Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
According to Dad, she deserves a big wedding—the wedding of her dreams—meaning we have to play out this embarrassing joke in front of half the town.
I’m in the middle of cutting off a square of lasagna when quick, light footsteps ring out in the hall. “Here she is,” Dad announces, wearing a broad smile that makes me feel sorry for him.
The dumb bastard.
When Elliana scurries into the room, it’s almost enough to make me lose my appetite. There I was, thinking the sloppy, shapeless clothes she wore earlier had to do with her being comfortable during the move.
Now she’s changed into something different, but still just as lumpy and oversized, with long sleeves that cover her hands. It’s eighty degrees outside, and she’s wearing a long-sleeve sweater.
That’s not the worst part. I wish I could keep myself from studying her like she’s a subject in school, but I can’t help myself. Everything I see makes me want to find something else to hate.
She wears huge glasses with thick, black frames that are way too big for her face and keep sliding down her button nose. She shoves them up over her brown eyes, which only look bigger behind her lenses. Like they’re going to swallow up her face.
Her brown hair hangs limp past her shoulder blades. Could she at least try to do something with it? Does she even bother to brush it?
“Sorry.” She barely mumbles it as she rushes into the room with her head down, shoulders up around her ears like she’s waiting for an attack, before dropping into the chair across from mine without another word. Without looking at any of us.
“I’m afraid you’re not making a very good first impression on your new family,” Irene tells her. There’s lightness in her voice, yeah, but there’s a vein of anger running underneath it.
Good. Not that I like Irene. Not that I want her here. But she needs to shake a little sense into her stuck-up daughter.
No big surprise that Dad would try to swoop in and defend her. “Now, now,” he murmurs, chuckling warmly. The generous host. The happy family man who’s finally getting laid on the regular by a woman whose pussy must be lined with gold if he’s willing to put up with her. “I’m sure Elliana is tired after such a long day. And we don’t normally adhere to a strict dinnertime around here anyway,” he tells her, winking like they’re in on the same joke now.
There is definitely a joke going on around here, but it’s not very funny.
And what does the stuck-up little bitch do? She barely bothers to look at him before muttering, “Thank you, but I should’ve been on time.”
“Do you like your room?” I can’t help but stare at her from across the table and challenge her to say something—anything. She wants to play games? She wants to pretend I’m not here? She’s going to find out pretty quick that’s not how it works. “I hope it’s big enough for you.”
After a few silent moments pass, Irene clears her throat loudly. “Your brother is talking to you.”
I want to correct her and tell her that Elliana’s brother is not talking to her—because I am not her brother—but it’s actually more fun to sit here and watch the mousy little thing squirm.
“I just want to make sure she has everything she needs,” I continue, staring daggers at her but doing everything I can to hide it. At least from the adults, who can’t stop giving each other sex eyes long enough to pay attention.
I might as well not be here. Instead of responding the way any normal, decent person would, she only lifts a shoulder under that stupid sweater before using the spatula to cut off a big slab of lasagna. It’s almost as big as mine, and I filled my plate.
“Don’t forget, you need to look good as my Maid of Honor.” Irene’s wide smile goes brittle as she stares at her daughter, who shrinks down even further. I didn’t think it was possible. She’s practically under the table.
“Oh, please.” Dad chuckles. “I wish I still had that youthful metabolism. I used to be able to eat anything and everything in front of me, and I never gained an ounce. Those were the days…”
“You humble braggart.” Irene giggles. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you and Carter are brothers.”
They’re both too busy laughing to notice what I do. Elliana rolls her eyes at her plate and lets out a soft sigh before cutting into her lasagna, taking half and pushing it to one side of her plate, then taking a bite of what’s left.
Whatever. She shouldn’t have been so greedy, anyway.
“You know what I can’t wait for?” Dad practically bats his own eyelashes the way Irene does. “Holidays. I can’t wait to celebrate our first holiday as one big family. It’s been so long since I’ve had a real family celebration.”