Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Luce doesn’t even look up from painting her nails. “You good?” When I don’t answer, she twists the polish back on and plucks a glass from Jord. “Something got you rattled, our little Marie,”
I cut her off with a sharp jerk of my head. Now isn't the time to start with the intimate jokes that could spill out into public ears that I'm pretty sure none of us want anyone to hear.
“I'm fine.” I take the final glass from Jord. “It's just Asher. He's been extra…”
“Handsy?” Jord adds, moving back to the chair tucked beneath the vanity. “I have to admit, I don't think he's making any effort to hide a single thing. He always been like this? Or is this new? I mean, aside from all the times that we've seen you both together, I don't think I've ever seen him quite so full-on.”
I let his words linger in the air as I take the first sip of my cocktail. This is true. Asher has been flirty, sure, but nothing to the extent of what he's laying out lately.
“Maybe it's a fiancée thing?” Lucinda pipes in, swinging her legs off the bed and tying her robe around her waist. “You know, like he's getting cold feet?”
I shake my head, swiping the residue of drink from my bottom lip. “Asher doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. This is something else.”
“So we're not going to hang with them? We’re staying in?” I opt for changing the subject, the zest of lime and sugar syrup coating my throat.
Jord raises his hand. “I’m relieved.”
“Me three, since pre-gaming out in the pool house before hitting the only nightclub in town sounds like a nightmare.” Luce chuckles, and as soon as her eyes land on me, I know she's going to say something. “You and Asher are different. Different, Ivanya, and you know what we're saying.”
Untying my hair from the braid, I run my fingers through to break up the waves and take another gulp. “I don't think so. It's just because we were friends.”
Jord is silent for a moment. When he’s silent, it’s never a good thing, since Jord makes it his mission to be the friend that we all count on to keep us in line.
“I think this is just a connection.” Jord says, before continuing. “You don't make friends. None of us do. We don't have that luxury and forfeited it years ago. All we've ever had is each other. Me, you, Luce, Punk, Leon, Nonna,”
Luce clears her throat. “Don't say it.”
The smile lines around Jord's mouth deepen. “You catch my drift. This?” He flicks his hands around the air, crossing his legs and taking a sip of his drink. “Feels foreign to you because it is. Don't think too much into it.”
With my back turned to Luce's silent judgment, I dip into her closet and find some comfortable clothes to slip into. Relaxed gray sweatpants and a tight long sleeve top that shows the contour of my tits. Perfect. We finally crawl our way down to the theater room that's directly off the patio that leads to the pool house. Which just so happens to be where Punk and the rest of them are staying.
The curtains are drawn, blocking out all the party lights, and thankfully, the walls are soundproof.
I tap on the remote buttons as Jord wheels the bar cart in, humming to a Kendrick Lamar song. “So, we have margaritas and porn star martinis. Which one first?” There are many reasons why Jord is so lovable, but his uncanny ability to read the room and shift focus outweighs all of them.
I fling my hand out to him, a wide smile stretching on my face. “Surprise me.”
* * *
Three movies and too many cocktails later, I'm floating. We all are. Jord's chocolate wrappers litter the coffee table like evidence.
“Can't eat chocolate unless it's Jord's.” Luce's words slide together at the edges.
Jord sinks deeper into his recliner, cocktail glass teetering on the armrest. “Getting old. Why the hell am I tired already?”
“Food. We need food.” Lucinda pushes up from her chair, checking her Rolex. “A bit of everything. Sweet, salty, fried, anything really. All of it.” She tips the rest of her martini back. “What do you think, Ivy? Kitchen raid or order in?”
I almost agree, only this might be the only time I can sneak a cigarette. I like to think they don't know about my dirty drunk girl habit, but I'm almost certain they do.
Luce nods at me as if reading my mind.
Well… Luce does.
“I'll meet you down there.” I slide the large glass door closed behind myself and head out to the patio, inhaling the cold air that slams up into my face. Muffled music drifts from the side of the house, and I chuckle. Fucking Punk. Such a menace. This is all her fault, sleeping with the brother.