Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“I might be second-guessing myself.”
“Don’t. Have some wine instead.” He laughs as the waiter pours me a glass.
It’s good, rich and dark and velvety, and the warmth in my stomach helps calm my nerves somewhat, but I don’t want to drink too much. I need my wits right now if I’m going to get out of this in one piece.
“It’s weird being here at the Oak without my family,” I say and swirl the wine glass to keep my hands busy so he hopefully won’t notice that they’re shaking. “I didn’t think they’d let me in.”
“You’re not a member?”
“Grandfather didn’t think it was necessary.”
“Interesting,” he says.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s nothing.”
“No, you can’t just say interesting like I’m some sort of weird science experiment and not explain yourself.”
“It’s just that everyone in my family is a member,” he says and taps a finger on the table. “Grandpop doesn’t leave anyone out. When you turn eighteen, you’re inducted.”
“Must be nice to be an Arc.”
“Would you like to find out?”
I roll my eyes but it makes me smile. “This is crazy, you know. Are you really serious about this whole marriage thing?”
He tilts his head like he’s studying me again. I don’t know why he keeps doing that as if I’m worth staring at. I’ve gotten some attention from men in my life, but rarely anything from someone like Ford. Sara Lynn, Kellie, Tamika, my other female cousins, they’re the pretty and successful ones with incredible hair and skinny legs. I’m the weird bastard redhead.
“Let me show you something.” Ford stands suddenly and takes his glass. “Come on, let’s walk.”
“Can we just bring our drinks? Oh, sure, okay,” I say as he strides past me. I have to hurry to catch up, and we walk right out of the bar with our drinks and into the main lobby. My eyes drift to the massive oak tree in the center of the room, and I breathe in the smell of grass and leaves even though we’re walking on marble. It’s incredibly breathtaking and I’m always struck at how strangely mystical and eternal it feels.
“I bet you’ve never seen this,” he says and leads me down a short hallway. “It’s members only and I’m guessing your grandfather hasn’t bothered to bring you here.”
“I’ve been in the bar, dining room, and the events spaces downstairs. Never though—” My breath catches as he pushes a door at the far side and steps out into a lush, green meadow. “What the hell?”
It’s a garden in the middle of a large courtyard. I had no clue this was even here—how is this even here? It makes no sense! But there’s real grass and bushes and flowers all over the place, and it’s perfectly manicured, almost to the point of absurdity. Benches are scattered throughout and a couple other members are sitting quietly watching the stars up in the night sky as the comfortable breeze ruffles through the flowers. Ford nods to them as we pass and I smile awkwardly, and it’s not easy to walk in my heels in this so I stop and take them off.
He stares at me when I straighten up, shoes dangling over my shoulder. “What?”
“Most women just—” He gestures at my feet. “Suck it up.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t feel like sucking it up.” I glare at him and wiggle my toes in the grass. “Besides, this feels nice.”
He pauses for a long moment before he walks over to an empty bench, puts his glass down, and takes off his shoes.
I’m honestly shocked by the gesture. When he’s done, he sits there, bare feet in the grass, and takes a long drink from his wine. His smile is cheeky like he knows he’s doing something wrong, but he’s loving it anyway. “Don’t let the staff see this. I bet they’d throw us out.”
“That’s the problem with places like the Oak, it’s all so stupidly proper.” I walk over and sit next to him but make sure I leave some room between us. There’s nobody nearby, and it feels like we’re completely alone in some magical, idyllic British garden, like if I keep walking around the bushes, I’ll come across some ruins that’ll lead into a fairy world.
“It’s a way to enforce conformity, and conformity guarantees good behavior. Mostly, anyway. You’d have a hard time making my friend Evander behave.”
“That’s the big Greek guy, right? I’ve seen him here before.”
“That’s right. He’s up in Chicago right now but he comes down here as often as he can. We all like to get together, my friends and I.”
“That must be nice, having a circle of friends.” I sip my drink and watch him carefully. “It’s hard to have friends as an adult.”
His gaze grows distant as he looks across at the flowers. “At a certain point, people stop caring about relationships and start caring about power. You’re no longer a person to them but a means to an end. Fortunately, I met my friends before that mattered, and it helps that we have a complicated history.”