Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Tell me it didn’t look like this when you were a teenager.”
She laughs and comes back into view. “Are you kidding? This mess? My father would’ve killed me if my room was like this when I was that age.”
“Brice, your room is immaculate right now. How much neater could it get?”
“Are you crazy?” She frowns, chewing on her lip. “Anyway, yeah, it’s always been pretty much this way.”
“You need to learn how to make a mess.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your room looks like a mortuary. God, I’ve seen morgues that feel more like home than your bedroom.”
“Okay, you asshole, what’s your room look like? Clothes thrown all over? Dirty dishes on the nightstand?”
“Probably.” I can’t remember how I left my room back in my apartment in Old City, Philadelphia, but she’s not far off.
“We’re going to have some long conversations about appropriate levels of personal hygiene, you do know that, right?”
“And I can’t wait,” I say quietly as another excited jolt churns in my stomach. “I’m heading back to Philadelphia to tie up some loose ends, but I’ll be back in a week. I want you to get yourself settled, break the news to your friends, and we’ll start drafting wedding invitations.”
“Right. A wedding.”
“We’re getting married in a month, filthy girl. Don’t forget.”
“I don’t think I could. And stop calling me that.”
I hang up and shove my phone in my pocket.
In two weeks, this will be our home. Me and my Brice. No matter how incompatible we might be, no matter how distasteful she finds everything I do, we’re going to be together.
And I’m going to make her love being my wife. Regardless of whether she loves me.
Chapter 9
Brice
“This is happening too fast,” Cassidy says, crossing her legs on the couch, a massive glass of wine clutched between her hands. “And I don’t just mean it’s going to be such a pain in the ass to find a roommate as neat as you are.”
“But you do mean that a little bit.”
She sighs and nods. “You vacuum like nobody I’ve ever met before.”
“You’ll find someone new to take over my lease, don’t worry. Maybe they won’t do the cooking and cleaning and—hey, now that I think about it, have I basically been your housewife?”
“Now you’re seeing it? Sweetie, we’ve been practically common-law married for a while now and this is like getting a divorce for me. I’m heartbroken, Brice.”
“Did we sign a prenup? Can I sue you for alimony?”
“Please, we both know you’re the breadwinner.”
“Just because my family’s rich doesn’t mean I am.”
She rolls her eyes. “Hon, that is some Grade-A Bullshit.”
I laugh and lean against her. Cassidy grins back and we lapse into silence as we both take big drinks.
I’m going to miss this so much it’s like an ache in my chest. Ever since I moved back to Texas after Blackwoods and was put in touch with Cassidy by some old friends from high school, she’s been the most consistent thing in my life. We’ve been living together for years now, and although it was basically total luck, we happen to fit together perfectly. She’s a little bit messier than me, but she doesn’t mind cleaning the bathrooms, while I do the cooking and the washing up and tidy the common areas. We keep to ourselves when we want but mostly we hang out together in the living room and watch shows and talk about our lives and laugh. I never actually knew I could have a friend like this.
And now it’s going away. Living with Cassidy has been one of the best things in my life, but I’m supposed to give it up and move in with Carmine, a guy I don’t like at all. It’s not fair, not even remotely fair, and yet it’s happening.
“Tell me about the new house at least,” she says, trying to sound chipper. “Did he give you a tour?”
“Briefly during a video call, but I got a bunch of pictures from the realtor. Apparently, the Arc family is selling it?”
Cassidy’s eyebrows raise. “As in, Bradford Arc’s family? The rich cattle ranchers?”
“I don’t think they’re actually cattle ranchers anymore, but yeah, that’s them. And he prefers to go by Ford. I’m pretty sure they own barbecue restaurants now.”
“Weird way to stay ultra-rich.”
“Well, it’s barbecue places on the side, but mostly hedge funds.”
“Now that makes more sense. How’d you end up in a former Arc house?”
“Apparently, Ford and Carmine are friends.”
Cassidy laughs and shakes her head. She’s a couple years older than me and didn’t go to Blackwoods, but she’s from a family similar to mine, and she knows that whole elite blue-blood world. The Arc family is notorious in those circles: possibly the richest of them all but strangely enigmatic and tight-knit. I didn’t get to know Ford at all when I was at Blackwoods, but I heard plenty of other girls did. Which makes sense—he’s good looking, has a perfect name, and his family is richer than most small countries. There are a lot of people that would sleep with him on the off chance it leads to something more.