Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
There was no one at the back — at least, no one close enough that I could tell. I had braced myself for photographs, for flashes and people screaming at us. Instead, it had been completely silent, and once we piled in the car, the only sound was the labored breathing from all four of us.
“I don’t think anyone got anything,” Clay said, peeking out the tinted windows as the driver took off. He immediately turned to Giana, folding her hands in his and searching her eyes. “Are you okay?”
She grinned at him before kissing his knuckles. “Oh stop, I’m fine, you barbarian.”
She dropped their hands to rest on her stomach, pressing Clay’s palms flat against the small bump there, and he sighed with relief.
They pressed their foreheads together, closing their eyes, and I tore my gaze away.
Which left me looking up at Kyle.
His lips were pinched shut, his brow furrowed, eyes assessing me. “I’m so sorry, Madelyn. We… I didn’t think…”
I squeezed his hand. “I’m okay.”
He nodded, his jaw tight.
Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he pulled me under his arm and kissed my temple, his next exhale warming my skin.
I tried not to overanalyze the media aspect too much as we drove across town, Giana and Clay finally letting go of each other and striking up conversation. But I couldn’t help but spiral.
If someone got a picture of us together…
I shivered even at the thought. What would happen? What would my parents say? Would I lose all my privacy? Would they try to bother Sebastian?
The thought made my stomach tighten, but not as much as the next one that crossed my mind.
What would Marshall do?
I swallowed, hating that I was afraid of him. I could handle myself, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t still scared.
The rehearsal dinner was at a beautiful restaurant in the middle of the city. There didn’t seem to be any paparazzi when we arrived, but Giana still asked the driver to take us around to the back. I could tell she was in public relations from the way she calmly handled everything, like she’d anticipated every possible scenario and was now enacting her second or third backup plan with ease.
We were greeted by the staff, who led us to the rooftop location of the event.
I promptly lost the ability to breathe when we entered.
It was an open terrace, half of it under a sheltered roof, and the rest open air. Edison lights were strung from one corner to the other, and candles flickered on every cocktail table in sight. Cream linens and soft piano music coming from a musician in the corner helped set the ambiance, but not as much as the backdrop.
The sun setting behind the Rocky Mountains, Denver illuminating slowly with lights flickering on more and more as the sky grew darker.
I didn’t realize I’d walked straight out to the railing until my fingers curled around the banister, and I gaped at the brazen gold of the setting sun against the cool blue of dusk rushing in on its heels.
It was beautiful.
And for some reason, it made my eyes water.
I felt completely out of control of my emotions. This one day — no — the last two weeks had been so much… I didn’t know how to sort through it all.
Kyle coming back into my life, everything going on with Marshall, then the deal, shopping, Kyle meeting Sebastian, Kyle defending me against Marshall, the plane ride, the fake kissing and touching that felt more real than I’d ever admit out loud, the hotel room, the way he saw what I needed without me saying a word…
My heart started racing the more I thought about it all, and then, there was a warm, steady hand at the small of my back again.
“Wow,” Kyle breathed, sliding up next to me with his eyes on the sunset. His arm snaked around me, fingers curling on my hip and holding me close.
I shut my eyes against the panic.
When I opened them again, Kyle was smiling at the mountains. He looked at me next, and that smile faltered.
He looked around us like he wanted to make sure no one was watching, and then he leaned down, lowering his voice.
“We can leave. We can go right now. I’ll—”
I kissed him.
I silenced whatever words he was going to offer next with my arms sliding up around his neck, pulling his mouth down to mine.
He stiffened only for a split second before he was gripping me to him, both of us inhaling the kiss like it was everything we needed.
I told myself I did it for show.
I told myself I was just holding up my end of the bargain.
And I swore to myself it wasn’t because, in that moment of panic, I knew kissing him would make me feel calm again.