Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Riley grins from her makeup chair. “And they’re real, too.”
Hannah’s eyes roll, but she chuckles. “He handled it better than I thought he would. Though he told me he’s planning to show the first episode to his bible study group. I’m not sure that’s going to go so well. I think he means it as a cautionary tale. He told me if I went to New York, I would become a lesbian and I did.”
“Uh, you always were one, babe.” Riley winks her way. “Me, too. I was afraid to admit it until I found someone worth risking everything for.”
“Eww, they’re so mushy.” But Shelby sits beside them and starts talking to Ashley F.
The gang’s all here. My bridal party. My friends.
Up ahead my two maids of honor are talking to my moms. That’s how I refer to them now. Mom and my bonus mom. Tonya’s been a far better parent to me than my dad.
“I like the relaxed look.” Tonya nods with approval.
“I’ve got an hour or so,” I hedge. “I will look stunning when the cameras roll. I’m sure there’s a makeup artist waiting to make my eyelashes look like they were made for a fashionable Godzilla.”
Ivy blinks. “Yeah, they’re ridiculously long. You know where I don’t have to wear a ton of makeup? When I’m coding. It’s the best job because no one expects me to be beautiful.”
“And yet you are,” Heath says from where he’s sitting with Darnell, both of my amazing guy friends looking dapper in suits.
“Hey, did you see the news?” Darnell asks. “Jessica Wallace is out as CEO after the stock drop and how she handled the Joe Helms case.”
Ivy frowns. “She still got a fifty-million-dollar severance package. At least Helms got jail time.”
It had been deeply satisfying watching them take him away. He’s only doing two years in a minimum-security prison, but he won’t be in a position of power anymore.
I feel sad about Jessica, but I did what I had to. “The money won’t mean as much as her reputation. Where are the moms?”
It’s what we call CeCe, Ivy’s mom, Diane, and Heath’s grandma, Lydia. They’ve formed their own weird girl gang.
“Oh, they’re at the casino,” Tonya explains. “They invited us, but your mom insisted on overseeing all the catering.”
“My baby is getting married. It’s the biggest most important production of my life,” my mom announces. “I’m not leaving this palace until the job is done.”
Tonya smiles brightly. “But then we’re heading to someplace called Ibiza. CeCe and the girls invited us along. I think it’s going to be fun.”
Heath waves at me. “I’ve got a plan in place to bail them out when the inevitable happens. Don’t worry. Your honeymoon is safe.”
“CeCe would never let them get arrested,” Ivy promises. “She’ll bribe the cops or use her mob connections.”
“Not making me feel better,” I shoot back. “She’s like the queen mother now. Or she’s about to be.”
“I don’t think that’s how that works.” Darnell always has to be the smartie.
“Baby, I made a sandwich for you,” my mom says. “I also made some pasta but it disappeared.”
Ivy winces. “I was really hungry. It wasn’t just me. Heath and Darnell are pasta thieves, too.”
Harper looks stunning in her blue cocktail dress. “I didn’t eat a thing because if I do this dress will explode, and I’ve been told it’s perfect for the lighting in here. I’m going to hate getting what I wished for, aren’t I?”
She’s nervous about the show. “You’re going to be perfect.”
“I know someone who is already perfect,” a deep voice says.
Just like that my heart rate jumps. I turn and Luca is there. He’s not ready either. So there, Patrick. He’s looking deliciously rumpled in his riding clothes. Or maybe they’re his polo clothes. I don’t know. I’m still learning. I only know he looks absolutely sexy.
“I like the way you think, Your Majesty,” I reply with a grin.
“I like the way you do everything, Your Majesty.” He moves in and hauls me up into his arms. “I think I need a shower before we film. Come along. You’ll find this is one of your sacred duties as queen.”
“Get a room,” Ivy calls out.
“I don’t need a room. I have a whole palace,” Luca replies without looking back.
“I would never shirk my duties,” I vow. “Ich liebe dich, mein König.”
I’ve got a tutor now.
“I love you, too, my queen,” he says, and he carries me away to our future.
* * * *