he brought a pitcher of beer, being Damien.
“Oh, here’s our sangria.” Bentley was very excited by the large pitcher that was put down on our end, with beautiful cobalt-blue glasses for all of us.
“Am I taking someone’s spot here?” I asked Sienna as Jackie immediately started pouring. A huge charcuterie board arrived next on our end, while the guys had beer, cheese, and a pretzel with sliced brats. It was interesting how everything was divvied up.
“You’re not,” Sienna told me. “Anna and Tate—”
“They’re getting married next,” Jennifer apprised me. “And guess where? At the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the French Riviera in August. It will be sublime.”
“Wow, that sounds fancy,” I said, having no idea if it was or not, other than the way she had announced it. “Are you all going?”
“Yes, and I can’t wait,” Jennifer gushed.
It was fun watching all the men passing by the table and smiling at me. They were very impressed that I was surrounded by such beauty. It was like sitting in a magical garden.
“What’s with the face?” Jennifer asked suddenly, and I saw her looking at Jackie, who was biting her pillowy bottom lip.
“Uh-oh.” I grinned at her. “Come on, Jackie, dish the dirt. Have Anna and Tate hit a little bit of a rough patch?”
All the women looked at her, and Bentley even stopped pouring.
“They’ll be fine.” Sienna made that pronouncement, then glanced around the table. “It’s just a little blip.”
No one said a word.
“So Anna should be sitting where I am.”
“Technically,” Sienna agreed.
“What happened?”
She made a face.
“Yeah, what Cooper said,” Jennifer snapped. “Spill, Seni, because clearly Jackie knows.”
After a moment, Sienna leaned forward, and we all followed her lead.
“So apparently, Tate and his parents want to tweak Anna’s prenup just a bit, but Anna’s not budging.”
“Why should Anna budge?” Bentley asked, going back to pouring sangria. “It’s not like she’s some poor college student on a scholarship anymore. She owns the Farraday art gallery in Chelsea, and anyone who shows their work there is guaranteed to sell everything because people who collect art trust Anna.”
“I’m not saying she should budge, but a million dollars per child seems like a lot.”
Bentley passed me my glass, and I took a sip. “Oh, that’s good.”
“Right?” She smiled as our eyes met.
“Bentley,” I said, “please tell me what a million dollars per child means.”
“I was going to ask that myself, thank you,” Bentley said, looking at Sienna.
“It means that if they get a divorce, for every kid Anna popped out, she gets paid a million dollars,” Sienna explained. “Also, she gets half a million for every year they’re married, with a cap of ten.”
“Holy crap.” I chuckled. “Plus child support and alimony?”
Sienna nodded.
“That’s a lot.”
“Yes, but Tate Montgomery the Third’s family can afford it.”
“Gotcha.”
“And Campbell Covington even more than that,” Jackie simpered, lifting her left hand to show me her engagement ring.
“Wow,” I said, admiring the emerald-cut diamond solitaire ring in platinum. It was enormous. “This is gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” she nearly purred. “We’re planning on Luttrellstown Castle near Dublin, Ireland.”
“It sounds beautiful,” I said, as I had earlier about the place in France. I had no idea about wedding venues. “I’m sure it will be like a fairy tale.”
Jackie’s eyes were so warm when she looked at me. “I’m so enjoying talking to you and knowing that you’re actually happy for me and not jealous even one bit.”
“Oh, shove it up your ass, Jackie,” Sienna groused at her. “You’re being a bitch.”
I stood up then and switched places with Sienna.
“You’re saving her life,” Sienna muttered under her breath.
I took the seat between them, and instantly, Jackie leaned her head on my shoulder.
Jennifer grimaced. “The problem is, even though Sienna and Damien say they’re engaged, there’s no ring.”
“Shut up, Jen,” Sienna replied, but I noted the lack of vehemence.
“Mine’s not as big as Jackie’s,” Bentley stated, holding up her gorgeous princess-cut solitaire diamond ring that was smaller yet lovely nonetheless. “But I love it.”
“And who’re you marrying?”
“Gordon Arison,” she told me proudly. “He’s the guy with the brown hair over there playing darts.”
As he was playing with two blonds, he was easy to pick out. She called his name and waved happily. He returned the wave tepidly, then went back to drinking beer and laughing with his friends.
“My turn,” Jennifer said, holding out her hand for me.
Hers was a halo setting, which my sister Celeste had, and even though Jennifer’s was much bigger than my sister’s, knowing exactly how Hector Rojas felt about Celeste made her ring far more beautiful. And maybe Jennifer’s guy was wild about her too. I hoped so.