Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Now that they’re out of college and clearly Heath and Meadow have made up, maybe it’s time for Briar to pull back the kitty claws and see that I’m not the asshole she’s crafted me to be. I’m not as shy as I once was, but sometimes I have a hard time finding my words around Briar. Most of the time, she just blurts out whatever is on her mind, and I find it so fucking cute.
“I know you’d rather I wasn’t your teammate on this, but think of it this way,” I offer, following Briar into the kitchen. “With two of us, it’s work divided, and if we work together, we might have a chance of pulling off the greatest wedding of all time.”
“Fat chance. The greatest wedding of all time was Father of the Bride.”
“Um, okay,” I say and watch as she starts to feed the kittens. “All right, so if that’s the greatest wedding of all time, don’t you want Meadow to have that?”
She looks up at me while holding the can of cat food, like this thought has just suddenly occurred to her. “Well, yes.”
“Then let’s do it. Let me help you give that to her.”
She pauses in her own thoughts for a moment and then eyes me suspiciously. “What’s in it for you?”
I laugh as I place the kitten on the ground, and it scampers to its bowl. “Besides giving my twin the best day of his life while he marries the girl of his dreams?”
“Yes.” She crosses her arms over her chest and waits.
“Because I care about Meadow like she’s my sister, and I think she should have the perfect day too. Besides, it’s at our beach house.”
“You mean our beach house,” she corrects, and I shake my head.
“They didn’t specify which house.”
“Fine. Service at one house, reception at the other,” she offers, and I nod.
“Deal,” I say, and then she looks surprised. “See, we’re already making progress.”
“I don’t know about you, but I don’t know where to start when it comes to wedding planning,” Briar admits. “Should we hire a professional?”
“Isn’t that what the bride and groom are supposed to do?” I say, and she shrugs. “I’m guessing that’s why they asked us to figure it out.”
“Because they knew it would be a lot of work and we would do it for them,” she says, and I agree.
“Typical.”
For a moment, we share a knowing smile, and the small space of the kitchen warms. Does Briar notice the energy that’s passing between us as we talk and move closer? How can she not, because it’s like I can taste it.
The curve of her hip as she leans against the counter, the way her hair shines in the dim light. I take in every detail of her lips and how they part as I take a step closer.
One summer night at the beach house, I snuck down to the storage shed so I could have some privacy. The house was packed, and I’d spent all day watching Briar run around the beach in a two-piece. I was desperate and so fucking hard that I had no choice. I was furiously jacking off when Briar walked in on me and saw what I was doing. But what surprised us both was that I didn’t stop. I let her watch as I came all over my bunched-up shirt while thinking about her lush body.
We never spoke about that night, and the two of us pretended it never happened. As I move closer to her now, it’s all I can think about. The scent of sunscreen, the taste of salt, and the feel of her eyes on me as I came.
I’m almost touching her when the sound of a kitten breaks the spell.
THREE
BRIAR
I swear Mace is staring at my mouth, which causes me to keep licking my lips. I knew he was going to be a distraction because he always has been. It’s hard enough to keep the man from popping into my head on my own. Now he’s here in my space.
Two days ago, I was lying on the sofa eating ice cream and trying not to cry that my apartment was empty of humans. My one grumpy cat, three kittens and Bugs, my lizard, are terrible at conversation. I missed my sister.
I’ve never been alone, and after only a week of it, I knew it wasn’t for me. I dabbled with getting a roommate. Even though I didn’t need one, I thought it might be nice. I should have been careful what I asked for.
“Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose. I know it’s really last second,” I say into the phone. Seriously, is Mace staring at my mouth or trying to see if I can actually pull this off?
“Of course!” Rosy responds instantly. “You know we’d do anything for you, Briar.”