Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
“I agreed the party was too over the top and expensive, and I tried to cancel it. You were the one who wouldn’t let me, and now you’re turning around and insulting me and calling me wasteful for wearing the dress you wanted me to get. I just can’t win with you,” I cried, emotion leaking into my voice. “Everything I say and do is wrong in your eyes, and it hurts. It really hurts, Alex. Do you truly not see that I’m trying?”
“I—” Alex spun around and pulled me up so fast, I tripped into his arms. Hands around my waist, he held me strong and steady against him. “I do see that,” he whispered, stealing my breath. “I see that you’re trying, Sue, and you’re right. I shouldn’t have said you looked like a winged specter because it’s not true.” Torment lit his eyes aflame. “You’re beautiful, baby. You’re always so fucking beautiful it makes my chest hurt... and that’s why this is so hard.”
My lips parted, eyes blowing wide. Of all things I wanted him to say, I never expected this. “But—”
“Excuse me?” Davis’s voice snapped our heads around. “I apologize, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Montgomery. I understand it’s your anniversary, but we are under strict orders to stop anyone other than Mrs. Kim from touching the gems. You must limit your interaction to skin on skin only, and maintain a distance of at least two feet.”
I goggled at him. “Officer Davis, seriously, he’s not going to—”
“It’s fine,” Alex sliced in, putting me back on my feet and pulling away in the same breath. “These are the terms we agreed to. I’ll respect them.” He stepped to the side, then offered his elbow—ever the polite and unfeeling gentleman. “Shall we?”
I hesitated, searching for something—anything—in his eyes like the inscrutable emotion that shone in them when he held me. “Yes,” I finally said, resting a hand on his elbow. “Thank you.”
Alex helped me the rest of the way, guiding me to the platform at the head of the ballroom. Sitting atop that platform a head above the party was a dining table for four, and four throne-like chairs. Two of the waitstaff immediately peeled off the wall to help me onto my throne, bowing over me as they pushed my chair in.
Really overdid it with the queen for the night, Sue, but again... I get it.
As a former waitress who once had a customer bump into me, knock an entire ice-cold milkshake down my shirt, and keep walking like they didn’t even see me, I was low-key loving all the awe-filled eyes being on me for a change. From the bodyguards on my tail, to the twelve videographers posted up around the room, to the real and actual celebrity sitting at the table in front of me—a queen was exactly what I felt like.
Soon, everyone was seated and the waitstaff was placing the first course. Courtney waved to me from her table as they set down her salmon tartare with shallots and lemon dressing, then she pointed to the guy seated next to her, and drew a line across her neck—baring her teeth at me.
“You’re dead.”
I smirked like the crafty bitch I was. Yes, I invited Taylor’s teacher, the infamous Mr. Stevens, to the party. Yes, I purposely arranged the seating chart so they’d sit together. And yes, I felt no shame about it.
Courtney basically stopped dating after giving birth to Taylor—too busy raising her daughter and running a successful business. She deserved to spend one night talking, dining, and dancing with the only man she’s been interested in in a long time.
Rhodes got to his feet, fixing all eyes and all lenses on him.
Turning down the music, the deejay handed a mic to Christie, who brought it over to Rhodes.
“Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us on this special night. Now, the three of us could stand here and tell you all the things we love about Sue, but eventually you’d be forced to have these officers arrest us for holding you hostage for weeks.” Laughter filled the room. “So, with the honor of speaking for the three of us, I will condense down to this...” Rhodes reached for me, taking my hand in his. “Most of us here know that marriage is a cross-country journey. Most days you’re hiking, other days you’re flying, and some days you’re crawling over dirt and gravel with shredded knees and broken fingernails.”
Descriptive.
“Not every couple, or quadruple”—more laughter—“finish the journey together. Not everyone is meant to, and I can admit to you here today that there were times in the past seven years that I didn’t think we’d go the distance, but over these last few weeks with you,” he said softly—his thumb stroking slow, tickling circles against my palm. “Laughing with you, talking with you, facing down bears with you, and counting your hairs on my pillow as you snore and snort in your sleep—”