Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“But you know you didn’t.”
I wasn’t one hundred percent sure.
I looked away and my eyes landed on the fruit bowl in the middle of the table. “Can I have a banana?” Stress eating was always the solution.
“Sure.” He moved a bowl of raisins in front of me too.
“You’re a great housemate,” I said. “And a great date. Such a shame you don’t want to marry me.”
He chuckled and looked up from his phone at me.
I alternated mouthfuls of banana and chocolate-covered raisins while Tristan tapped away on his phone. It was weird being in a near-stranger’s house, about to stay the night. But my dad said I could trust Tristan. If he was asking me to stay, I should listen to him.
“I need a favor from you,” Tristan said as I was on my last mouthful of banana.
“Okay,” I replied.
“Can you skip work tomorrow, or at least work from here?”
“Come on. You’re being over the top.”
“One day is all I’m asking. It will just buy me some time. I’ve got a lot on at the moment and I need to figure out what’s going on.”
One day wasn’t a big deal. I was half thinking about working from home tomorrow anyway. I wanted to go through our donor list from the dinner and auction. “On one condition. I get to cook us dinner in this fan-fucking-tastic kitchen.”
“Double win for me.”
Nine
Tristan
I’d arranged to meet Dexter a little earlier than the rest of the guys. And I’d told him to bring some engagement rings with him. He arrived with a little panic in his eyes. Then he closed the door to the private room that we always used and took a seat, looking at me like I was an exhibit in a museum.
“If people were going to practice dark arts, this would be a perfect spot,” I said.
Dexter was always teased for choosing this place—its deep red walls and golden sun ceiling. It was quirky and a little dark, and it suited Dexter perfectly.
“Is everything okay?” Dexter asked.
“Sure.”
He pulled out a velvet box from his pocket and laid it on the table. “I brought what you asked me to.”
I sucked in a breath. “Thanks.” If I was going to marry Parker, I needed a ring, right? Fake marriage or not, people were going to expect an engagement ring.
“You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Well,” I said, sliding my hands down my jeans. “I’m thinking about proposing.”
“Fuck, Tristan. To who? I’ve not even heard you talk about anyone, and out of nowhere you’re marrying her?”
Before I could answer, Joshua poked his head around the door. “You two are early. I thought I’d be here on my own.” His eyes darted to the velvet box on the table. “What’s going on?”
“Tristan’s proposing,” Dexter said as Joshua sat.
I sighed. I hadn’t decided anything yet. And now I was going to have the Witches of Eastwick chipping in to tell me what they thought. I wanted to make my own decision on this. However much I loved them, my friends wouldn’t understand.
“Right,” Joshua said, clearly not believing a word of what Dexter was saying.
“I’m thinking about it. I thought seeing a ring would . . .” I’d thought I could keep this just between me and Dexter. That if I saw some rings, I’d either freak the fuck out and realize there was no way I could go through with Parker’s scheme, or it would be no big deal and I could do this because it would help Parker, please Arthur, and make a real difference in people’s lives.
“You thought seeing the rings would make up your mind?” Joshua asked. “Jesus, I think it should be about how you feel, not what the ring looks like.”
“These are great rings, but I agree with Joshua. You shouldn’t be deciding whether you propose by looking at rings.”
I wish I’d brought my headphones. Or not come. It was like being pecked to death by a couple of overinvested starlings. I pushed the box back toward Dexter. “Let’s skip this. Forget I even asked. I wanted to meet you early so I didn’t get into this with the whole bunch of you.” I shot Joshua a look.
“I’ll go and grab some wine for all of us. You two talk.” Joshua pushed out his chair and stood. “Then I’ll come back and you can repeat it. How about that?”
“Make sure you get the good stuff, you cheap bastard,” Dexter said as Joshua headed out. He turned back to me. “Sorry if I said something I shouldn’t have.”
“They were all going to find out soon enough anyway.” I’d invite them all to the ceremony, even if it wasn’t for real.
“So who is this woman you’re picking out rings for?”
I reached over for the velvet box and opened it. There must have been twenty rings staring back at me, but I was drawn to one immediately. A small emerald ring the same color as Parker’s eyes.