Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“I was just telling your brother what a good man he is.” My voice sounded rougher than normal, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“He is. He’s the best.” She leaned in and gave Hugh a quick hug. “Everything going okay? Sorry I’ve been so busy greeting everyone I haven’t had a chance to talk.”
Hugh smiled warmly. “Actually, I have a little surprise for you first. Remember how you and Dex helped me ‘test my new camera’ a few weeks ago by pretending to do an interview for me?” He pulled out his phone and tapped a few times. “I put something together for you.”
I crowded in to watch over his shoulder at the video he pulled up. It began like most of Hugh’s HEA videos, with Hugh asking how the couple met and how they knew their significant other would be their Happily Ever After. But in this case, Hugh had interspersed snippets of their interviews with footage of Dex and Abby through the various stages of their relationship—splash-fighting at the beach, kissing next to a lit Christmas tree, dressed up in formal wear and pulling faces to make each other laugh. The montage ended with Abby’s interview voiceover saying, “I knew he was my happily ever after when I realized the only thing that scared me about the future was the idea of spending one minute apart from him that we could have spent together.”
When it was done playing, Abby threw her arms around Hugh exuberantly, and when she pulled back, her eyes were filled with happy tears. “Hugh,” she began. “That was…”
Hugh shook his head. “I just wanted you to know I understand about the wedding. You didn’t need a fancy dress to feel special when Dex shows you how special you are every moment.”
Abby closed her eyes and inhaled. “Yeah. That’s it exactly. I’m going to treasure that video, and I know Dex will too. Thank you.” She ran her fingertips under her eyes. “Also, if my mascara is running right now, I will hate you forever.”
“You look beautiful,” I assured her.
She gave a watery chuckle. “Thank you. Do you think I could introduce you around now?”
Hugh agreed, and the next hour was spent being led from person to person as Abby took every opportunity to introduce Hugh to the important people in her life he hadn’t met yet and make sure they all saw Hugh’s video. Several of them already followed his TikTok account and praised him for it, asking questions about specific couples or posts and suggesting ideas for couples they knew that would be the perfect addition to his repertoire. In every case, he remained the charming, approachable man he was.
I loved seeing Hugh get the attention he deserved, and I also found it curiously freeing to be around people who didn’t seem to know or care who I was aside from “Hugh’s boyfriend.” With Hugh’s hand in mine or my arm around his waist, I had no need of my emotional support hedgehog, and Frank remained comfortably ensconced in my pocket…
At least until Abby pulled us into the main part of the bar to meet her coworker Chelsea, and I recognized the man standing next to her with his eyes glued on one of the television screens over the bar.
“Oh, shit,” I muttered, my heart sinking.
Hugh looked at me in confusion and concern, but before I could explain, the man on the stool turned around.
“Well, will you look who it is?” Sage’s big voice boomed. His grin was wide and easy, just like the man himself. “My very own big brother, the dude who couldn’t be bothered to return my call last week.”
“Sorry about that,” I murmured, accepting his giant hug and barely avoiding being lifted off the ground. “I’ve been busy with work. And I just saw you two weeks ago,” I reminded him.
“Busy-schmizzy. I’m your brother. Family should take precedence over work, especially from someone who already has enough money for ten lifetimes. What the hell are you doing all the way out here in Jersey?”
I could have asked him the same. Instead, Abby cut in. “You two are brothers?”
“Step—” I began, but Sage’s voice was much louder.
“Heck, yeah. Oscar’s my big brother. One of the best men I know. Practically helped my dad raise me,” he added with a dramatic flourish and wink.
“Oh my god, Chelsea,” Abby said with a big smile. “Oscar’s dating my brother. Your boyfriend’s brother is my brother’s boyfriend! That’s so weird.”
While Abby continued to introduce everyone, I felt the ramifications of her statement enter my bloodstream like a six-pack of Red Bull.
“It’s not…” I glanced across the room at Jared and cut myself off with a cough. “I mean, yeah. What a small world, huh?”
“Boyfriends?” Sage’s smile faltered for a moment. “Why didn’t you tell us in Vermont? Hell, why didn’t you bring him to Vermont? Mom doesn’t know, does she? She’d be all over it in the family chat if she did.”