Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Harley crosses his arms. “I hate you all.”
“They have a point,” Brix says. “After this tour, we’re going on vacation, and I bet you a million dollars you can’t go a single day without your phone or talking business.”
“Challenge thrown, big guy. Also, you don’t have a million dollars, so what do I get if you lose?”
“Me? For the rest of your life?”
“Well, that kind of feels like an unfair bet.” Harley pouts.
“Are you saying I’m not worth a million dollars?”
Harley smirks. “I really want to be a smartass here, but no, I need to say this. You’re worth a lot more than that.”
Brix narrows his eyes. “At least a million and one dollar, right?”
“Exactly.”
Everyone on the plane laughs, but Harley and Brix’s bet reminds me of Jordan and myself and how this all began.
One simple bet changed my entire life, and I have Jordan to thank for it.
“Where are we going?” Jordan asks when he realizes I’m not heading toward his apartment or to Denver’s.
It has been so fucking hard to keep this surprise a secret, especially since Jordan and I have been basically inseparable since the tour ended.
We spent two weeks in Cabo, enjoying each other over and over again and forgetting about the future, our work, or what else was going on, but now we’re back.
We have meetings scheduled with writers, producers, and studios, and it’s not long until Faking It comes out in theaters. We’re going to be busier than we possibly ever have been, which is exactly why I’ve been covertly doing something that will mean we don’t have to miss each other when we’re working.
“Seriously, where are we going?” Jordan asks again.
“You’re the most impatient person I know.”
“You pronounced important wrong.”
He’s that too, which is what this is all about. I want to come home to him, spend my life with him, and I want to build a future with him.
There will be times we’ll be apart, like when we’re shooting on location, but at the end of the day, I want Jordan Brooks to be my home.
Eleven is my family, but Jordan is my everything.
When I pull into a quiet street and drive up the hilly road, landing at a gated house, Jordan frowns at me.
“Who’s house is this?”
I use the clicker to open the gate and then grin at him.
“Did you … did you finally get yourself a place? I have to say, I’m kind of relieved. Being a boy band gazillionaire and having roommates was becoming weird.”
I snort. “Not a gazillionaire. But you’re half right.”
“No, no, I think you living with Mason and Denver was becoming creepy. I was beginning to wonder when you were going to ask to swing with them. I had my answer all prepared.”
“What answer would that be?” I hold up my hand. “And choose wisely, or I might take back your surprise.”
“That you’re the only man for me. Duh.” He smiles innocently.
“Liar.”
“Okay, I was going to make a joke about needing to wash my asshole first, but come to think of it, even the joke makes me feel weird. Which … is weird in general. Because I’m used to wanting an open relationship. It’s how I’ve protected myself in the past. I never believed anyone could be just mine, so I reinforced that theory by encouraging people to go elsewhere. But with you …”
I reach over and squeeze his leg as I navigate the car up the long drive. “I don’t want to be with anyone else.”
“I don’t want you to be either.”
I park out front. “Good. Because I bought you something.” I get out of the car and meet Jordan around at the hood.
He still looks confused, but he’s slowly catching on. He glances between the house and me.
That’s when I hold up the key.
“Me … You … bought …”
“Remember when you bet me ten million dollars that Marcus Talon would win another Super Bowl?”
“And then he won the very next one? Yeah, I remember rubbing it in your face.”
“I’m paying up. I bought this house for me but also for you. It’s ours. If you want it.”
He looks up at the massive mansion again, the hard lines and box shape. “I haven’t even seen inside yet, and I love it.” He turns to me. “I love you.”
“You’ll move in with me?”
“Fuck yes. I have to call Ash, and—”
I take his hand. “Why don’t you wait until you see inside first?”
While we were on tour with Eleven, I met Ash and Max briefly one night when they came to the hotel room before I needed to be at sound check, but I knew Jordan would want to see them for this.
So I flew them here.
As soon as we open the door, the two of them are there with smiles on their faces.
Jordan barely acknowledges them. “Are these marble floors? Check out the chandelier!”