Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“Lena.” Dad snarls her name, slamming his mug down again until coffee sloshes over the cup.
“Alec, calm down,” Mom says. “Drink your coffee, and listen to Brady, honey.”
“Frankly, it was electric, Mother. I felt it right from the start.” I pin on a smile. “The first time I met her months ago, we were inseparable.”
Lie number one. A particularly insane one because Lena hated my guts the first time we met, and that wasn’t even a month ago.
Call it necessary. No one’s going to believe I’d sacrifice everything to be with a girl I barely know.
“Electric,” Dad rumbles.
“Why didn’t you bring her up sooner, darling?” Mom asks.
“Because I know how you guys are. We had to keep it private, taking it slow—and no, I didn’t tell Nancy. I consider her a friend, and once I was sure about Lena, I let her down easy.”
“Easy,” Dad mutters, his face inventing new shades of red.
“Alec, please,” Mom warns when she sees his eyes twitching. “Remember what the doctor said about your heart.”
Yeah, I wonder why.
As horrible as his heart attack was, it wasn’t a huge surprise for a man intent on working himself into an early grave.
I take a satisfied gulp of my coffee—the perfect mix of bitter and sweet to take the edge off this nightmare.
The sooner I can escape this travesty of a breakfast, the better.
“Obviously, I didn’t announce it to the world. Or you guys,” I say. “No point feeding the media circus if it was never going to work out. I had to be sure. Plus, Lena isn’t used to this kind of frenzy. I had to give her fair warning, ease her into it.”
That much is true.
I won’t forget the way she looked at me with such hot betrayal when I met her in the park, like she thought I’d orchestrated the entire damn thing.
This craziness isn’t her life.
At least, it wasn’t until she signed up to play charades with me.
“I’m still concerned about that. We can’t afford to have people photobombing the clinic where she works.”
“Clinic. For animals?” Dad grumbles. “That’s all the family needs. A damn veterinarian.”
“A veterinary nurse, actually—and she’s a damn good one.” Pride slips into my voice. “She’ll be part owner of a long-established Seattle practice very soon.”
“Ridiculous.” Dad’s scowl deepens.
“Worse than an artificial marriage, you mean? With someone I barely like? Why wouldn’t you want me to marry a woman I can show the world I truly love? That’s good branding. That’s authenticity.”
Mom smiles at me. “He has a point.”
“He has a sickness. He’s thirty years old, and he’s handling romance like a goddamned kid.”
“If they feel that deeply about each other, how is that bad? It’s time he settled down. We both know it.” Mom’s eyes flash with empathy, the same blue shade as mine.
“Only if he settles down with someone good for him.”
Good for us, he means.
It takes titanium self-control not to snort in his face.
“There’s no one better than Lena,” I throw back. “Think how it’ll look. I’m not shacking up with some spoiled supermodel or a girl who’s spent her life on a leash in DC with the secretary of agriculture. Most of Seattle hates Nancy.”
“Don’t disrespect her,” he snaps.
“Are you seriously telling me you don’t know her reputation? I’ve tried to ignore it, but it’s everywhere. Lena isn’t like that. And people will see how much I care.”
“You must introduce us,” Mom says cheerfully.
“Kerrigan!” Dad looks at her in disbelief.
“What? You think I don’t want to meet the young lady who’s put a sparkle in my son’s eyes?” She smiles at me. “This is the most enthusiastic I’ve seen you get in a long time, Brady. Especially for anything besides work.”
Fuck.
I knew an in-person meeting was coming, but I didn’t know they’d want it so soon. She’ll be thrown face down in the frying pan before she’s really gotten started with this sham.
Dealing with my parents makes the media maneuvering look easy.
“Sure, Mom.” I force a smile. “Wouldn’t dream of keeping you waiting. We’ll set up something soon.”
Meanwhile, I’ll have to remember how to walk through a minefield again without blowing myself to pieces.
Brand first.
Mom would glow with pride if she knew what I was doing to make sure my public image looks sharp and polished.
Technically, she’d still look down on me for debasing myself with pet food, but I think she’d appreciate the aesthetic.
Luis and I head over to a big dog show in Bellevue today, one of those high-class events where tech bros and rich grandmas show off their pampered pooches. I lean my head back against the seat as he drives.
“I have something to tell you,” I say.
“Let me guess. The girl again?”
“Lena. She has a name, dude.”
“Glad you can remember this one.” He shoots me a sideways glance. “I’m happier the girl isn’t Nancy, though.”