Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Sure, it’s petty, but that’s how we are with one another.
Hell, if I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s been four very long years of foreplay.
She turns in her seat and glares at me. “What did you get?” She holds up her paper, and I can see the ninety-eight written at the top in bold red sharpie.
My grin widens. I hold up my paper so she can see, and she huffs out a breath when she notices my bright red ninety-nine displayed the same way.
“One freaking point,” she mutters.
“Why don’t you give me your number, and we can meet up later? I’ll tutor you.”
“Whatever. You better spend less time chasing the ladies and more time with your head in your book. I’m taking the highest grade.”
“So testy,” I mock.
“Why don’t the two of you just fuck and get it over with,” my best friend, Lincoln, says.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see that he, too, has moved seats so that he can hear my conversation with Charlotte.
“Not happening.” Charlotte’s practically seething. She turns around to face the front of the room, and I hold my fist out for Lincoln to knock.
“You really do get off on pissing her off, don’t you?”
I shrug. “She makes it easy. It’s not my fault she thinks she’s better than everyone else. The last time I checked, we all put our pants on the same way.”
Charlotte’s shoulders stiffen, and I know I should feel bad for her hearing me, but I don’t. When she slowly turns, there’s a look in her eyes that I’ve never seen before.
“You know nothing about me, Spencer. Nothing. Some of us don’t get to live off Mommy and Daddy’s money without a care in the world.” She turns back around, packs up her things, and slings her backpack over her shoulder. “Keep my name out of your mouth, and I’ll do my best to stay away from you.” She stalks out of class, even though there are five minutes left, and that’s a very non-Charlotte thing for her to do.
“You did it this time, bro.” Lincoln laughs.
The professor dismisses us, and I’m not going to lie. I look for her for the rest of the day. By the time I’m in bed later that night, I’ve pushed thoughts of Charlotte and her little speech into the back of my mind. She was just spouting off. That’s what I tell myself as I let sleep claim me.
CHAPTER
ONE
Charlotte
I can’t believe that this day is finally here. In forty-eight hours, my little sister will be a married woman. While this is a happy occasion, I’m also so incredibly sad that our parents aren’t here to see it happen. It’s been ten years since we lost them, and although I manage their loss a little better each day, there’s still a gaping hole in my heart. I miss them so much, and as we pull up to the beautiful Belisa Beach Resort in Florida, where my sister will start the next chapter of her life, that hole feels even more hollow than ever before.
“Wow, this place is incredible,” Adeline, my sister's best friend, says as we exit the car.
“Right?” I agree with her.
The Belisa Beach Resort is oceanfront, and the views are absolutely stunning. I hope we’ll manage to have a little bit of downtime so I can sit and enjoy the view. Maybe I’ll get up early tomorrow, before the craziness of the day starts, and spend a few hours watching the sunrise on the beach or even the sunset after the rehearsal dinner. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to do both. Sure, I live near the ocean, but my job is so damn hectic, I don’t have the time that I’d like to be able to just stop and enjoy it.
“What’s first on the agenda?” Adeline asks.
“Today, nothing,” my sister Audrey replies. “I thought we could maybe have dinner when everyone finally gets here, and then tomorrow we have our spa day, the rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner, and then Saturday, I say ‘I do.’” She holds up her left hand and wiggles her sparkling diamond engagement ring. “I’m getting married!” she squeals and rushes me.
I hug her tight before releasing her, and she does the same with Adeline.
While we wait in line to check in, I send the best man and the bane of my existence, Spencer Pennington, a text message.
Me: Did you bring the rings?
Spencer: Wait? I thought you were bringing the rings.
I know he’s just trying to rile me up. That’s what Spencer does best. He’s done it since the day we met freshman year at Clemson. How unlucky am I that my little sister met and fell in love with his best friend, Lincoln? Of all the men in the world, she had to fall in love with the best friend of my college rival.