Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
As Skylar chats with Kahlia about the work she does, my mother tugs me aside, whispering, “You should marry her.”
I nearly spit out my champagne. “Mom.”
“What? She’s so much better for you than your ex. I knew it from the start. A mother just knows these things,” she says, then sails off to mingle with another donor.
Right as Skylar returns to me.
We’ve done our job for the night, but the night is young—and it’s time to simply enjoy the gala.
We walk away from the crowds, heading for the bar, when I see a mirage. That can’t be. Why is she here? Like a ghost I didn’t summon, my ex-wife strides over in a jet-black dress that brushes the floor, earrings glittering, head tilted with a very curious look on her face.
She locks eyes on me. Then on Skylar.
I grip Skylar’s hand tighter, one thought taking up all the space in my brain—she’s not going to ruin our night.
31
STURDIER THAN A SUITCASE
SKYLAR
Before she even introduces herself, I know who she is. I see it in her gaze. In the possessive way her pretty brown eyes—of course she’s pretty, but I don’t care—roam up and down him.
“Ford, so good to see you,” she says, with a smile so falsely sweet it makes my teeth hurt.
“Brittany,” he says tightly, giving a crisp nod.
But how is he really feeling? What is he thinking? I wish I knew. Does she want to win him back? Fuck her. Not going to happen, lady. Not today. Not on my watch.
Before he can ask why she’s here, Brittany answers the unspoken question. “I’ve become a big supporter of your mother’s charity. I wondered if she’d told you.” She bats her lashes.
Sucking up to his mother? I’m ready to take off my earrings. Instead, I turn to Ford and mouth privately, “Hold my smoothie.”
Then I turn to Brittany. “That’s funny. I’ve had a lot of conversations with Maggie Devon, and she didn’t say a thing about that.”
Ford squeezes my hand, and I feel the touch as a thank you.
Brittany whips her head toward me so fast it gives me whiplash. “You must be Skylar,” she says, eyes wide and smile bright.
Wait. She knows who I am?
“Yes, I am,” I say, trying to keep it cool, but I’m definitely thrown off. The mother-charity opening line wasn’t her real intention?
“I’m actually starting a new line of upcycled furniture, and I thought it would be such a fun thing for us to talk about!”
Ford scoffs. “You’re here to suck up to my girlfriend?”
I love his protective side—truly, I do. But I’m also so damn curious about her furniture I can’t help myself. Nosy by nature wins. “I’d love to hear about it,” I say.
Ford shoots me a what the hell look. But I give him one right back that says Trust me.
“I was really hoping we could chat,” Brittany says, offering her hand.
I take it. Her handshake is limp. I bet her ideas will be too.
“I’m already envisioning ways we can potentially partner, since we’re both in the sustainability space. I just absolutely love what you’re doing,” she says, sounding exactly like the kind of fake-bubbly person who would do…exactly what she’s doing.
“Oh, right. Of course. Because we have so much in common,” I say, egging her on.
“Exactly! When I heard you two were a couple, I immediately thought we could work together. Women supporting women, eco-friendly entrepreneurship—it’s so important. That’s why I thought it’d be great if I could develop a partnership with you.”
“Tell me more,” I say, dripping with faux enthusiasm. “Tell me all about what you’re designing.”
She rolls her lips like she’s holding in all her excitement. “I’m designing a line of furniture made from old suitcases!”
Did she really just say that? “Suitcases?” I blink. “Like...actual luggage?”
“Isn’t it brilliant? Just think about it—so many suitcases wind up in landfills. But instead of throwing them away, we can turn them into furniture. Can’t you just imagine an entire house full of couches that used to be suitcases? And we’d be saving the planet together.”
“That’s...incredible to envision,” I say, smiling like I mean it.
“I’m so glad you’re excited! Maybe we could set a time to meet and talk more?”
“Why don’t you have your people call my people?”
She claps like an overeager cheerleader. “I’m totally going to do that! Would you give me your number?”
“Of course, of course,” I say, then shrug apologetically. “I don’t have my phone with me right now, but go ahead and take my number and text me. I’ll answer it later.”
Ford knits his brow. Then I rattle off a number that Ford will instantly know is fake. He snickers as Brittany taps it into her phone.
“I can’t wait to talk more, Skylar,” she says.
“I can’t wait for you to roll out your line of suitcase furniture,” I add with a sugary smile.