Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 128417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Sarah squeals. “And do you have photos of yourself as a little boy, too, Uncle William?”
“Sure, I might be able to dig up one or two,” Uncle William says, standing up from the table with Sarah. “Boys? Care to join?”
“Come with us, baby,” Sarah says, holding out her hand to Jonas.
“Sure,” Jonas says smoothly—shocking me for the billionth time today. He takes her hand.
I never would have predicted Jonas would say yes to voluntarily going down memory lane. As Jonas well knows, almost all of Uncle William’s photos of Jonas and me as happy little kids include Dad—and normally, like me, Jonas bends over backwards to avoid seeing a photo of that bastard every bit as much as I do. But, damn, I guess up is down and right is left when my brother’s in the presence of little Miss Sarah Cruz.
Uncle William looks pointedly at me and I shake my head.
“I think I’ll sit on the veranda and look at the Hudson for a bit,” I say.
My reply can’t possibly surprise Uncle William. As far as I’m concerned, if I never see Dad’s face again, it’ll be too soon for me—and Uncle William knows it.
“Okay, son,” Uncle William says softly. “Katya’s got the blue room in the back all ready for you. Just make yourself at home, as usual.”
“Thanks,” I say. “I appreciate it.”
The trio walks toward the far hallway, Sarah’s arm threaded into Uncle William’s.
“I bet Jonas and Josh were the cutest little things,” Sarah says happily.
“Oh, they were adorable little buggers,” Uncle William says, just before they exit the room. “Oh my, did those boys climb every rock and tree and chair and piano. I remember this one time, I found Jonas and Joshua...”
They’re gone.
I smile to myself. I so rarely see Uncle William outside of a business context. I’m not used to seeing him acting like this—so relaxed and nostalgic. I can only assume he’s acting this way thanks to Sarah. Our crew’s fearless leader puts everyone at ease, doesn’t she? Especially my high-strung brother. She’s like aloe vera on a sunburn for Jonas—a soothing balm for his soul. And anyone can see it. Uncle William obviously has.
I didn’t detect even a hint of skepticism about Sarah from Uncle William, not even a whiff he thinks Sarah’s a gold digger. His demeanor toward her has been one-hundred-eighty degrees from the cold way he reacted to Amanda when Jonas brought her here that one and only time—and Jonas had been with Amanda almost a year by then, I’m pretty sure. And now he brings Sarah here after a fraction of that time, and Uncle William falls all over himself to make her feel like part of the family? Wonders never cease.
I get up slowly and stretch, groaning, and then amble toward the French doors leading out to the veranda overlooking the river from on top of the world, patting my stomach as I walk. Damn, I’ve got to start hitting the gym like a madman when I get home. I’ve been a glutton this whole week in Vegas. Shit, especially now that fitness is gonna be my business, I’ve got to kick it up a notch, take a page out of Jonas’ book. I certainly can’t let my stupid brother show me up in the gym. Ha! Oh, fuck, I’m excited. I’m so fucking excited, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. My awesome life’s about to get a whole lot more awesome. Sayonara, Faraday & Sons, I won’t miss you.
I inhale deeply as the cool night air on the veranda hits my face and settle myself into one of the cushioned wicker chairs overlooking the shimmering river in the distance.
I’m just so flabbergasted at today’s turn of events, I can’t process. Jonas is gonna get engaged to a girl he’s basically just met—and Uncle William is thrilled about the idea. Shit, Uncle William just encouraged Jonas to do it. I never would have predicted that in a million-trillion years. And that wasn’t even the first time Uncle William shocked the hell out of me tonight: he absolutely floored me with his reaction when he found out both Jonas and I are leaving Faraday & Sons, too. I thought for sure he’d try to persuade us to stay—maybe talk about honor and obligation and how much it meant to our father to have his sons carry the mantle of Faraday & Sons. But he didn’t say any of it. All he did was look both of us in the eyes and say, “I’m proud of you boys. Always follow your hearts.” I swear to God, wonders never cease.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I grab it and grin at the text message on my screen.
“Hi, Playboy!” Kat’s message says. “Wanted to give you a little update on what your generous donation to the Kat and Hannah Hedonism Fund has bought you!” She adds a string of emojis: red hearts, clapping hands, a champagne bottle, a donkey and handcuffs. I laugh out loud. “We’re having SO MUCH FUN!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, my dearest, darlingest Playboy!!!! You are the most generous man in the whole wide world! And the sexiest, too!!!!!!! MEOW!” She adds a dog emoji. I don’t know what the fuck that’s supposed to mean, especially in light of her “meow,” but I laugh anyway.