Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“Green eyes,” I correct her. I just said that. “I would guess his height to be that, but I was on the stairs, so with the angle, I could be off. I don’t know about trust funds. I suppose. I think most families of such wealth have them.” We all do.
“It was a joke.” She waves me off. “It’s a song. This is all so interesting to me.”
“I agree.” I give the kitty a few more scratches. “Eros, he’s with Mac at the main warehouse?”
“Yeah, he left about an hour ago. He said he’s got a surprise for me later. Even picked out an outfit.”
“He picked it out for you?” She nods. Why do I find that alluring?
“I should probably go. I need to handle a few things, and then family dinner.”
Bonte pops up and gives me a kiss on the cheek. If it were anyone else besides my mom or dad, they would probably catch an elbow for invading my personal space, but Bonte is the exception. I head out to touch base with Mac and Eros. The three of us have always been close. I want to fill them in on the new developments of my dad’s meeting.
I realize my mistake when they start asking me a million questions I don’t have answers for, so I abort and go back home and start pulling up everything that Mac had already dug up on Paxton and start to go through it more thoroughly.
I get so engrossed in it that I almost miss dinner, but Mom comes and drags me downstairs.
“You okay?” my father asks me after dinner. I nod.
“Still thinking about things.” I’m going in circles here. I am not normally so indecisive. I make a choice and move forward. I should do that in this situation as well.
Everyone is mingling in the living room area, and a few people have already left. My little brothers have taken off too.
I stand up and simply say it. That is what I always do when I make decisions. Once my mind is made up, I don’t waver, and I put the information out into the world.
“I’m getting married.” The room goes eerily quiet before half of it shouts, “What!” Most everyone has a shocked expression.
“What?” I ask. “You think I’m not marriage material?” It’s a little hurtful that they don’t think anyone would want to marry me. Thank God I don’t have normal people feelings or I would be devastated by their reactions. I’m not. Am I?
“It’s one thing to say maybe I’ll get married. You just said you are getting married,” my Aunt Cosima says. She is Eros’ mother, my father’s sister.
“I get to help plan it,” Nix announces. Nix is always down for anything that might be girly. I suppose a wedding falls into that. I’m sure she’s already conjuring up a million ways to try to torture me. Hair, nails, makeup. God help me.
“We don’t even know to whom!?” Bonte adds. I’m sure she’s piecing things from our earlier conversation together.
“It might be an arranged marriage,” I add because they might be right. No one would want to marry me without getting something in return. The thought hurts this time, but I push it down deep where those kinds of feelings belong.
“What year is it?” Nix asks. “That’s still a thing outside of romance books? But not to be crude.”
“Liar.” Jax, my cousin, interrupts Nix because she has no problem being crude, ever. She shoots her brother a death glare along with her middle finger and continues.
“But, Naomi, you know if you get married, you have to like kiss and have sex with them. Be affectionate… even cuddle sometimes.”
I have been thinking about those things. In fact, since I got back home and started going over the information on him and shuffling through more pictures, that is what’s been on my mind.
“I will not discuss such things,” I say curtly, letting everyone know I do not wish to go further in conversation about that.
“Are you blushing?” Nix asks. Am I? I don’t blush. That’s ridiculous.
“It’s warm in here, and can we not talk about these things right now? My father is here.” There, that should do it.
“Is War responsible for this?” Nix turns her ire onto my father. “And wait.” She points between Mac and Eros. “Why the hell are you two so quiet about this?”
“I think it’s time to head out,” Eros says, standing with Bonte in his arms. She’s been perched in his lap. The outfit he picked out for her is nice. It’s a skirt, but the pantyhose have a design.
Eros quickly gets out of here. Mac reaches up and grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze. I need that because the room erupts once again.
“Enough!” The room goes dead silent. If my mom yells, everyone better listen. She doesn’t do it often. I could likely count the times on my fingers. “We are done with this for tonight.”