Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Put it back in the bag. I don’t want to look at it,” she breathes beside me.
I close the box and toss it back into the bag. Once the bag is back on the coffee table, I pull her into my arms and hold her tight. I hate this for her.
“It just became real. I’m going to be married to some guy I don’t love and barely know beyond a few dates that I didn’t even know were dates in the first place. How is this happening?”
“Shh. I’ve got you. We’re going to get shit-faced and forget that thing ever arrived. Tonight, you get to be and do whatever you want without having to worry about that asshole,” I murmur into the top of her hair.
“What made you come here?” she sniffles.
“It felt like the right place to be. I was at a party, but something felt off. The girls there were …” I purse my lips and shake my head.
“Girls?” she snorts. “What were you doing worrying about girls?”
“Kay and I broke up a few weeks ago. I’m single. How do you not know this? Girls have been chasing me down since the night we broke up. I still don’t know how everyone found out.”
“Do you know how many times girls have tried to spread rumors about you being single or breaking up with your girlfriend? If I listened to half the rumors I’ve heard about you, we probably wouldn’t be friends.”
“I don’t think Kay is it for me. I want to see what’s out there before I commit myself to something I was told I should want.”
“Look at us. We’re a mess. You want some tequila? I might have started the party without you.”
I peck her cute little nose. I can tell she’s been drinking for a bit. Not only is the bottle half empty, but her nose is no longer brown.
“I can see that. Your nose looks like a little cherry. I didn’t think that was possible.”
“I guess you don’t think I can blush either.” Her words dropping with sarcasm.
“I know you can blush. I’ve seen it plenty of times. I’m the cause of it most of the time.”
She rolls her eyes and goes to stand. I reach for her hand to stop her. She looks back at me and lifts a brow.
“Where are you going?”
“We’re going to need another bottle of tequila. I have a stash. Make yourself comfortable.”
I release her hand and allow her to go. My eyes drop to her round ass as she walks away. She has on a pair of gray short shorts that are made of sweatpants material. The tiny shorts are just barely covering the bottoms of her butt cheeks.
I bite my lip and pull a hand down my face. Those legs are sexy on their own. Add to them her nice plump ass—fuck—I’m hard just looking at her.
“Keep it together, Cam. That’s never going to happen,” I mutter to myself.
Maribel
I race into my bedroom and close the door behind me. I do have another bottle of tequila in here, but I also needed a second to pull myself together.
“Come on, girl. Pull it together. Please,” I whimper as I lean with my back against my bedroom door.
I was devastated when the carrier arrived with that package for me. Never in a million years did I think it was an engagement ring from Dez. I started drinking as the panic set in.
“Suck it up, Maribel. This is your life. You’re getting married whether you like it or not,” I scold myself.
I swipe at the tears that begin to spill. I hadn’t expected Cam to show up at my door. However, I was happy to see him.
I feel so cold and alone inside. The best idea I’ve come up with to get out of all of this has been to fake my death and hope to God Dez never finds me. I would never get to see my family or my mom again.
“I can’t do that to her. She tried to save me from this, I can’t break her heart now,” I murmur to myself.
My thoughts go to Cam and his idea to run to Paris. I wonder if he’d still consider that option. Hearing that he and Kay have broken up would have made me excited if I didn’t have to return home to marry someone else.
I would have finally been able to tell him how I feel. However, now, tonight, the knowledge of their breakup feels suffocating.
Pushing off the door, I move to the mirror and groan. I look like a mess. My nose is red at the tip, and I have on an old, faded T-shirt with sweat shorts.
At least my legs are shaved and look silky from my bath and the cream I slathered all over them. I palm my forehead as I notice I’m not wearing a bra either. In my defense, I had no idea Cam was on the other side of my front door when I answered.