Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
For me, yes. For him, I have no clue. “We’re taking things slow.” It’s not a lie. We’re taking the intimacy slow. It’s killing me, but it’s how things need to be. I’m the one who slowed us down. It took everything I had inside me to tell him he couldn’t return the favor last weekend. The following morning, he got a call early from Brooks. He was working, and Palmer needed some help with something. As the only single brother, Brooks called Merrick first, knowing he wasn’t pulling him away from his wife and kids. Not that it would matter. Any of them would have jumped at the chance to help Palmer. Their family is tight like that. Regardless, I thought we could pick things up that morning, but life kept that from happening, which is fine. I wouldn’t want him to not be there for his family. It just means we have our next experience to look forward to.
I have to shift in my seat to ward off the desire that rolls through me just thinking about it. About him doing that to me.
“They’re really into each other,” Chloe tells my mom. “You should have seen them when we all had dinner together. There’s something there,” she declares.
“We’re dating. Of course there’s something there.” I give my sister a look that tells her to hush, but she’s too lost in her love bubble to understand. Then again, why would she? She thinks the thing between Merrick and me is real.
“You know what I mean.” Chloe laughs. “He’s sweet and attentive. How have you not fallen head over heels in love with him already?”
I think maybe I have.
I freeze as those thoughts float through my mind. Is that what this is? I’ve never been in love. I’ve had crushes, but nothing I’ve ever felt before has been like this. It’s intense and consumes my thoughts. Merrick has quickly become my favorite person, and I don’t know how I feel about that.
My sister is getting married in five weeks. He was supposed to just be my date for the wedding. We were going to hang out a few times, go to the wedding, and then I would tell my family it just didn’t work out.
Now, I don’t know what’s going on. We’re more than what we started out as. We’re friends, and we’re not exactly lovers, but close. Hell, I don’t know what we are. I do know I think about him all day, every day, and I crave being with him. That’s not all I crave. It’s his touch and his kisses. They are my new addiction.
“He’s a good guy,” I finally say.
“Well, your father and I approve,” Mom tells me.
“The way he looks at her, how could you not?” Chloe asks.
“Stop. We’re dating, taking our time getting to know one another. We’re not jumping into anything serious.” You know, because it’s all for show. Well, it's supposed to be. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure what’s for show and what’s real anymore. I know he’s into this—whatever we’ve started—but he’s not mentioned what happens after the wedding, and I refuse to ask. I’ll face the consequences when we get to that point.
“You keep telling yourself that, big sister.”
I don’t bother to hide my eye roll, which makes Chloe laugh. That’s how the seamstress finds us.
“How are we doing?” the store seamstress asks.
“We’re doing great. I love it.” Chloe spins on the platform that’s surrounded by mirrors.
“Perfect.” The seamstress claps.
“Now, mother of the bride, and maid of honor, how about we do a fitting today as well?”
“Oh, is that necessary?” Mom asks.
“Nope.” The seamstress, Kate, grins. “But it’s fun. I’ll go grab them.”
“Looks like we get to play dress up too,” I tell my mom. She grins and drains her glass of champagne before bouncing over to the changing room, ready for her dress.
Mom and I both try on our dresses, and Chloe insists we stand up on the podium in front of the mirrors with her.
“My beautiful girls.” You can hear the crack of emotion in my mom’s voice. “I love you both so much. I’m so proud of both of you.”
I wait for her to tell me I’m next, that she can’t wait until I’m also walking down the aisle. That’s what she would have done before Merrick. However, the words never come. Just happy tears, words of love, and praise for the women we’ve grown to be.
Having Merrick in my life has changed so much for me. My family doesn’t nag me, and my confidence is growing every day. I no longer feel like the overlooked wallflower. Well, sometimes I do, but less and less, and I’d be a fool not to realize it’s Merrick’s influence.
“How about I treat my girls to lunch?” Mom offers.
“Yes,” Chloe and I reply at the same time, making our mother laugh.