Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
We both have our eyes on Ed and Katherine as they stand at the bar and peruse the drinks menu. Ed’s arm is around Katherine’s waist, and Katherine is resting her head on Ed’s arm. It’s like they have a need to be physically connected to each other at all times.
“What do you want from me?” I say on an exhausted sigh. “You’ve stalked me and harassed me in front of potential clients, and now you’re acting like you’re the injured party.”
“I saved you from embarrassing yourself at the engagement party by taking you back to your hotel. I made sure you didn’t vomit in the cab. And when I realized you were holding a serious business meeting in the bar the other night, I left. I don’t see you thanking me for any of that.”
“Thanking you?” I say through a grin I flash at Ed when he looks over. “For what? For behaving like a deranged psychopath whenever I see you?”
Lucy groans and slumps back in the booth. “You’re so dramatic. For God’s sake. All I want to do is give my sister the perfect bachelorette party, and you’re acting like I’m the one who’s got problems. You might not give a shit about your friend, but sue me for caring about my sister. And all your complaining hasn’t gotten us anywhere. We still have nowhere to stay and have no prospect of finding anywhere. The bachelor/bachelorette party is just over two weeks away.”
“Wrong!” I exclaim smugly.
“Okay, two weeks and one day, you pedantic dick.”
“Wrong, we do have a place to stay for the weekend, you hapless harpy.”
Lucy narrows her eyes at me. “Hapless harpy? Hapless harpy? That’s the best you can do. Call me a bitch. Call me a ‘deranged psychopath,’ but ‘hapless harpy’?” She lets out another groan, and for some reason, it vibrates up my thighs and connects to my balls. “Pathetic.”
“You’re right. ‘Deranged psychopath’ was more accurate. The point is, we have a place to stay. I got us a Friday-to-Monday rental on the Cape. Kinda.”
Lucy eyes me suspiciously. “What do you mean, kinda?”
“That’s what you focus on? Not the fact that I’ve managed to procure the entire group a house for the weekend, right on the beach. You focus on the fact that I said it was kinda on the Cape.”
“Yeah, well, being on the Cape is super important to Katherine. So if it’s not exactly on the Cape, it’s not going to fly. Where is this supposed house?”
Ed and Katherine are heading back to the table hand in hand, grinning at each other. They’re ridiculous.
“I’ll tell you when I next see you,” I say through gritted teeth.
Lucy is almost out of her seat, she’s so filled with frustration. A part of me is sort of enjoying toying with her. “I’ve messaged you nineteen times asking you for an update, and you’ve ignored me. I’ve tried my best to get you to meet with me, but I get crickets. This celebration is in two weeks. We need to meet and make plans.”
Lucy falls silent as Katherine and Ed get to the table.
“You know one of the best things about this joint party?” Katherine asks. In her two hands, she grabs mine and Lucy’s hands across the table. “It’s seeing the two of you building a relationship and becoming friends. It makes me so happy.”
“Seriously,” Ed says. “We were saying on the way down that the way Lucy saw you back to the hotel after the engagement party was really nice. It’s so great that you’re getting on so well. You know you’ve always felt like family to me, Hunter. And Lucy is going to be actual family. It’s so great we can all hang out like this.”
“It’s perfect!” Katherine says. “I never want to have to worry who to invite to what events. Especially when we’re down here in New York.”
Lucy gives me a playful punch to my arm. “One big happy family.”
“And seriously, you should feel free to talk business,” she says. “Some of the time, at least. In fact, now, even. Lucy and I can chat if you two want to talk about something.”
Ed looks at me expectantly. But this isn’t a business lunch. Not anymore. It’s not like we can actually talk.
“I understand how important work is to you both,” Katherine says.
Does she, though? Because if she really did, would she even be here? And the thing I was going to talk to Ed about was his focus. Or lack of it. It’s not like I can bring that up now. Or maybe if I say a little, Katherine will understand the situation and encourage Ed to get his head in the game?
“Okay,” I say, my tone cautious. “We’ve got a lot going on, as you know. We’re all working really long hours, but we’re just keeping the wheels on. We need to start automating some of the admin processes we have, and that takes a lot of resources.”