Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Jarvis.
Oh goody.
I was so looking forward to having it out with him.
Not.
I hadn’t washed my hair since I’d just washed it this morning and the salon had done a gorgeous job blowing it out, so I left it in its elegant updo as I padded to the door.
“For god’s sake, Jarvis, you don’t have to alert the media that you’re here.”
“What the fuck, Jolie?” He exploded into the room, the tails of his tuxedo swinging as he paced. “Are you kidding me with this last-minute jitter bullshit?”
“It’s really not that last minute, and we’re way beyond jitters.”
He turned, glaring at me. “Why? I’ve fucking given you everything. I let you plan the wedding of your dreams and—”
“You let me?” I countered, folding my arms. “You mean you were relieved you didn’t have to participate in a single detail so you could party with your friends until the very last minute?”
He narrowed his eyes. “What did I do to upset you now? You’re always pissed off about something. It’s exhausting trying to never do anything that hurts your feelings. Is there anything that makes you happy other than your precious lab rats?”
I gritted my teeth. He knew damn well I didn’t use rats in my lab, but he liked to say that. Incessantly.
“Well, whatever it is, it’s not you,” I said finally. “You don’t make me happy, and obviously I don’t make you happy. You should be glad I’ve saved us both the time, expense, and headache of a divorce a year or two from now.”
“Goddamn it.” He threw up his hands. “I told your father this would never work, but he said you’d settle down once we were married because you wanted babies. What changed, Jolie? Yesterday we were happy.”
I sighed. I loved my father, but he’d never really gotten over the fact that his only child was a girl. When it had become clear I was never going to be a professional athlete, I guessed he’d assumed my marrying one would be the next best thing. I had no intention of marrying anyone anytime soon, and even if I did somehow end up with an athlete, it wasn’t going to be this one.
“Look.” I opted to throw myself under the bus just to get this over with. “This is all my fault and I’ll deal with the fallout. I’ll send back the gifts, write notes to everyone and apologize. Whatever has to be done, I’ll take the blame for everything. You can go back to Chicago and let the world know I broke your heart. I’m sure it won’t take you long to replace me.”
“Jolie. Babe. Come on. You know that’s not what I want.”
Obviously, he was trying another tactic, using his softer, sweeter side, the one that had gotten me to go out with him in the first place. I knew better now, though. Soft, sweet Jarvis only showed up when he wanted something.
“Jarvis, stop, okay? Just stop. I know you don’t love me and I’m not in love with you either. I made this decision for both of us, no matter what you might think.”
“What are you talking about?” He stared at me angrily, his dark eyes suddenly filled with confusion. “How can you say I don’t—”
“I heard you talking to Manny last night. I know exactly how you feel about me.” I met his gaze without blinking, waiting for it to sink in.
We were done.
Completely and totally done.
I was used to letting my father down. I’d long since stopped worrying about that. Disappointing my mother was something else entirely. She’d been crying all morning and I hated being the cause. There was no help for this, though. Hopefully, she’d get over it after another day or two.
After Jarvis and I had talked, my parents had come over. Once I’d explained everything, Dad got pissed off all over again and went looking for Jarvis. Mom had stayed with me at the apartment, trying to find a way to change my mind and coming up with dozens of excuses for Jarvis. It was almost comical how much people who didn’t really know him liked him. Ironically, the one person who’d taken my side was my paternal grandmother.
Grandma G, which was what I’d always called her, was eighty-one and still spry and active. She’d never liked Jarvis and based on the story I’d heard from one of my bridesmaids, she’d hooted with laughter when the announcement had been made that the wedding was off.
Today she was in my parents’ sunroom having brunch with me, my mother, and my Aunt Nita, who was my mother’s sister. Grandma G lived in an assisted living facility not far from here, but Aunt Nita lived in Boston, so she’d come to town for the wedding and I liked spending time with her.
“Sometimes things happen for a reason,” Aunt Nita said after my mother started sniffling again. “You can’t know it now, but there’s probably someone amazing out there for you, Jolie. Mark my words.”