Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Love does that.” Erica nods. “Makes all the bad stuff seem less … bad.”
She’s exactly right.
When this started, it felt catastrophic. I didn’t think I’d get through it in one piece. And here we are, just a few weeks later, and everything is so much better than I ever dared even hope for.
“Hey, guys,” Ava says with a wave as she comes charging through the door. “Holy shit, it’s gorgeous in here.”
Harper is right behind her, and then to my utter surprise, all the other girls file in, too. Billie, Skyla, and Dani, along with Dani’s sisters.
It’s a whole girl gang.
My girl gang.
“Tell me I can get my salad soon,” Harper says, looking desperate. “Come on, you’re about to be my sister-in-law. Hell, you are, since Blake already put a ring on my finger. Help a sister out.”
Sisters.
I don’t just have friends.
I have sisters.
Holy shit.
“I reopen the day after tomorrow, and I’ll have your salad. But I could probably make one for you tomorrow night. All of the food is being delivered in the morning.”
“I can wait for opening day.” Harper grins. “I’m so excited for you, friend.”
“We all are,” Dani adds. “And since you and Brooks got married so fast and we didn’t have time to have a party, we’re having one now. Tonight.”
“That’s our cue to head out.” Christy winks. “Come on, ladies. Let’s get out of the way so the boss lady can party.”
“Have fun,” Tandy says with a wave, and when they’re gone, I turn back to my gang.
“I’m not exactly dressed for a party.”
“It’s super casual,” Darby replies. “We’re all going to Billie’s mansion, so we can drool over her library, eat all of the amazing food that Cassie’s made for us, and those of us not knocked up can drink a bunch of liquor.”
“I’m so down for that. Let me just text Brooks so he knows not to expect me.”
I pull my phone out of my back pocket and shoot my man a message.
Me: Hey, babe! I’m headed to Billie’s with the girls for a post-wedding girls’ night. Won’t be home until later.
“I wish I had some goodies to bring with me,” I tell the girls while the three little dots hop on the screen, signaling that Brooks is replying. “But there isn’t a morsel of food in this place.”
“Trust me.” Billie shakes her head. “Cassie has been cooking up a storm at the house. I told her we wanted snack foods. Appetizers. Desserts. And everything is safe for you, I promise. She sanitized the whole kitchen before she started and is using new tools.”
I blink at my gorgeous sister-in-law. Billie’s in Dior today, because of course she is. But it’s casual Dior.
If there is such a thing.
“You didn’t have to do that. It’s expensive.”
“Hi, she married a billionaire,” Alex says helpfully. “That’s just a normal Friday afternoon for them.”
I snort and check my phone.
Husband: I heard, and I’m glad. Billie planned a bunch of stuff. Have fun. Call when you’re ready to come home, and I’ll come get you.
Me: Okay, sounds good. Love you!
“Let’s go party, girls.”
“I haven’t read this one,” Alex says, plucking a paperback off one of Billie’s shelves. This is my first time here, and now I understand what Brooks meant when he said that my library won’t be as fancy as this.
No one’s library is as fancy as this.
Unless you’re Belle, and your boyfriend is a beast.
Because holy shit, this is something to behold.
It’s a two-story library with floor-to-ceiling shelves and the amazing rolling ladder that every girl dreams of. The whole room is painted in robin’s egg blue, with a wallpapered ceiling in all different colors.
“This is dreamy,” I announce as I stand in the middle of the room, just looking around. I notice that some of the shelves are still bare. “You have room to grow with new books.”
“I know, I love that,” Billie says with a grin. “I spend a lot of time in here.”
“I would, too,” Darby agrees.
Have I mentioned that I love that Darby’s home?
“I thought you had to go back to Colorado,” I say to my friend, but she grins.
“I delayed by a couple of days. I had the extra time, so I stayed. I leave the day after your opening, so I can stop in and try all of the amazing food I’ve been hearing about.”
“Oh, that makes me happy. I’m going to pretend that you’re staying just for me.”
“Who’s read Sinful King by Natalie Kane?” Skyla asks, waving the book in the air. “Because this sounds good. A Mafia romance set in Vegas where the mmc owns a sex club and the heroine is plus-sized? Hell yes.”
“Oh, it’s so good,” Billie says. “I read it. They play with Shabari ropes. You need it in your life.”
“Do you have it in the store?” I ask her.