Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“Fisher doesn’t need someone to match his energy,” I mumble to myself, because no one is listening.
“We could not make it obvious and put her between Fisher and Worth,” Efa says. “Have you showed her Fisher’s Instagram?”
“No,” says Jules. “Sophia would be on to me right away. And she hates being set up. She says it always ends in disaster.”
I look pointedly at Jules and raise my eyebrows.
“Have some faith,” she says to me.
More voices at the door switch Jules and Efa into warp speed as they make the final changes to the place cards and then start talking like they weren’t doing something to feel guilty about.
“Sophia!” I say, trying to sound natural and not like she’s just walked into Love Island, Manhattan edition.
“Leo,” she says, suspicion in her voice.
I wrap her in a big hug, and then go and grab the tray of mimosas that I’ve completely forgotten about. Sophia’s been a fantastic friend to Jules and that puts her at the top of my Christmas card list. I’d like her to meet someone. I’d also like to find my friends their soul mates. They deserve them. Although, the jury’s out on whether Fisher really deserves a beautiful, kind, loyal girl in his life. He’s broken more than his fair share of hearts over the years.
As I’m handing out drinks, everyone else arrives and Jules makes the introductions. I watch her beaming at my friends with real affection and wonder how I got so lucky. God, I would love Worth, Fisher, Jack, and Byron to have what I have, but it’s so fucking rare. Like a one-in-a-billion chance that they could be as happy as Jules and me. I’m not sure it’s even worth them trying.
Jules guides everyone to their seats and then asks Fisher what he’s been working on. She and I sit next to each other, opposite Sophia and Fisher.
Sophia narrows her eyes at Jules, watching her intently, clearly suspicious. When Fisher finishes what he’s saying, she turns to me. “Are you really going to wait two years for that rooftop to be ready to marry this girl?” That’s a good way to change the subject and distract everyone.
“Good point,” Worth says. “I vote Leo will do anything Jules wants.”
“Sounds like a sensible man,” Bennett says.
“I definitely want to celebrate at the rooftop,” Jules says. We’ve had this conversation at least eighty times since we picked out her second ring—the real ring.
“Right, but we can do that for our anniversary, or we can pick another reason,” I say.
“Yeah,” she says. “I agree. We don’t have to get married up there. I don’t want a big fuss or anything. I don’t want it to be… like a business function. I think if we have a big wedding, you’re going to feel obligated to invite people for business reasons.”
“You need to have a destination wedding,” Worth says. “That solves that problem.”
“Not really,” Sophia replies. “People still invite people to destination weddings.”
“An impromptu destination wedding,” Fisher says.
“Vegas,” everyone around the table choruses.
Bennett looks at his watch. “I could have a plane ready for us in an hour.”
My heart begins to race, and I grab Jules’ hand. “We could do that. Then we’d be married.”
“My mom would kill me.”
“No she wouldn’t,” Sophia says. “So long as you didn’t tell her and had a small, town hall ceremony when you got back.”
A grin spreads across my face. I really like the idea of being married to Jules by the end of the day. I’m impatient. Being engaged is too easy to fake. I want to be her husband.
“I don’t have a dress,” she says. “I haven’t even started to look. Even though I don’t want a big wedding, I do want a pretty dress.”
I try not to show my disappointment. I want her to have the wedding she wants. So we should wait.
The table falls silent, until Jules says, “I really like brunch. We should make it a regular thing. I know you guys have your Monday nights, but brunch is a nice couple-of-times-a-month supplement.”
There’s a rumble of agreement around the table.
“In fact,” she continues, “we could host again this time next week. And you never know, someone might bring up an impromptu Vegas wedding. And by then, I might have found a dress.”
I turn my head to look at Jules, to make sure I’m picking up on her fairly obvious hints that she’s going to marry me next weekend. She beams at me, and I cup her head in my hand and press a kiss onto her lips.
“I’ll arrange the jet,” Bennett says.
“I’m clearing my week so I can help with everything,” Efa says. “I know some really cool places with beautiful dresses.”
“Me too,” Sophia says. “Although I’m imagining Efa knows better places.”
Jules squeezes my hand under the table. And I kiss the side of her head.