Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 122506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Maybe I smell like a kipper too. I resist the urge to stick my nose into my armpit to check.
Evie grins quite suddenly. “You know, the last time a woman burst into Oliver’s car, he ended up with a wife.”
As he reaches for her hand, she holds the other upright, the diamonds in her wedding band sparkling like stars.
“One wife is enough for one lifetime,” he murmurs.
“Congratulations,” I offer as I slide my left hand under my purse and use my thumb to pull my sweater over my knuckles, hiding my own slim wedding band. It’s a good thing I hadn’t thought to take it off. But why hadn’t I? “I’m so happy to hear it went well for you both.”
“Thank you. And thank you for your help,” Evie adds. “I want you to know how grateful we are. We couldn’t have managed any of it without you.”
“The money should already be in your bank,” Oliver adds, not realizing his wife is looking at him like he’s grown another head. Or maybe horns.
“Sometimes you make me truly wonder,” she murmurs almost to herself.
“What? I was merely advising Mila that I’d held up my part of the bargain.”
“Part of your part of the bargain,” I can’t help but add. No need to be coy just because I’ve married into the friendship group, sort of.
“Yes, well.” His brows pull in as he studies me. “That might take a little creative accounting.”
“I’m sorry?”
“It will be hard to convince people that we were married on the DeWitt estate when the images on the internet are of you and Fin getting married there.”
My heart hits my boots. Or my Converse, rather. “Yes, I see your point. I suppose it will.”
“We’ll work something out,” Evie says. “But for now, remember that Mila just married your best friend.”
Oliver frowns, his hand scratching his chin in consideration. “You’re right. She deserves a bonus.”
“That is not what I’m saying, Oliver. Jeez, pull your head out of your ass!”
“Honestly, it’s fine,” I put in. I’m too tense to enjoy their domestic disagreement. Though it does occur to me that maybe they don’t have it all figured out. But they do have love, I see, as Evie’s expression turns indulgent when her husband presses a kiss to the center of her palm.
“I’m dying to find out how it happened,” she says, her attention swinging my way. “Fin is so—”
Both passenger doors are suddenly flung open. To my right, Matt climbs in at the same time as does Fin from the other side.
“What a feckin’ circus,” Matt mutters, dropping into one of the seats opposite Evie and Oliver.
“I had no idea it’d be like this,” Fin says, reaching for my sweater-covered hand. Then frowning at it.
“You’re sure your life isn’t like this all the time?”
His brows lift, his answer amused. “This isn’t about me.”
“Well, it’s not about me,” I retort unhappily.
“It’s about both of you,” Evie puts in. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you both, I could burst!”
I say nothing. But I’m probably doing a solid impression of a koi carp as my gaze bounces between the pair, not sure who to look at. I thought I could do this—lie to them. But Evie looks so genuinely happy, I suddenly don’t think I can.
“I should’ve known there was something behind you recommending Mila for the job,” her effusiveness continues. “Not that I wasn’t impressed with your portfolio,” she adds.
Her words are like a needle scratch on one of Baba’s old vinyl Edith Piaf LPs.
“You did what?” My head whips around. “I got the job because of you?”
“I only gave Evie your card.”
“I didn’t give you my card,” I retort.
I know this is neither the time nor the place, but my heart is banging against my rips like a two-year-old with a mallet and a xylophone.
“No, the concierge at the hotel did. I found it in my jacket pocket not long after Evie mentioned their wedding plans. I just passed it on, that’s all. The night we met, I was so impressed—”
Now my heart gives a discordant twang, and my jaw drops open as though it’s unhinged. He is not about to mention that night in front of his friends.
“—by the job you’d done, I suggested to Evie that she check you out. Right?” He turns to Evie, who confirms with a vigorous nod.
“There was nothing more to it than that,” she insists. “I added your card to my list of possible planners. Then we met and gelled, and the rest is history.”
Do I believe her? Or do I think these two conspired to get me to Indonesia? And if they did, how the hell did I end up married? That can’t have been part of their plan.
“Fin is invited to more weddings than most,” Evie puts in, eyes wide and innocent looking. “I’m sure I already said.” The color in her cheeks deepens, no doubt remembering what else she’d said.