Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“So, you’ve had sex since Jake?” Dede asks her, a smile on her face. “This is so good to hear.” She claps her hands together then leans over and puts her hand on Lauren’s. “I thought you had that glow about you.”
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Lauren excuses herself as she gets up and points to Kaleigh. “You”—she growls—“come with me.”
“Oh,” Kaleigh replies, completely unperturbed, “I’m good. I don’t need to go. I’ll just wait here. Keep the guests entertained.”
“Not a word. Or else Donkey Kong,” she promises before she storms off.
“So,” Dede starts, turning to me. “How long have you two been dating?” She looks at me and then at the door that Lauren just walked through.
Kaleigh laughs. “Oh, they aren’t dating, Mom. He’s her boss,” she helpfully points out. “He sent all these penis balloons.”
Frank looks over at me. “You sent all these balloons and ruined all her hard work?” he asks.
“Um, sir, if I could just explain?” I start as my heart beats fast. Before I can say anything else, he puts up his hand to stop me.
“I like you,” he declares right before someone clinks their glass and the speeches start.
I look around at the yard, taking in Lauren’s family and friends. I sip my glass of wine and look over at Noah, who has his arm draped around Kaleigh’s chair and is whispering in her ear. Whatever he’s saying is causing her cheeks to turn pink.
The seat next to me gets pulled out when Lauren’s daughter sits down next to me. “Hey, Asshat, can I have your strawberries?” I look over her head to the door where Lauren disappeared a few moments before and see her walking back outside. With an angry scowl on her face. Oh, shit, the naked strippers must have arrived.
Chapter Thirteen
LAUREN
I am in hell. Something or someone out there is driving the karma bus right into me. What I want to know is, what the fuck did I do wrong and to whom?
Not only is my boss, the bane of my existence, sitting at a table in my backyard with my parents at their anniversary brunch—after he sent me a yard-full of penis balloons, every single penis-themed party decoration known to man, and more penis-shaped chocolates on a stick than one woman could ever possibly eat— but as if that weren’t enough, I’m now face-to-face with what appears to be the entire cast of the Australian all-male revue Thunder From Down Under .
“Hey there, mate, we are here to party,” he taunts with a thrust of his hips.
“Please, you obviously aren’t even from Australia. That accent sounds Jamaican.” I put my hands on my hips, and I’m pretty sure that this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Visions of me picking up a knife and stabbing him in the fucking heart in a fit of rage dance through my head.
“Party was cancelled. But you can charge the card twice for your trouble,” I tell them before slamming the door. I head back out to the backyard and look right at the man who has set this particular nightmare in motion.
I see Rachel in the chair next to him and watch as his head lifts, eyes seeking mine. I see it, the moment his eyes recognize the fury in mine and he realizes that I’m onto him.
“Okay, folks,”—he gets up—“I hate to cut out early, but…” he stammers, “but, but…” He looks to Noah for help, but Noah is too focused on whatever Kaleigh is saying. Austin kicks Noah’s chair to get his attention.
His eyebrows shoot up when Austin says urgently, “Gotta go,” then glances over at me and continues, “now would be good.”
I don’t know if Noah knows what is happening or not, but he throws his napkin on the plate in front of him “This has been fun,” he murmurs, trying to escape while keeping an eye on me at the same time.
“Running off so early, guys?” I sing-song as I come up behind them.
“We intruded,” Austin says. “Thank you for having us. Dede, Frank, I wish you many more years of happiness,” he rushes out on a wave as he hurries out the side gate.
Kaleigh gets up. “What did I miss?”
“The entire cast of Thunder From Down Under just arrived.” I look around to see if the guests are okay. I can’t wait for this party to be over.
She looks around excitedly, pulling her skirt up a bit. “Where? Are they inside? Shit, do I look okay?” She fluffs her hair.
“Kaleigh,” I whisper-hiss, “they aren’t here anymore. I sent them away.”
She groans. “Why? Why would you do that?” She runs to the side gate to see if they’re still in the driveway. “Buzz kill.” She calls me as she picks up Rachel. “Can you protect me from Mommy?” she whispers in her ear before blowing kisses in her neck.