Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 52813 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52813 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 264(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
“You doing okay?”
She leans in against my chest, her breath warm on my neck. “Still a little warm from that kiss. No one can say you didn’t sell it.”
My chest swells. Warm. I like the sound of that. And the feel of her breath on my skin is making me hard, with very little room in this damned tux.
“You ready for the reception?”
She hums in agreement. “Don’t let me drink too much. I get honest when I’m drunk.”
“I’ve got you.”
She leans back, emotion swimming in her eyes as she looks up at me. “I owe you forever for this.”
It’s all I can do not to take her face in my hands and kiss her again. “No, you don’t.”
“Just a few more hours. We’re cutting out of the honeymoon.” She brings my hand up to her lips and kisses the back of it, murmuring, “Thank you, Ben.”
I want to say so many things, but it’s too late. She just had her heart broken and she needs time to recover, and even then, what are the chances she’d want to move on with Owen’s twin? I’d rather not ask and never know than face the pain of her rejection.
I’m leading her into the reception hall when the photographer stops us.
“Do you guys want to shoot some more?”
Stella shakes her head. “We’re good. Thanks.”
Fortunately, Stella planned a low-key reception. We don’t have to make an entrance to a song, thank fuck. I’ve seen teammates do some stupid shit to please their new wives at weddings.
To avoid conversation, we eat and spend the entire evening on the dance floor. Having Stella in my arms for several hours is my idea of heaven.
When Andrew tells us he’s taking Joan back to her hotel, Stella’s relief is palpable. She leads me over to the table Joan’s sitting at with Val, Andrew’s wife.
“Everything was perfect,” Joan says, tears shining in her eyes. “Enjoy Hawaii.”
Stella looks at me and then back at her mom. “Owen and I have been talking, and we’re going to postpone the honeymoon. I want to be with you, Mom.”
Joan’s smile drops away. “No. You’re going on your honeymoon.”
“We can go to Hawaii anytime.” Stella’s tone is soft but firm. “I want to be with you.”
Joan can’t weigh a hundred pounds; she doesn’t have a lot of time left. She looks devastated by Stella’s plan, though.
“Listen to me,” Joan says, taking Stella’s hand in her frail one. “The next ten days are my time with Andrew and Val. I’ve gotten time with you and I treasure every minute. You go on your honeymoon and send me pictures every day. I want to see my daughter and my new son having a lovely time together.”
“Mom”
Joan looks at me, her expression determined. “It’s what I want.”
It guts me, her looking to me for help. Especially since what she’s asking isn’t exactly a hardship.
“What do you want to do?” I ask Stella.
She gives me a helpless look.
“I’m not dying in the next ten days,” Joan says in a dry tone. “Go. There’s not enough room for all of us in my little house and you know it.”
Stella seems to soften. “Promise me you’ll call if anything changes with you. Anything.”
Andrew nods. “We will, Stella. We’ll take good care of her.”
She says her goodbyes to her family and then hugs me, using it as an excuse to talk to me without anyone hearing.
“Ben, oh my god. What just happened?”
“I think we’re taking a trip,” I say in her ear, dazed by the turn of events.
“Are you even available? This is asking a lot.”
“It’s my offseason. I can go.”
Am I available to take a trip to Hawaii with the woman of my dreams? Hell yes. Is it a good idea, considering we just pretended to get married and she has no idea I’ve loved her for more than a decade?
Probably not. But if Stella’s asking, I’m in.
Chapter Five
Stella
* * *
“Newlyweds?” a female voice asks, waking me from a deep sleep. Am I just not awake yet, or do I detect a flirty note in her tone?
“Yeah, we’re going to Hawaii for our honeymoon.”
The female voice hums. “She’s a lucky girl.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
Ben. I remember as I lift my head and open my eyes. I’m fake married to Ben, who had to physically wrestle Owen back at the hotel to get his passport and driver’s license so he could take his place on the honeymoon.
“Can I get you anything, ma’am?” The flight attendant who was practically cooing at Ben is all business with me.
“I’ll take some water, please.” I sit up straight, my back protesting.
“Did you get some sleep?”
I sigh softly as I look at Ben. “Yeah, that was the best I’ve slept in a while. How long was I out?”
“Couple of hours.”
The flight attendant passes me a cup of ice and a bottle of water before moving on.