Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Here you go,” I say, getting on one knee and lifting her foot so I can put it on her since she’s most likely too drunk to do it herself. I’d suggest she take the other one off, but with her luck, she’d step on something and cut her foot.
When I lift her foot to slide her heel on, Paige giggles loudly.
“My prince,” she says. “It’s just like in the fairy tale.”
When I give her a questioning look, she huffs. “Cinderella,” she clarifies. “She loses her glass slipper, and the prince finds it. He puts it back on her foot, and they live happily ever after.”
Her smile morphs into a frown. “Only you can’t be my prince because we don’t get a happily ever after.” Tears prick her eyes, and my heart feels like it’s being clenched with barbwire.
“C’mon,” I say, standing, since there’s nothing I can say to make this better. “Let’s get you up to your room.”
She nods and tries to stand, but it’s not happening. She’s drunk too much, and tomorrow, I’ll be firing whoever served her this much alcohol.
Reaching down, I lift her into my arms and carry her through the hotel and up to her room.
On the way, she confirms my suspicions when she tells me that the dinner was horrible and she has nobody.
“I don’t wanna go to the wedding tomorrow,” she whispers, making my heart bleed. “Everyone has someone but me.”
The sadness in her voice damn near sends me to my knees.
I know her room number, so once we’re there, I find her key card in her purse and open the door. She’s half asleep by the time I lay her in her bed. I take her heels off so she’s comfortable, but I leave her clothes on, not wanting to do anything without her permission.
“I wish you were my prince,” she murmurs, tears sliding down her cheeks as I tuck the blanket around her.
“I do too,” I whisper, swiping my thumb along the apples of her cheeks as her eyes flutter shut. “Now, sleep, Princess. I’ve got you.”
Then, I get comfortable in the chair in the corner of her room and watch her sleep until the sun begins to rise and I know she’ll be okay. I have Nolan bring me up two pain relievers, and I leave them on her nightstand with a bottle of water. I set the alarm on her phone for nine a.m., so she can sleep in and still have enough time to get ready for the wedding.
And then I go up to my room to get ready because I’ll be damned if Paige is going to spend another moment alone with those assholes. Paige doesn’t know it yet, but she now has a plus-one for the wedding.
chapter ten
PAIGE
The wedding venue is beautiful. The decorations are tasteful. The bridesmaid dresses complement the color palette—and surprisingly aren’t ugly. Because I came from out of town, I couldn’t try on my dress until last night at the rehearsal, but it fits perfectly.
Marina apologized profusely for me having to walk down the aisle with John, but because their wedding party consists of five couples, it would be rude to ask another couple not to walk down the aisle together.
So, I had no choice but to walk arm in arm with John while Phoebe guiltily stared at us from the sidelines. He tried to apologize again, but I told him to save it. After this is over, I have no intention of ever seeing any of these people again. London is no longer my home—and if I’m honest, it hasn’t been since my mom died. It’s time to move forward, and when I get on the plane on Monday morning, I plan to do just that.
Last night was hard, coming to the realization that I not only wasted years with John, but because of the distance, Nate can’t be in my future either.
It’s not that I’m desperate to be with a man, but it hurts to keep letting people in, only for them to disappoint, die, or disappear.
I gave my mom my heart—and she left me.
I gave it to my dad—and he no longer wanted it.
John stomped on it.
And Nate…well, I think he would gladly take it, but I can’t give it to him because I have no doubt that if I do, what’s left of my fragile organ will end up shattered. Maybe it could be different with Nate, but relationships are already hard as it is, let alone adding distance to the mix. So, instead of setting us up for failure, it’s best that we don’t attempt it.
When I leave here and go back home, my plan is to focus on myself. I’ve spent so much time trying to make other people happy that I haven’t considered what I need and deserve.