Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Yeah, I need new siblings.
Everyone laughs, though it feels forced, and Ava looks away, not laughing. I exhale, wishing to be anywhere but here. When I feel Emery’s gaze on me, I can’t stop myself from meeting her eyes. She gives me a small, supportive smile, and I wish that my heart didn’t trip over itself. Or that the damn butterflies in my gut didn’t choose this moment to salsa dance.
Of course, she looks fucking stunning. She’s wearing a cute little black sundress that hugs her tits in the same way I want to. Her hair is down, all her curls wild over her shoulders and along her spine. The back of the dress is open, showing off the long expanse of her gorgeous back. A back I want to nibble on, lick, and bite into when I’m nailing her from behind.
“Since I’m not one to drop hints or beat around the bush, and I’m never sorry for being forward. Maybe dump your fiancée so I can be on the receiving end of you moaning my name and coming all over me. It’s way more fun, don’t you think?”
The most fun I’ve ever had in my entire life.
I want to be embarrassed; I want to feel like shit that she saw me the way she did, but I don’t. I wish I could be as bold as her. Throw caution to the wind and take what I fucking want. Jump, and pray I land on my feet and don’t fall to my death. I’ve always admired that about Emery.
Hell, I admire everything about her.
I feel Ava staring a hole in the side of my face. When I meet her pointed gaze, she arches a brow at me. I shrug and take a page from Emery’s petty book. “What’s Yvette going on about?”
Ava’s eyes narrow. And leave it to my sisters, because Posey asks, “Who’s Yvette?”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Ava moves her gaze from me to my sisters, that fake fucking grin on her face. “My roommate.”
“Oh, is that why you aren’t living with Quinn yet?” Shelli asks, mischief in her eyes.
Ava swallows, and I can tell she’s hating the attention. All the special women in my life are waiting for an answer, and funnily enough, she nods. “Yes, we’ve lived together since we were eighteen. I didn’t want to leave her high and dry—or pay for a place I’m not staying in.”
Not that she ever plans on moving in with me, despite what we tell our families. Mom, being Mom, says, “How kind of you. It must be hard to go from living with someone you’re so close with to living with a new husband.”
Oh, Mom, if only you knew how close they are.
I snort at that, and Ava throws me a dark look. Returning her attention to my mom, she smiles, but then she pauses. I watch as her eyes narrow, and she points at the photo collage in the middle of the kitchen. It’s of all the Assassins kids. Well, the OG ones that my mom and dad are super close to. I take in the photos of my siblings and me in different pictures with all the Brooks kids, Tate Odder’s kids, the Allen sisters’ kids, and more. In the center, though, is a photo of Emery and me. It was when we were about to go to the Jonas Brothers concert. My lips are on her cheek, her face bright and rosy. Her eyes are wide, full of excitement and desire. My hand rests at her jaw, but even as I’m kissing her cheek, my eyes aren’t shut.
They’re on her.
It’s a very intimate picture that my mom stole from my Instagram and blew up to frame in the kitchen. Not that I am surprised by this. My mom is always taking our photos and blowing them up to put around the house.
A lump forms in my throat when I move my eyes back to Ava. She makes a huffing noise that I know means she’s not impressed by the photo. Posey doesn’t miss it and narrows her gaze.
This isn’t going to be good.
“That’s us and all the kids from the team our dad played on,” Posey informs her, and Ava slowly nods.
“Yes, and a photo of Quinn kissing Emery.”
Yup. This place is about to blow.
I can’t look at Emery. I am sure she’s stretching or doing jumping jacks to get ready for the fight. Or maybe even finding the best knife to use from the knife block.
I should have warned Mom to hide those.
Fallon clears her throat as she waves Ava off. “Yes, but all the kids grew up together. They’ve all always been very tight. I mean, my eldest is married to Shelli. We’re very close-knit.”
“Not helping, Fallon,” I mutter, but I don’t think anyone hears me.