Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Our mom hasn’t dated in all these years, as far as I know, so it’s odd to see her interested in someone. Sadie said Adam’s dad is attractive for an older man, but it probably doesn’t hurt that he’s wealthy. Still … Adam’s going to be her son-in-law. If Mom and Mr. Hargrove were to get married, Sadie and Adam would be step-siblings, and that reminds me of another smutty book Ana was reading recently.
“Do you think he’ll like the hairstyle I have planned?” Mom asks Sadie, who slaps a seed packet down on the pile with a bit too much force.
“I honestly have no idea. How would I possibly know that?”
Mom stiffens, surprised by Sadie’s outburst. “I don’t know. I just want everything to be up to his standards.”
It’s as though Mom is planning a party honoring Mr. Hargrove, and I want to remind her that the celebration is for Sadie and Adam, but I keep my mouth shut. It won’t be long, and this will all be over.
CHAPTER 17
CALLIE
“Where’s your lingerie?” Ana is digging through my suitcase, tossing socks and pajamas aside as she hunts.
“Why would I pack lingerie?”
She holds up my blue one-piece bathing suit. “What is this? My grandma wears sexier swimsuits than this.”
I pull it out of her hands and tuck it back into the case. “I don’t need sexy clothes, Ana. As you’re aware, my dates are fake, and there are two of them. Nothing’s going to be happening.”
She grabs my shoulders, squaring me to her and giving me a shake. “Callie, you’re not making sense. You’re going to a lux resort with two very lux men. Twins! For the love of all that’s horny, do not waste this opportunity.”
I just stand there, trying to be patient but failing. “Please, Marissa, talk some sense into her.”
My other roommate is sitting on my bed, straightening out the things Ana disrupted in my suitcase. “Sorry, Callie. I’m with Ana on this one. You have a pretty sweet opportunity in your hands.”
Exasperated, I look between the two of them. “Even if I wanted something to happen with one of the men—which I don’t—both of them are going to be staying in my room. There won’t be any privacy.”
It’s been several days since I told Marissa and Ana about my fake dates for the wedding, and their excitement still hasn’t worn off.
Now that the day has come to check in at the resort, Ana, particularly, is in a frenzy. “You know how it is with twins,” she says. “They like the same things. They work together really well, if you get my meaning. A girl could always enjoy an extra set of hands, an extra mouth …”
“Ana, please stop.”
Marissa twists to look at me as I pace around the room. “Like you said, Callie, it’s awfully strange how Max said he wanted to go to a beach resort when he’s already literally living at the beach. I think it was an excuse to spend time with you.”
“If he wanted to spend time with me, why did he insist on his brother coming along?”
Ana starts to open her mouth but I hold out a hand. “Nope! Ana, you are losing your grip on what’s real life and what’s fiction. There isn’t going to be a two-way happening, much less a three-way.”
As Ana pouts, Marissa gets up to go to my closet. “Still, Callie, you could stand to wear some cuter clothes. What about your silky pink PJ set?”
“It’s awfully thin and clingy. I’d have to wear a bra under it.”
Ana throws her hands up and heads for the door. “I give up! This girl is beyond hope.”
Marissa grins and shakes her head indulgently as Ana leaves my room. “How about your red bikini, Callie? At least take it along so you’ll have options. And your pink pajamas.”
Because it’s easier than arguing, and because there’s extra room in my suitcase, I take Marissa’s recommendations.
She adds two bikinis, the pink pajamas, and a couple of different options for the pre-wedding events. I’ve been living my life in either yoga clothes or my sandwich shop polo, so I appreciate her help with the outfits, but I intend to ignore the skimpy PJ set in favor of the more modest cotton ones I packed.
My dresses for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding are already hanging on my door. When I gather everything together and take it out to the living room to set it by the door, I find Ana waiting for me.
"Do you have a few minutes to talk, Callie?" Her serious tone stops me in my tracks.
"Yeah. Max won't be here for at least fifteen minutes."
After I set my bags down and take a seat across from her, Ana leans in. “We haven’t known each other very long, and I don’t know much about your past, but I can tell you were hurt pretty badly and you’ve closed yourself off.”