Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry, I just wasn’t expecting anyone. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Not rude at all.” Polly smiles at me. "Now not eating my breakfast might be considered rude."
“I never turn down food.” I grab a piece of bacon, and Eros starts to fill my plate for me.
“How are things back home?” Eros asks, and everyone falls into conversation.
“You want to go shopping with me later? I wanted to find a dress.” Eros's mom is so nice it’s hard to say no to her. "I assure you that this is not a ploy to interrogate you and give you one of those don't-mess-with-my-son talks. I know if he picked you, then you’re perfect for him.”
“I’d love to go shopping with you.” Polly gives me a giant smile.
Now, not only am I falling in love with Eros but his parents too.
18
EROS
Irun my finger across the black velvet box my dad has placed in front of me. My mom and Lev are out together right now. The last check-in Noland sent me said they’d gone into a spa together. I’d gotten a few pictures, and in all of them, both of them had been smiling. It makes me happy that Lev is getting to experience some motherly affection for once. She deserves it and so much more. I knew my mom would love Lev. There was never a doubt in my mind.
“Thought you might need it.” Dad sits down in the chair in front of my desk.
We’d come down to my office together so that I could go over a few things I needed to clear out. Valentine's Day is closing in, and I want to take my girl away and not have to think about anything else but her and me.
I push open the box to see my grandma’s antique wedding ring. The last time I’d seen it was on Grandma's finger. It suited her. The ring is stunning in a way that most ordinary people cannot even begin to appreciate. It will suit Lev perfectly.
“Thank you.” My chest grows tight.
Lev claims to hate anything romantic and lovely, but life has only shown her shit couples. This ring will mean the world to her because I could buy the biggest rock to give her, but this ring is different.
My parents and grandparents on my father’s side had all been wildly in love. So much so that I knew from a young age that that was what I wanted, and like everything else in life, when I want something, my mind focuses on it. I do anything and everything I have to make sure I get it. I can become obsessive about it.
“She suits you well,” my dad goes on to say. “Knocked you right on your ass.” A smile spreads across his face.
“You told me.”
“And you believed me.”
“Why wouldn't I?” My father is a good man. He showed me day in and day out how in love he was with my mom. There was never a doubt in my mind that what he told me about finding the love of my life was true. He set the standard for me on how to treat and love a woman.
"Some people dismiss what I've told them as nonsense. When you know, you just fucking know.” I nod in agreement, closing the box and putting it in my pocket. I don’t know how I’m going to keep from trying to put this on her finger the second I see her. I have waited so long to find her. I don’t want to wait another second to make her mine forever, but I also don’t want to send her running for the hills.
"Hey." Kate rushes into my office as my phone buzzes with a text from Noland informing me that Lev and my mom are on their way back. “We’ve got a problem.”
“What?” Both my dad and I stand.
“There is a man downstairs demanding to see Lev. I think he might be drunk, but he’s pissed and claiming to be her father.”
“Fucking hell,” I grit out. My father’s brows rise. I didn't want to deal with this situation, but I knew I would eventually have to. Her parents had attempted to file a missing persons report on Lev due to her non-responsiveness.
I'd made a few calls and got it shut down. They told Lev's parents that she was fine, but I knew once they found out she was living with me, they'd come knocking. They’d smell the money and want some for themselves because that's what they really care about. I mean Lev's mother had shown her true colors when she stole from her. She thought Lev would just tolerate it because she had nowhere to go, but she got fooled. I’m sure it didn’t take her mom long to realize she couldn't make rent without her daughter's help. That kicking her daughter out had been a huge mistake.