Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 80055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“You’re still only a son.”
“She’s the love of my life.” I wasn’t going to put her life on the line to save face, not with my father. I was a deadly killer who fucked up. “Don’t forget without her, you’d have been burying me.”
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten that, Gael. I know very much and each meeting I go into, I take that knowledge with me.”
“She’s ours,” I said.
“Gael, go and enjoy the party. You’re starting to give me a headache.”
“And here I thought we were having a real bonding moment.” I rolled my eyes but left the room. I knew when it was best to cut my losses and get the fuck out of there. Today was one of those times.
Clearly, talking about Bethany was tough on my dad.
The moment I stood out in the garden, I paused. All four houses had been opened up for the party. Even though we lived on four corners, there were long pathways that joined up each of the houses. Our space was massive, abundant. There were houses between ours, but they were separated by large brick walls, keeping them in their places.
Caleb said he’d be collecting Emily. I thought about my dad, then about my Emily. I wondered what it would be like to lose her, but also to have to see the baby she gave birth to. Did Dean hate Caleb? Did all of them hate him?
Would I hate any child Emily gave birth to?
I owed her my life.
“Hello.”
I turned to see Ashley making her way toward me. She had a sweet smile on her face. I didn’t know she’d been invited. She came to stand beside me. “Your home is really pretty.”
“What makes you think we’re friends?” I asked. A waiter passed us and I took a glass of champagne for myself, nothing for my new little friend.
“Has anyone ever told you how rude you are?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Besides, you can pretend all you want, you like me.”
I snorted. “What makes you think that?”
“Emily likes me. I’ve seen the way you look at her. You can try to believe it’s not, but we know the truth. You’re in love with her and you won’t do anything to upset her.” She shrugged. “Don’t worry. I’m used to people hating me. You won’t be the first person.”
“I don’t like you.”
“Fine by me.” She tapped her foot. “So, this is a big deal kind of party?”
“Have you ever been to a party?”
“Of course. I mean, I’ve been to the usual kind with a big, bouncy castle and lots of food. Kids running around. I don’t see kids.”
“Kids aren’t invited to these kinds of parties. They make way too much noise.” This girl was giving me a headache.
“You seen anyone else?”
“Nope. Me and my mom just arrived.”
This was a surprise to me.
“Excuse me.”
“Gael, please, don’t leave me alone.” She stepped to me. “I’m not coming on to you or anything. I’m not flirting. I just, I didn’t want to come. My mom made me.” She nibbled on her lip.
Sighing, I shook my head but held my arm out for her to grip on to it. “I’m not being nice.”
“No, of course not. You’re a complete and total asshole. I get it.” She nodded. “Did you do any of this?”
“Yeah, totally. I had the time to go hunting for thousands of fairy lights and all that shit.”
“Sorry. I guess that was a stupid question, wasn’t it? You’ve got way too much stuff to do than to hang lights and decorate.”
“Where did they find you?”
She giggled. “You’re not used to me?”
“No, I’m not even close. You’re completely opposite from Emily. It’s not even funny.”
She chuckled. “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you, I promise.” She held her hand up but gripped my arm tighter.
This girl pissed me off.
We walked across the lawn and she kept on talking. I didn’t know why she felt the need to keep on speaking. I had no interest in what came out of her mouth. There was no reason to stop her even though with her constant noise, she’d started to give me a headache.
“Oh, my God, she’s gorgeous.”
I’d kept moving but was pulled back as Ashley stood still. Her words caught my attention, and I glanced at her, but she looked across the path, near the bridge. Fairy lights had been hung along either side of the bridge. She stood alone, which I didn’t like. but Ashley wasn’t wrong.
She looked so beautiful.
The purple dress she wore—I thought was an ugly color—captured my attention. It molded to her curves. Even the short distance away, I saw how it shaped and pushed her tits up, pressing against the front. The strap wrapped around the back of her neck, giving her support. When she turned away, it showed her exposed back.
The bodice of the dress had to be tight enough to keep her tits in. From her tits, it hugged to her hips and then flared out. Her long, blonde locks had been spiraled. The true length made me want to run my fingers through it. Small flowers had been placed in her hair, and when she moved, sparkles came off her.