Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 153544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
Creigh already opened his container, and the smell wafts through the air. Ava swallows. “It’s our house. The least you can do is pay up for interrupting our night.”
“I’ll pay up in money, but not fish and chips. Now, say, please, your lordship.”
“Go wank a horse, your lordship.” Ava glares.
He makes an error sound like this is a game show. “You have two more tries.”
“Just give me that.” Cecily snatches a container and Ava jumps on his back to stop him from fighting.
“Cray Cray, save me from these crazy cougars!”
My cousin, however, has zero interest in his environment when he’s eating. His whole attention is on devouring the chips.
Bran and I laugh as we begin to eat, too. Or I do. Bran puts his down and starts sketching.
Some would assume he’d sketch them, but since he doesn’t do humans, he translates the scene into a chaos of lines and shades of gray.
“That’s insanely beautiful. Please tell me you have social media I can follow.”
Both Bran and I glance back to find Annika staring down on his sketch. The smile on her face is so big that it’s contagious.
She’s wearing a purple leotard over tights, probably having come out in the middle of practicing.
“Hi, I’m Annika. You must be Glyn’s brother. She talks about you all the time. Actually, no, she’s not the talkative type. Ava does, though.”
“I’m Brandon.”
“Nice to meet you.” She retrieves her phone. “What’s your IG? TikTok? Snap? WeChat? WhatsApp?”
“I only have IG.”
“Oh. That’s fine,” she chatters happily and fawns over the work he’s posted online.
Something that makes Bran happy—so happy that I can feel the joyful energy radiating off him. He’s definitely not bothered by Annika’s hyper energy.
“Why, hello there.” Remi shoos both Ava and Cecily and slides to Anni’s side. “Am I dreaming or have I stumbled upon an angel with an American accent?”
All of us, except for Creigh, cringe.
Anni chuckles. “You’re so sweet!”
“I prefer hot, but we can go with sweet for now. I’m Remington. Son of a lord and grandson of an earl and currently holding a lordship title. One hundred and ninety-five in the line to the throne of the commonwealth and have the perfect looks and wealth to go with it.”
“Wow, that's impressive. I’m Annika. No royalty, though.”
“She’s mafia royalty,” Cecily waltzes to her side, holding a container, and Ava occupies her other side. “Stay away from her.”
“You’re so beautiful and pure, and I have to warn you away from this den of vipers, Anni.”
The three of them start arguing again, and Annika finds her way to Creighton’s side. “Hi there.”
He doesn’t reply since he’s eating. Creigh takes that seriously.
Super seriously.
“I’m Annika. You are?”
No response. It’s like she’s not standing in front of him. So she waves her hand, and when he doesn’t show a sign of recognition, I expect her to give up. That’s what most people do.
However, Annika grins and sits beside him. “This dish must be so delicious if you’re this engrossed in it. Can I have a bite?”
“Get your own,” he mumbles after swallowing.
“I can’t really eat the whole plate. It looks fried, so a bite would do.”
“No,” he says point-blank.
“Just a little—” One second, she’s reaching for his container, and the next, he’s pinning her against the back of the sofa by her collarbone with one arm as he continues eating with the other.
“I said, no.”
“Okay.” Her smile falters. “Can you let me go?”
“I don’t trust you not to come after my food again, so you have to either stay in this position or leave.”
“Got it.”
She actually remains still, watching him the whole time.
“Cray Cray!” Remi shrieks and pulls Anni from beneath his hold. “What are you doing being rude to our American angel on the first meeting? Didn’t I teach you manners?”
“It’s okay.” Anni laughs. “I think he doesn’t like people coming after his food.”
“Yeah, he’s weird like that.” Remi pushes a container her way. “You can have this one.”
“What’s it called?”
We all stare at her dumbfounded and even Creighton pffts between bites.
She stares at him. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“She’s American, guys,” Ava tells us.
“Yeah,” I echo.
“Yeah, American,” Cecily says as if it’s an insult.
“I’m actually half Russian.” Annika stares between us with an awkward smile.
“It’s fish and chips, love,” Remi starts. “It’s like the national English dish, the revolution of the modern era and the bringer of joy. Even my lordship likes this simple working-class dish more than shagging. Okay, maybe they’re on the same level. Look, even picky Glyn is eating.”
“I’m not picky.” I glare while munching on a chip. “Don’t make me take Ava and Cecily's side and kick you out.”
“Trying is free. Succeeding isn’t, peasant.”
I’m ready to go at his throat, but my phone vibrates. “You just hold on, Remi.”
I let a chip hang between my lips and fish out my phone.