Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
They want to see if I can handle it. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. The estate. His world. A place I’m not sure I belong, but I never really do. I couldn’t fit in with my mother on the best of days.
“It’s not the worst idea,” his father encourages. “Give you both some breathing room. Time to figure things out.”
“Okay,” Wells says.
I turn to him. “What?”
“We’ll come. Both of us.” He takes my hand, his eyes locked on mine. “I want you to see it. The estate, the life, all of it. Then you can decide.”
“Wells—”
“You said you were out for an adventure.” That’s a hell of an adventure. He leans closer, his voice dropping. “I’m not going back without you.”
I stare at him, panic rising in my throat. “You can’t say that.”
“I just did.” He shrugs as if it’s nothing. I swear his mother is panicking, but she manages to keep her face neutral.
“You can’t just... this is crazy. We barely know each other, and you’re talking about... about...”
“About what?” he asks, soft but relentless. “Tell me.”
I don’t know, but it feels like there should be lots of things talked about before such a big commitment.
I shake my head, pressing back into my chair. This is too much, and I can feel myself shutting down. It’s been a long time since that’s happened to me.
“Caldwell.” His mother calls for his attention. “Calm down.”
He doesn’t look at her. He only looks at me, his eyes dark and intense, watching me like I’m the only thing in the world.
“Come with me,” he says again. “Please.”
“Okay,” I agree. How can I not? I’m not ready to let him go, and I also can’t ask him to walk away from his responsibilities. His whole life is in Solaria. If I want to be a part of it, I’ll need to go there and see for myself how it is.
He cups the back of my neck with his hand and kisses me hard, not caring that his parents are at the table with us.
Honestly, I don’t either. His mother already doesn’t care for me. Could it really get worse?
Chapter Fourteen
CALDWELL
My hold is firm on Mable’s hand, maybe too firm. I lift her hand and kiss her delicate fingers before setting it back in my lap, loosening my hold, but not much. She fights a knowing smile.
The car pulls onto the private tarmac, and I feel Mable go still beside me. I follow her gaze to the plane waiting on the runway. She’s seen wealth before, but this is different. This is generational and institutional and excessive in ways that can’t be hidden.
“Holy shit,” she breathes.
I squeeze her hand. “It’s just a plane.”
“That’s not a plane. That’s Air Force One’s cousin.”
I do laugh then, low and genuine. “It’s excessive. I know.” We use it for many things, a vast majority political.
“How many people does it seat?”
“Twenty. Maybe thirty if we’re cozy.”
“Okay then.” A small laugh leaves her. I’ll take it. It’s not as though I can hide any of this. Not when I’m taking her home. I need her to fall in love with not only me but the country too.
The stairs are already down. I keep her hand in mine, leading her on board.
The cabin is all cream leather and polished wood. There is a bedroom in the back that I’d love to make ours, but my parents will be joining us shortly.
“Here,” I tell her, picking a spot for us that is more isolated from the rest.
She settles into a window seat, and I grab a blanket. “Do you want something to drink?” I ask her.
“Doing my job for me?” I turn, holding my hand out to James to shake. He pulls me in for a half hug.
“You’re back. How’s the baby?” James’s whole face lights up at the mention of the newest member of his family. He’s worked for us for a handful of years. We have traveled a lot together. There have been times I think the plane is more his than ours. He runs this place, including the captain.
“Perfect and tiny, man.” He shakes his head, holding his hand up. “Like this big, but my wife swears they’re not as fragile as they look.”
Mable giggles.
“What’s going on here?” James turns toward her. A flash of jealousy hits me when she drops her head back and gives him a bright smile. It’s ridiculous. James married his high school sweetheart. They are madly in love.
“I’m Mable.” She holds her hand out.
“It’s lovely to meet you.” He shakes her hand, giving me a knowing look that says About damn time. “I’m James.”
“You too, and congratulations. What’s the baby’s name?”
“Savanna,” he says proudly. That longing hits me again. Sure, I had some fucked-up thoughts about getting Mable pregnant. That it would bind her to me, but it’s more than that. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever want kids or if I’d have the time. Now that’s not as stiff a sacrifice, and with Mable, I’m willing to make it. I want to see her pregnant with our children. It hits me hard just how badly I do want that. How since I met her, I’ve been envisioning spending the rest of my life with her.