Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“You reach a lot of women now,” Abbi says. “How many followers do you have on Instagram? You’re, like, the biggest influencer I know.”
I make a face. I hate the word influencer. I get it, but I hate it. “First of all, I’m the only influencer you know. And it’s not the same. I want to be . . .” I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. If I show up to that meeting without a fiancé, I already know what will happen.”
Stella passes me her lemon-drop martini.
“Why not have someone pretend to be your fiancé?” Brinley asks.
I freeze with Stella’s glass halfway to my lips. “What?”
“Hear me out,” she says. “I’m not saying you should get married or anything. Just show up to the meeting with a friend. Have him pretend to be your fiancé and pretend he plays an active role in planning your program. It’s icky, but you’re right. The ends justify the means.”
“The only guys I’m close enough to for that are attached to my best friends, and I’d rather not find myself in an awkward there’s-only-one-bed scenario with Marston, Dean, or Kace.” I shudder. “No offense. And the only other person I can think to ask is Smithy. Can you imagine him playing that role?”
Abbi snorts. “Oh God. Please do. And film it for me.”
“I’m all about sculpting dat ass,” Stella says in her best Smithy impression.
We laugh, and for a minute, my worries fall away. I’ve missed time with my girls.
“What about Alec?” Brinley asks. “He could do this for you.”
I look down at my hands. “No. I can’t ask him.”
“Why not?” Stella asks. “You two are ‘friends,’ right?”
“Why the air quotes?” When she doesn’t bother to bite back her grin, I roll my eyes. “It would feel like using him.”
She waggles her brows. “From what Brinley’s said, I get the impression he would very much like to be used by you. And then you’d have someone you could really enjoy that one-bed scenario with.”
I put my head on the table and focus on the clinking glasses and laughter at the tables around us.
“Worried you might like it?” Abbi asks.
“Staaahp,” I whimper.
“Alec is coming into town tonight,” Brinley says, and I can feel all their eyes on me.
I bite my bottom lip. Alec Hayes still haunts my dreams in the very best way. Only it’s not so great because I can’t have him. “That’s nice. It’ll be good to see him.”
Stella grins. “Good to see him like hey, old friend, or good to see him like I’m ready to quit being stupid about this amazing guy who wants me in his life.”
I shift awkwardly, wishing our server would hurry over and supply me with a vat of liquor. “Um . . . the first one?”
Brinley shakes her head. “My point is, you might as well run it by him. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to help.”
Abbi stares at me so hard I’m convinced she’s trying to peer into my brain. “I don’t understand you. Alec is still head over heels for you. Do you realize that?”
“I’m sorry, but he is so fucking hot,” Stella says, biting her bottom lip. “Tell me again why you aren’t climbing him like a tree?”
Abbi arches a brow. “I don’t think my brother would like hearing you say that about another guy.”
Stella scoffs. “As if that man has anything to worry about. He knows he owns me heart and soul, and there’s nobody who does it for me like he does in the bedroom.”
Abbi cringes. “I retract my objection. Please stop.”
Brinley bites back a laugh. “I think what Stella was trying to say is that we know you’re attracted to him, so what gives?”
“There’s more to relationships than how hot someone is,” I object.
“Yeah,” Abbi says, swirling her martini. “Like how kind they are and how wanted and loved they make you feel.”
Brinley hides her smile behind her hand, but it doesn’t mute the sound of her giggle.
“Hardworking and successful are qualities that also don’t suck,” Stella says before snagging her martini back and taking a sip.
“You guys, shut up. It’s just not gonna happen with me and Alec, and I’m not going to use him to get a job.”
The girls hum in unison, an agreement to drop it for now, but I know this isn’t the last I’ll hear about it. I just need to figure out a better solution, because if I can’t give Alec the relationship he wants with me, I’m not going to ask him to do me a favor this big.
ALEC
“Good to see you, brother,” Marston says when he greets me at his front door. He wraps me in a big hug and slaps me on the back.
“You too,” I say, returning his embrace.
He waves me in and leads the way to his and Brinley’s family room. With a vaulted wood-beamed ceiling and warm colors, it’s simultaneously grand and inviting. A home. Marston deserves this more than anyone I know, but that doesn’t stop envy from twisting my gut.