Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
She whispered right back, “I’m tempted to kick you in the balls.”
Finally, it was time to head over to the Bulldog for the party. Telling everyone we’d see them there, I grabbed Bianca’s hand and tugged her down the street toward my car. When we reached it, I opened the passenger door for her, slammed it shut, and stomped around to the driver’s side.
As soon as I was behind the wheel, I turned on her.
“Egotistical and immature? What the hell was that all about?”
She put up a hand. “Please. It was not worse than having to say all that nonsense about how mean I was, or how good-looking and awesome at baseball you are. Or that it’s my dream come true to iron your shirts and attend your games.”
“Who the fuck is Edward Cullen?”
“He’s only the most romantic character ever written,” she said heatedly.
Rolling my eyes, I started the engine. “Let me guess—a teenage vampire.”
“Well, technically he’s over a hundred years old,” she retorted. “But yes, he appears to be a teenager. And Cheyenne and Blair thought it was very sweet that you quoted my favorite book during your vows.”
“You quoted your favorite book,” I muttered, pulling away from the curb.
“Will you relax? Everything went fine, Enzo. We pulled it off.”
“I guess.”
“We’re married, aren’t we? Boom—phase one complete.”
I drove in silence for a minute or so, rubbing a finger beneath my lower lip.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I frowned. “Nothing.”
“Something is wrong. You’re doing the thing with your finger on your chin, and that vein is popping out on your forehead.”
I glanced over and saw she’d scrunched up her face in an exaggerated imitation of me, complete with finger beneath her pursed red lips. Smiling a little, I focused out the windshield again. “It was something your dad said.”
“What? That you couldn’t return me? I’m final sale?”
“No. He called me son and told me to take good care of you.”
“Oh,” she said soberly.
“I said I would. And then he said to call him Dad.” I shook my head, my stomach roiling.
“Well, that was nice.”
“Yeah, but it’s all bullshit, Bianca. I’m thinking like, in a year, this man is going to despise me. He’s going to think I’m not a man of my word. That bothers me.”
Bianca sighed in exasperation. “Good grief, Enzo. You need to relax. This isn’t 1955. I don’t need a man to take care of me. My dad’s just old-fashioned. And when we split up, I’ll make sure he understands that.”
“Still doesn’t feel right.”
She started laughing. “Well, it’s too late now. We’re married, Ricky.”
I frowned again, even though I knew that vein in my forehead was popping out.
“Hey,” she said as I parked in a lot not far from the pub. “We knew what we were getting into when we made this deal. I know it’s not conventional, but what is marriage anyway? Maybe it’s just an illusion perpetuated by Disney movies and romance novels. Maybe it’s just a piece of paper. Maybe it’s just an antiquated idea that reeks of misogyny and sexism—I mean, the bride’s dad gives her away like she’s a piece of property!”
I turned off the car and looked over at her. “That seems kind of harsh.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I bought into the fantasy all my life. I was waiting for the handsome prince to decide on me, but he didn’t. He didn’t, Enzo. So I decided on me.” She was all worked up now, color in her cheeks, defiance in her eyes. “But I need your help.”
“I need your help too.” I tried to shake off the anxiety, running a hand over my hair. “Sorry, I don’t know what my problem is.”
She let out a breath. “It’s okay. Look, it’s been a crazy week. Things happened fast, and our heads are spinning. You probably haven’t gotten much sleep—I know I haven’t. So let’s go in and have a few drinks, eat some fried pickles, and celebrate our partnership with our friends and family. So what if it’s not exactly the kind of partnership they all think it is?”
“Uh, about that.” I cringed. “I kind of let the truth slip to my friends.”
“Enzo!” She pressed her lips together. “Who?”
“Cole already knew, so really just two more people—Griffin and Beckett.”
She nodded, accepting it. “They know to keep it to themselves?”
“Yes. And I trust them with my life.”
“Then I will too.” She smiled. “So let’s go face the music and dance.”
Eight
Bianca
“You did what?” I looked down at the envelope in my hands and across the table at my parents.
“We got you a night in the honeymoon suite at the Bellamy Creek Inn.” My mother beamed. “It’s your wedding present.”
Enzo and I exchanged a what-the-fuck-do-we-do-now glance, the first one of the night.
Our party was in full swing around us, and everyone was having a great time, myself included. The jukebox was loud, the food was tasty, the crowd was rambunctious, and there was nothing formal or stuffy about the occasion at all. More than one person had told me it was the most fun they’d ever had at a wedding reception.