Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“But…” she begins. “You do realize who Braken is right? I mean… he owns The Vault. Runs The Hunt.”
“Yeah, I know.”
After an awkward silence, she adds, “And you know he is in some sort of relationship agreement with Merrick and Soren?”
“What do you mean? They are all together?” This is news to me. I’ve seen them all three together at the club, but I didn’t know he was with them.
“No, not like that. Merrick and Soren are an item, or as much of an item as the two of them are willing to go. But the three of them have always shared and had group sex and stuff. I don’t know all the details, but I know that Braken is about as far from vanilla as one could get.”
“I’m not exactly vanilla either.”
She chuckles. “I suppose none of us are, but I just wanted to give you a heads up that things may be a tad messy with the three of them.”
“I appreciate that, but one thing about being a Godwin is that everything about us is messy. So Braken and I have that in common.”
“Why Heathens Hollow?” she asks. “You could go anywhere.”
“I didn’t want to use my father’s money or credit cards. He’d track me down. So, I needed to go someplace I could afford. Paris or London would be out of my price range.”
“You worked for the Godwins,” she adds. “All the catering jobs we did. I don’t understand how they didn’t know it was you.”
“My father and Troy Godwin don’t speak unless they have to. My cousins and I don’t know each other.”
It was nice to be able to view them from afar and not have the weight of being the hated Godwin cousin or niece hang over me. With the number of Godwin family members, most people assume that we are all close. They possibly picture huge holiday parties and massive birthday celebrations. The reality is very different… and very sad. Unity is not a word that goes with Godwin.
“Storee,” I say then pause, searching for the right words. “I’m sorry I lied to you. I’m not usually a liar, and it’s a trait in people I normally detest. I just… I was trying to reinvent myself.”
“I get it. I do. I know our friendship is real.”
“It is. I swear that,” I say. “I don’t have friends other than you. I’d hate to lose that.”
“You want me to come to Seattle and be with you?” she asks.
“I’m actually here in the cottage. Braken suggested—”
“Oh, then I’ll come over.”
I glance out the window and notice the rain. “Stay put. A storm is happening, and I don’t want Locke to stress out with you being caught in it. I’m fine. We can catch up tomorrow.” I notice something else while staring outside. I blink a few times because, surely, they wouldn’t stand out in a storm…
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. We’ll catch up more, I promise,” I say before we say our goodbyes and hang up.
I reach for my rain jacket and boots then head toward the two madmen getting drenched.
Chapter 19
Merrick
“It’s raining,” Fiora says, “so you idiots can stand out here and get soaked, or you can come inside.”
Soren and I exchange a glance before we follow her into the warmth of her cozy cottage. The interior is rather quaint, with an attractive, rustic charm to it. Fiora disappears into the kitchen, returning moments later with a pair of towels, which she tosses at us without a word. We take them gratefully.
“So why does Braken have so much control over you? You both have literally stalked my every move. Don’t you have lives?” she asks.
Soren is the first to break the silence. With a half-hearted smirk, he wipes his drenched hair with the towel, his gaze never leaving Fiora. “You don’t see either one of us complaining. Maybe we like stalking your every move.”
Fiora crosses her arms over her chest, leaning against the door frame as she considers Soren’s words. The kitchen light casts a soft glow around her, sending shadows dancing across her face. Her expression is guarded yet curious, a strange mixture that intrigues me.
“I can’t tell if you’re flirting or not,” she says. “You do know I’m engaged to marry your buddy, right?”
“He shares,” I answer with a shrug.
Soren snorts at my comment, shaking his head as he continues drying himself. His eyes flicker to mine, a silent understanding passing between us. Fiora’s eyebrows furrow at my words, her gaze narrowing on me.
“Shares?” Her voice is incredulous. “Do you really expect me to believe that Braken is okay with sharing his fiancée?”
I chuckle at the genuine shock written all over her face. She’s so delightfully innocent in her outrage, it only makes me want to tease her even more.
“Well, we do have an... unconventional relationship,” Soren says lightly. “Besides, I thought you didn’t want this marriage?”