Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“Anything I should know about the dad you hate before walking into their guns blazing?” she asks. “Because I can charm the pants off parents, not yours, obviously, but you know what I mean.”
I didn’t tell her the whole story. But I’m assuming he’s going to be more forthcoming when it comes to Charlie then he is me. “If it happens to slip that he works with Hale Enterprises let me know.” I nod. “Jude’s dad might be there, and if he is, let me know if they walk off together. Edward has jet black hair and looks just like Jude, and my dad has no hair and looks like John Cena.”
“Wait, for real?”
“You know those glow up divorce videos? My dad could be the poster child for those. He got like super into cars and fitness once he and my mom got divorced. He says he found himself. I think he just found money and attention from multiple women all at once. He’s an ass, just so you know, and a narcissist.”
“Aw, my favorite combo,” she says dryly. “Okay all that family drama aside, this will still be fine. It’s our last year, I’ve heard they have the best chefs in the city do the wine pairings, and again, free! We’re poor, remember?”
I laugh. “Yeah, that’s true.”
“I’m going to have to sell eggs to pay off my student loans. Why did I major in art again?” she asks. “It’s not like I’m going to get a high-paying job. At best I can teach.”
“Hey, some of us make it,” I say weakly.
She shoots me a look. “Yeah, very few. I think like less than two percent but hey, maybe you hook up with Jude and you can get some of your sculptures or paintings in studio.”
I snort. “That doesn’t promise us anything, and you know it. It just means we get eyes on our work; people have to pay real money in order for us to not have to donate eggs.”
She groans. “Don’t remind me. But also, it couldn’t hurt.”
“I won’t use him for his connections,” I say once we’ve taken the steps to the Observatory. It’s beautiful and littered with so much food and wine of all types I can see why everyone goes and why she forced it on me.
“Just sex then? And his amazing body?” she teases.
I roll my eyes. “No.”
“How disappointing,” comes Jude’s voice. “I shaved and everything.”
“Aww, see and he’s funny.” Charlie grabs a glass of champagne from a waiter. “Nice to see you clean up well Jude.”
He looks stunning in a black suit. He has no tie, and everything about him fits custom. He’s beautiful to look at. I can barely breathe. He hands me a glass of champagne and eyes me up and down. “Had I known you ladies were coming I would have been more excited.”
“Axel didn’t tell you?” Charlie takes a sip of her wine.
Jude snorts into his glass. “Things you need to learn about my cousin, you have to give him very specific instructions, from the bedroom to the boardroom, he needs maps, notes, that sort of thing.”
“Good thing I’m an artist.” Charlie winks. “I’ll draw him the best damn map he’s ever seen as long as he uses it well.”
“Ignore her.” I wave her off. “There’s been a dry spell.”
“Not anymore! Hey, Axel!” She waves him over. He’s dressed similarly to Jude, but Jude stands out as…more.
We walk in together even though we arrived apart, and as much as I tell my body to calm down, it really does feel like a date. Which is further proven when Jude casually wraps an arm around me and guides me through a crowd.
I open my mouth to ask what he’s doing when he leans down and whispers, “Your dad’s watching, make sure you smile. I’m not sure who’s behind the Dean’s List, but we’ve both been targeted so we may as well make it appear that we’re following directions.”
“To get close to each other?” I smile through the sentence.
“Yup.” He grins down at me. “Also, your dad hated me before prison. Pretty sure he still hates me despite the fact that our fathers looked like best friends in that photo.”
A chill runs down my spine and I know it’s not from the photo, it’s from something far worse. I don’t move. I can barely breathe. I stare him down the way he’s staring at me. “He’s coming this way.”
“Your dad?”
“Yeah he’s—”
I have no time to say anything before Jude’s mouth comes crashing down onto mine. It’s not a romantic kiss, it’s not slow and inviting, it’s punishing and claiming. I want to pull back, because…not like this, not in front of everyone, not in front of faculty, not in front of my dad.
I’ve never felt more like a pawn in my entire life—except the day I was asked to lie, and now it feels like I’m being asked to do the exact same thing by Jude, except I can’t say no because I owe him. For how long, I wonder, will I owe him?