Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
She returned to the bridal suite to find her bridesmaids in the midst of changing into their regular clothes when she walked in.
“Samantha!” her cousin Lucy said. “What happened?”
“I slapped him, threw the ring, and left. Now I’m here for my luggage.” The plan had been for a hotel bellman to bring her bags up to the honeymoon suite for the wedding night. She was grateful that at least she’d have clothes wherever she decided to go to think about how she’d gotten to this place in her life.
“Good for you,” her mother said. “Jeremy had better hope none of your brothers run into him because—”
“They know already?” she asked, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.
Her mother grasped her hand. “Honey, they need to know in order to explain to the guests. But don’t worry, they won’t reveal why there won’t be a wedding.”
“Unless you want them to,” Olivia said. “In which case, Dylan and your brothers would be more than happy to take him on in front of everyone.” Her husband was as much part of the family as their blood relatives.
She pressed her fingers to the throbbing in her temples. “I can’t handle this. I’m just going to change clothes and get out of here.”
“You don’t have time,” Avery said. “Ian is on his way up. He’s hoping to talk to you before you leave.”
Dammit. The last person she wanted to face right now was the sibling she thought would be the most disappointed in her. “I need to leave.”
“Come on.” Brandy, the best friend ever, strode out of the bedroom, wheeling Samantha’s luggage behind her. “I’ll walk you downstairs and play bodyguard. If anyone tries to question you I’ll—”
“Beat them up?” Samantha laughed despite the pain in her heart; she refused to believe there was also relief.
In order to avoid her brother, they took the stairs and paused by the revolving doors in the hotel lobby. So far, they hadn’t run into anyone they knew and Samantha intended to keep it that way with a brief goodbye.
She turned to Brandy. “Thanks for being you.” She hugged her friend, well aware the tears she’d been holding back were welling again.
“You’d better keep in touch when you figure out a plan. Where are you going?” Brandy asked.
Samantha pulled back and tried to blot her eyes with her fingertips. “I can’t go home since I live with the asshole. Maybe a hotel? I’ll let you know where I land.”
Before her friend could ask more questions, Samantha grabbed the handle of her luggage and headed out the doors. Tears she hadn’t let fall did just that, blurring her vision as she rushed forward, hoping to find a taxi instead of digging for her phone so she could order a rideshare and have to wait.
“Miss?” the valet called out, and she glanced over to see a car driving directly toward her.
She spun out of the way, twisting her foot in her high heels. The pain shot through her ankle as it gave way, causing her to fall to the ground in a heap, surrounded by her white, fluffy wedding dress.
Chapter Two
Dex Sterling drove through the streets of Manhattan, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel of his new Benz G-Wagon. U2’s haunting lyrics blasted, taking him back to his go-to playlist and how he’d get pumped up to receive the first snap of the game every Sunday for the Miami Thunder.
Did he miss football since retiring this past season? Yes. How could he not miss a sport that had been part of his life for decades? Along with the locker room comradery and everything that went along with success. But unlike many other trophy-winning players who dragged out retirement, Dex was content going out uninjured and with a winning record.
He’d invested well and saved both his salary and bonuses, along with the money his birth parents had left in trust when they died in a car accident when Dex was seven years old. He’d then gone to live with new guardians, his next-door neighbors, Alex and Gloria Sterling, the parents of his best friend, Remy.
When Dex turned ten, they’d offered to adopt him, and as he’d always felt like one of the family and wanted the relationships to be real, he’d agreed. He’d been too young then to know about trust funds but today, as a Sterling, he now had even more money to his name. Which meant Dex had his choice of next steps.
He’d recently accepted the position of lead analyst at FSN (Football Sports Network), the top football sports channel, and was headed to meet Wes Johnson, a former teammate, also retired, who wanted to talk about investing in a new clothing brand.
Dex turned into the circular drive of the Meridian NYC where Wes was staying. Sunbeams streamed between two buildings, immediately hitting his eyes and all but blinding him for precious seconds. As soon as he could see again, a woman in a cloud of white material surrounding her stepped in front of his vehicle and he slammed on the brakes.