Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"Enjoy it?"
I drop my hands to my lap, shocked at Shelby's suggestion. Out of everyone at the table, she's the last one I expected to take this in stride. Honestly, I kind of expected her to freak out a little bit. She knows how much I've always loved Crue, but she's my big sister. She's overprotective by default. Maybe the fact that she's falling in love in her so-not-fake relationship has mellowed her out. Or maybe it's the other stuff that's mellowing her out. Whatever it is, I'll take it.
She gives me a tiny, encouraging smile. "I may have talked to him yesterday after you guys hung out," she says, not in the least ashamed or apologetic. "He had hearts in his eyes over you."
"Clearly," Brielle whispers. "He woke up a judge."
"And a jeweler," Resa, Dani, and Chastity say at the same time and then crack up.
I choose to ignore them, focusing on my sister. "You talked to him?"
"Talked. Threatened. Same difference." She shrugs, which makes me laugh.
Of course she threatened him. I can't believe he didn't mention it, though.
"My point is, he's crazy about you, so stop overthinking and let him be crazy about you."
"Yeah, but what if…?"
"What if what?"
"Nothing. Never mind." I shake my head, pasting a bright smile on my face. "I'm just not thinking clearly."
Shelby scrutinizes my expression, hers full of understanding as she reaches for my hand. "There isn't a single person in your life who has ever regretted knowing and loving you. He won't either."
"She's right," Dani says, empathy in her deep green eyes. "I haven't known you long, and I already love you."
"You're very loveable," Resa agrees.
"Falling for someone famous is terrifying," Dani continues, "but you owe it to yourself to give this a chance anyway, Ireland. You'll always regret it if you don't."
She's right. I know she is. But I'm not afraid of loving Crue. I've done that from afar for most of my life. It's the losing him part that scares me. He's barely even mine, and I already know it'll break my heart if he changes his mind. How much worse will it feel if he decides in a week or two weeks or two months from now that marrying me twelve hours after meeting me was a terrible idea?
People say it's better to have loved and lost, but I don’t think those people ever met Crue Blake. If they had, I don't think they'd be singing that same song.
"Give it a chance before you do anything rash," Brielle says and then giggles. "Well, before you do anything else rash."
"I'll think about it," I say.
"Don't think. Do!" Brielle cries, making me smile. "This is basically your dream come to life. Don't you dare get all crazy pants now. Grab that rockstar by the–"
Resa slaps her hand over Brielle's mouth, silencing her before she can finish whatever suggestion she was going to make. I kind of want to know now, though. I bet it was dirty.
"Okay! Okay!" I laugh. "I'll stop overthinking and freaking out and enjoy the ride. But if he breaks my heart, I'm never talking to any of you ever again."
At least Daisy and Luna aren't here yet, so I'll still be able to talk to them if this ends badly. Crap. I still have to fill them in on the details. They're going to lose their minds.
"You can't quit us. You love us," Chastity teases.
"You're right. I do love you." I pause. "If Crue asks, I'm still mad at him, though."
"Wait. Why are you mad at Crue? You skipped that part," Resa says, sipping her water.
"Uh, because he married me while I was drunk last night." My sister's gaze drifts to something over my shoulder as I talk, her lips twitching into a full-blown grin. "What kind of lunatic marries someone after twelve hours?"
"The one standing behind you," Shelby says.
"Ah, crap," I groan, spinning around in my seat to see Crue exactly where my sister said he was...standing behind my chair, looking like the world’s hottest grump.
"Wife," he growls, leaning down to kiss me. He doesn't even try to hide what he's doing. He just freaking kisses me right there in the middle of the restaurant. "I told you already, I'm not crazy. I'm crazy about you."
"Stop kissing me," I whisper-hiss. "It's illegal."
The girls hear me and laugh.
"Is it?" His lips quirk into a grin. "That's news to me."
"I mean, it's a bad idea. Anyone could see."
"You ashamed of me, sweet girl?" he asks, stroking my cheek.
"What? No. Why would you think that? You're basically the hottest man alive."
"Hotter than Henry Cavill?"
"Well, I mean..."
He growls, and I laugh.
"I'm just kidding. Henry definitely has you beat, Crue."
"Fucking Henry Cavill," he mutters, scowling, which is somehow adorable and sexy at the same time. He's been one of People's Sexiest Men. Surely he isn't really jealous of Henry Cavill? But when he presses his lips to my ear, I quickly realize that I might just be wrong about that.