Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“Well, if anyone can convince him to come back, it’s you.” Mason smiles at me.
I make a non-committal sound, and we move away from the topic. We catch up on what everyone is doing with their lives, and before long, I look up and watch Lachlan as he makes his way over, his green eyes solely on mine. The way he makes my heart race is unnerving. I hate that despite any anger and disappointment I may feel toward him, he still affects me the way he does. I know Mason is still talking, but it’s hard to focus on anything with my erratic heartbeat.
“Leave my girlfriend alone,” Lach says, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me to his side.
Mason laughs. “I was just telling her that you two are meant to be together.”
“I agree,” Lach says, his deep voice making my stomach somersault. He lowers his mouth to my ear. “Did you eat?”
“Not yet.”
“Mase, my girl needs to eat, so you can get in line with us, or pick this conversation up another time,” Lach says, leading me back to the line.
One hour and two plates of food later, we say our goodbyes to everyone and walk out. I’m dreading being alone with him in the car again. So many things are spinning through my head: he spoke to his teammates about me, which is nice, but he also guilted me into this situation and wants to take me to the one place he knows I hate. He was planning to freaking marry me there. The thought creates a feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I have to struggle to keep it at bay after everything I just ate.
“That was nice,” he says.
“It was.”
“You were great.” I hear the smile in his voice when he says this, but I don’t entertain it. I won’t, even though I’m dying to look at his infuriatingly handsome face.
“I know.”
He laughs.
In the car, I’m staring out the window, soaking up every single bit of the city as we head to our second event of the day. I hope it goes by fast.
CHAPTER 38
LYLA
“Do I need a white dress?” I ask, when the silence gets too loud.
“Do you want one?”
“Do I want one?” I blink at him, letting out an unamused laugh. The nerve of this guy. “I don’t know the protocol for a fake relationship and fake wedding.”
I feel movement and his warmth at my back, before he speaks. I brace myself for it.
“It’s not fake,” he says, a low growl, his breath on the shell of my ear. “It’s real. This,” He wraps an arm around me and pulls me against him, “is real. You have every fucking right to be upset, I’ll give you that, but don’t you dare say that what we have is fake.”
“Whatever, I don’t really care anymore,” I whisper, even though my entire body is betraying me.
He lets go of me, turns the other way, and growls so loudly that both men in the front seat look back to see if he’s okay. I keep my eyes on the flowers we’re driving by — blooming new, colorful life into this gray, dark world.
We end up at a place called Cindy’s Rooftop, where the view of the city is spectacular. I can only see it partially from inside, so I’ve been waiting until the socially acceptable moment to excuse myself. I don't even know why we're here, mingling with people who work for his absent father's company, but I don't ask. Maybe I'll ask him when he's done charming people. He’s had that fake ass million-dollar smile of his plastered on his face the entire time we’ve been here, but I know he’s brooding. He’s upset about my fake comment, and I really don't care. I said what I said, and I stand by it. Despite that, he took a sip of my drink before handing it to me, which seems like a small gesture, but it means a lot to me.
After forty minutes of small talk, I've reached my limit. I take the opportunity to excuse myself and head to the glass doors. As I step outside, I revel in the cool breeze and make my way to the edge, where a surface wraps around the rooftop. There's a clear view of The Bean, the surrounding park, and a beautiful skyline backdrop. I set my drink on the surface and text Marissa a picture before putting my phone in my purse. I smell men's cologne and feel someone stand beside me as I pick up my cup. I take a sip of my drink and keep my eyes on the view ahead, hoping they'll get a clue and leave me alone. It's a networking event, though, so I don't have high hopes of that happening.