Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Jules had a huge family and network of friends. She would have wanted some of them - especially her sister - up there with her on her big day.
"Gary doesn't really... have a lot of guests."
At that, my gaze moved around, recognizing faces - the guys from work, their partners or dates, the crew of her girlfriends with their plus ones, her family - both close and distant.
Actually, there wasn't a single face I didn't recognize.
"Sorry, Gemmy," I told her, knowing she would have wanted to be up there for her sister.
"It's okay. It's not about me."
"How is Jules?" I asked, unable to help myself.
"Beautiful," Gemma declared, beaming once again. "She looks like she's from a fairy tale."
I'd bet good money that those words weren't an exaggeration.
"Of course," I agreed, giving her dainty wrist a small squeeze. "Go get your seat, Gemmy. They should be starting soon."
"You're sure you don't want to come sit with us? Mom loves you."
"I'm good back here," I told her, lying.
There was nothing good about how I felt right then.
"You'll save a dance for me later?" she asked in all her adorable eighteen-year-old sweetness.
"You can have all of them," I promised her, watching as she floated off toward her family, leaning in to say something to her mother who looked over her shoulder at me, eyes almost sad before she shot me a smile that her daughters were lucky enough to inherit.
It was fifteen minutes later when people started checking their watches, their phones.
Because it was five minutes after the ceremony was supposed to start.
From his seat, Quin shot me a curious look.
Because if there was one thing we knew about Jules, it was that the girl was always on time.
Ten minutes after that, people started shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
Me included.
"Kai," Miller's voice said close to my ear, making me turn to find her leaning down from the aisle at me in the dark blue dress she'd chosen for the occasion.
"What's up?" I asked, keeping my voice low since she had as well.
"They're not here."
"Who's not here?"
"Jules and Gary."
I was not so good a man that I didn't feel a swell of hope. That maybe they changed their minds. That maybe she'd seen what I'd seen, got cold feet, ended things.
But Jules would have made sure someone handled things, let guests know.
She wouldn't just... disappear.
She wouldn't be that inconsiderate.
"She was here half an hour ago. Gemmy was with her."
"She was," Miller agreed. "She asked me to ask Gary something for her, and when I did, he was gone. I told her. And then went to grab her a drink, thinking he just got cold feet, but then when I got back, she was gone."
"No note?"
"And she's not answering her phone."
Again, not like her.
No matter what kind of chaos was going on.
"What are we supposed to do here?"
"I'll go look for her. You tell her mom. See if they can stall things until I get back to you."
"Kai," Miller said, shaking her head. "No."
"No, what?"
"No, I'm not going to make you go to track down Jules on her wedding day to another man."
"Don't worry about it," I assured her, jumping up. "Keep your cell close."
With that, I made my way out of the ceremony space, rushing out toward the valet who jumped up from where he'd been sitting on the curb, likely not expecting anyone to come for hours still.
I'd never been to Jules' place.
I knew where she lived since we all knew everyone else's addresses in case of emergencies, but I had never been there.
She lived in the nicer side of Navesink Bank, not quite the rich area, but right on the border of it, in a fifth-floor apartment.
I made my way down the hall with a welcoming creamy gold on the walls, gleaming dark wood floors, and elegant wall sconces.
Now this, this was Jules.
Elegant and understated.
Not rustic whiskey barrels and mismatched chairs.
I made my way to the end of the hall, 5B, finding the door opened slightly.
And Jules, well, she worked for Quin. She knew all about the uglier aspects of the world. I found it hard to believe she would just leave her apartment door open to anyone who might happen by.
"Jules?" I called, pushing the door open an inch, starting to worry when I heard nothing.
Deciding now was not the time to respect things like personal boundaries, I stepped inside a space that screamed Jules.
From the Sedona red hardwood floors, pristine and gleaming, to the white cabinets and white quartz countertops in the kitchen that immediately greeted to me. There were fresh flowers on the short L side of the counter too - white lilies. On the center of the island, a glass bowl was overflowing with fresh fruits - her favorite snack to keep the fridge stocked at work for her long shifts.