Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Instead of an engagement party, we’re having an engagement dinner. Aurora suggested that a dinner is “much more us” than a party. Honestly, I’d be happy to have had neither, but whenever Aurora says us, I’ll do whatever she wants.
I see Worth Huntingdon coming toward us, surrounded by various women, a couple of whom I recognize from the hotel.
“Hey!” One of them grabs Aurora. “Congratulations.”
Aurora turns to me. “You remember Avril and Poppy, from the hotel.” Yup, that makes sense. They’re Aurora’s two bosses, who she sometimes goes to brunch with. “And this is their sister-in-law, Sophia, and her husband, Worth.”
I kiss the women on the cheek and Worth and I shake hands. We’ve met a few times before, but this is my first time meeting Sophia.
“We’re having a brunch tomorrow. Will you both come?” Sophia asks.
“You must,” Avril says. “We always have the best time.”
“We have them most weeks,” Sophia says. “It started off as Worth and his B-school friends and it just gets bigger and bigger.”
“We’ll need a ballroom soon,” Worth says. “But it’s nice to catch up with friends. If you can make it, it would be good to see you.”
“Actually, I think we have plans with Ben tomorrow, don’t we?” Aurora asks me.
“Speak of the devil,” I say, lifting my chin as Ben strides toward us.
“I feel like I’m missing out,” he says as he joins our group. “Don’t be keeping all the beautiful women to yourself. You’re a taken man, Deacon.”
Avril groans. “Who’s this cheesy guy?”
“Avril, meet my best friend, Ben.”
She shakes her head. “Oh, Deacon, I’ve met that man a thousand times. There’s no need to introduce us.”
“Really?” Ben asks. “I’m sorry, but I don’t recognize you. When did we meet?”
“I don’t mean you, specifically, I just mean guys like you…the kind that makes comments like ‘don’t be keeping all the beautiful women to yourself,’ like we’re candy bars or beer or something.”
Ben chuckles. “Okay, then. That put me in my place. Can I get you a drink?”
“First, there’s a free bar. Second, I own this hotel. Partly. And third…well, third, I already have one.” Avril lifts her martini, and I make a mental note to thank her later for making Ben second-guess himself.
“Ignore her,” Poppy says. “She just got dumped, so we’re in the all men are assholes part of the breakup cycle.”
Ben and I nod, like we have a clue what’s going on.
Aurora intervenes and expertly navigates Avril over to Scarlett Westbury to introduce them. We’ve been out to dinner with the Westburys, when Darcy and Logan have been over. I never realized that getting engaged required so many celebrations and congratulations. I don’t hate it, but I’d be happy to skip to the part where life gets back to the ordinary day-to-day.
I just like hanging out with Aurora. I like getting ten messages a day from her. I like hearing her voice when she first wakes up. I like going back to bed on a Sunday morning when I’ve dropped Willow off at Gabby’s and spending the day there, alternating between talking, showering, having sex, and watching TV. Those times with Aurora are what I live for.
Of course, all that will change soon. Nothing’s forever. The death of Penny showed me that. But now, instead of hiding from life, Aurora shows me how to squeeze every last drop out of every moment. Being with her is like seeing the world through a different lens. Instead of wanting to freeze time, I just want to make sure I can share it. With her.
I look up to track where Aurora is and find her looking back at me. A small smile curls her mouth and I excuse myself and head over to her.
“I think it’s time,” she whispers.
“You sure you want to do it like this?”
She laughs. “It’s too late to back out now. Everyone’s here.”
“I don’t mean dinner, I mean…”
“This is the place. Then no one can get offended because someone else knew first. Everyone’s going to find out together.”
My parents and Aurora’s parents are here. We’ve seated them together. Chloe’s sitting next to Dad. Ben was meant to be sitting next to Avril, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea anymore.
Everyone’s here.
“Okay, so let’s get everyone seated. You okay?”
She smiles at me like she’s the luckiest person in the whole of New York. “Couldn’t be happier.”
“If you need anything—”
“I’m fine.” She squeezes my hand. “Let’s get everyone sitting down.”
I press a kiss to her lips, then take a breath to settle my desire to pull her into the nearest bedroom and forget this dinner. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Aurora and I are seated at the head of the table, side by side, and when everyone has taken their seats, we both stand and I put my arm around her waist.
“So, just before we start dinner, Aurora and I have something to tell you.”