Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
When I turned, the dark cherry of a cigar glowed on the other side of the window that framed the door. Xander watched form the shadows. How long had he been staring at us? He had to know I saw him.
Refusing to be intimidated, I walked back outside. “Goodnight, Xander.”
“Good night, Rayne. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said as if purposely ensuring I thought about him after this.
Blue Forty-Two! Rover Sit! Hut, Hut!
“Ithink we just walked onto the set of Downton Abby.”
My mother and I stopped several yards from the field where the men were warming up. “Who plays football in white?”
“Rich people.”
They looked like a bunch of ice cream cones. On the sidelines, lawn furniture had been set out. Not those collapsible stadium chairs soccer moms dragged to the edge of a field. These were natural wicker and teak pieces.
“I feel underdressed.”
I was still in my shopping clothes from that morning. My leggings were built for speed and thriftiness and my sweater was the furthest thing from a fashion statement. Hale could have warned me this was a semi-formal affair. Everyone was dressed New England casual, which looked like they basically raided the set wardrobe of Succession.
“Rayne, there you are!” Seraphina called, holding a wide-brimmed hat on her head as she marched over to greet us in a flowy linen dress. “The game’s about to start.” She bent over the stroller and tickled Elara. “Hello, beautiful.”
My eyes searched for Hale. He paced what I assumed was a goal line as he strategized with several men about their plays. “How do they tell who’s on which team?”
“They wear designated sweater vests. You’ll see.”
Remington sat at a round table shaded by a canvas umbrella. A brunch buffet of refreshments and fruit sat beneath a canopy several feet away. Hugo operated an omelet station to its right. I was definitely getting an omelet.
“So I guess you guys don’t do soft pretzels and hot dogs.”
“No, but we have beer,” Phina joked, honestly believing those fancy German bottles represented some version of roughing it.
“Oh, a beer sounds nice,” my mom said, pushing the stroller toward the refreshments.
I sat beside Remington, offering a cold, “Good morning.”
“It’s past eleven, Meyers. Morning’s over.”
“I was merely reporting that I had a good morning.” I lifted my nose. “I’m guessing you can’t say the same.”
His head remained straight, his gaze focused on the field and hidden behind his Cartier glasses. “You have something you want to say to me?”
“Not particularly.” I drew my cardigan over my chest and stared at the field. “I saw Odette leave last night.”
“Leave it alone, Meyers.”
I looked at him and slouched. “I really liked her, Remington.”
“So did I. But a smart man knows when it’s time to move on.”
“Well, aren’t you just a rolling stone.”
“Moss is overrated.”
A whistle blew, and Alphonse walked to the middle of the field. “Is he the ref?”
“Yes. Pay attention.”
I watched the field as the men lined up. Argyle sweaters were passed out, some in navy blue with green diamonds, others in brown with burnt orange stripes. As the men suited up and adjusted their old driving hats, I laughed. “They look adorable.”
“I’m sure they’d thrill at hearing themselves described in such a way.”
If bean was a boy, I could totally see him wearing something similar for his first portraits. “How come you don’t play?”
“I host. Besides, I can’t run like I used to.”
“Oh, I don’t know. You seem to run around pretty well at parties, Remington.”
“Don’t make me fire you on vacation, Meyers.”
Naomi sat down on the other side of Remington. “Here, Remy. So your stomach doesn’t get upset from the vitamins.”
I frowned as Hale’s mom placed a plate of fruit and toast in front of Remington and lovingly draped a napkin over his lap. What in Satan’s fresh hell was this?
“I can always tell when you’re hungover.” She set two capsules beside his plate.
“What are you giving him?” I oversaw all of Remington’s medication, and he didn’t need anything interacting with his prescriptions.
“It’s just a little vitamin C and an immunity booster.” She stole a strawberry off his plate and took a bite. “Mmm. The berries are so fresh. Taste.”
I gaped in horror as she fed him the other half of her strawberry. He ate it right from her fingers, and then she sucked off a dribble of juice. Was no one else seeing this?
I banged my knee against Phina’s as she shaded her eyes and watched the men line up. “Ouch!”
Angling my head toward her father and Naomi, I shot her a wide-eyed look.
“What’s wrong with you, Rayne? Are you having some sort of fit?”
“Look at your dad and Naomi,” I whispered through clenched teeth, and she glanced past me.
“So? They’re always like that.”
“What? No, they’re not.”
“Yes, they are.” She looked back at the men.
“I’ve never seen them act like this together. They’re being…gross.”