Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 48601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“Thought about it though, didn’t you,” I grin, nodding at Ethan.
“Uh, yeah?”
He chuckles before his eyes turn more serious as he glances at me.
“Hey, you okay?”
I shrug. “Yeah?”
He eyes me in that annoying twin way like he’s reading my fucking mind.
“Right, right,” he muses, nodding slowly. “And what’s going on with…”
I glance at Emily and Ethan clears his throat.
“Alright, so, full disclosure—”
“She knows, huh?”
Emily smiles through a wince as she nods, and I glare at Ethan.
“Thanks, fucker.”
Emily laughs. “Okay, first of all, it was very obvious to anyone who cared to open their eyes. I even noticed it when I was still teaching at Winchester. And secondly, both of you at times need a woman’s perspective, which is why I dragged it out of your brother here.”
“Kicking and screaming, huh?” I grumble, glaring at Ethan.
He shrugs sheepishly. “She can be very convincing.”
Emily blushes and I grin before I sigh.
“Alright, fine. Woman’s perspective. Lay it on me.”
Emily shrugs. “Well, it depends. Is this still a crush-crush thing, or have things…”
She peers at me as I put on my attempt at a poker face, when suddenly, her brows shoot up.
“Oh.”
Ethan frowns. “Oh? What do you mean, oh?”
“It’s bigger than we thought. They’re sleeping together.”
What the fuck?
My jaw drops as Ethan’s eyes swivel to me.
“Dude!” he grins. “Really?”
“No, we’re…” I scowl, glancing at Emily. “What are you, a fucking psychic?”
She grins. “No, just good at reading people.”
“Also, your poker face hasn’t improved much since we were like seven,” Ethan adds.
“Alright alright alright,” I grumble, sighing. “What’s this grand woman’s perspective on this shit?”
Emily eyes me. “I’m guessing all is not perfect in paradise?”
I scowl. “She hasn’t talked to me for three weeks and avoids me like a fucking ghost.”
Ethan makes a face. “Shit, man. You should have called me.”
I shrug, glancing at Emily. “Well, doc? What do you think?”
She takes a second, mulling on it before she shrugs.
“She’s confused.”
“No shit,” I grumble.
“What triggered the distancing?”
“He probably tried to break out his sick dance moves,” Ethan chuckles. I flip him off and Emily shakes her head.
“Boys,” she sighs before nodding at me. “What happened.”
“It got out,” I mutter. “This girl at school leaked it and tried to make Ramona think I… we…” I frown. “She gave her this bullshit story that getting with Ramona was part of some locker room bet. And also, that she’s already slept with me, too.”
Ethan scowls. “Fucking who?”
“Melissa Cruz.”
Emily groans. “Oh God, that girl was the fucking worst.”
She sighs, reaching out to touch my arm. “I’m so sorry, Jamison.”
I shrug. “Well, it is what it is. Thanks though.”
She nods.
“Well, Ramona’s feeling hurt and betrayed, then.”
“I told her nothing happened with Melissa. She won’t listen to me.”
“Tried any grand gestures?”
I frown. “She’s not a flowers and poetry girl.”
Emily rolls her eyes. “You Scott men,” she sighs. “Jamison, every girl is a flowers and poetry girl. Trust me, she’s so that girl. And you’re that guy, I know it.”
I look away, my jaw grinding.
“You tried everything else, man?” Ethan growls.
I nod.
“You tell her you love her?”
I shrug. “In so many words.”
“Yeah? Did you try ‘I love you, Ramona’?” he shoots back.
“Like I said, in so many—”
“So, no, you didn’t,” he sighs. “Jamison, fuckin’ tell her. Tell her what you both already know and clearly feel before you lose her completely. And if you do that, I’ll have to kick your ass.”
I snort, shaking my head as I look away.
“Grand gestures, man,” Ethan says quietly.
“Like what, moving to Chicago unannounced?”
Emily grins. “Yup! Exactly that.” She beams as she loops her arm through Ethan’s and leans into him. “Trust me, it works like a charm.”
I smile, shaking my head
“Yeah, well, Ramona’s not moving to Chicago.”
“Find out what her Chicago is, then, dick,” Ethan chuckles. “And then you get your ass there.”
He shrugs, smiling as he reaches out to clap my shoulder.
“Grand gestures, man. Go big or go home.”
19
Ramona
I glance in the mirror, straightening an errant lock of hair and forcing a smile to my face as I take a deep breath. Behind me, the door to the dressing room opens, and when my mother steps through, my jaw drops.
“Mom!” I gasp, turning to beam at her. “Oh my God, you look stunning!”
She smiles widely, running her hands down the front of the absolutely gorgeous wedding dress. I’ve seen it before, of course. And even her wearing it. But not the whole thing altogether with her hair done, and the veil, and the jewelry, and the shoes and all of it.
“Thanks, honey,” she shrugs. “Not bad for an old lady?”
I roll my eyes. My mother is all of forty-two.
“You look like a freaking Queen, mom.”
“Okay, royal queen with a castle queen or like, Destiny’s Child queen.”
I snort. “You mean Beyoncé.”
“Right, her.” My mom throws up sassy hands as she says the world’s cringiest “yas queen,” which literally does make me cringe.