Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Shitshizzle. I have some mega explaining to do, and I have no idea where to start.
5
LEON
“Who’s that?”
I hear Darby’s brother—I think it’s her brother based on their familiarity with each other and the fact that she said it was her family that was there—ask from twenty feet away when they finally stop hugging. Hugging is overrated. My sister tries to hug me all the time. It’s appallingly nonsensical, but she often persists in doing it anyway, and I pretend I don’t actually like it. It’s a game she’s perfectly content to let me play.
Darby whirls around like she just remembered that her baggage and duffel are in the car. The baggage is me, obviously. I still have no idea why she was so keen on bringing me. Probably to punish me. She probably has an innate sense for things like this, knowing that I’d hate it, and this was part of my penance. Actually, no, she seems too sweet for that. Maybe she really didn’t think we could make this happen any other way. Then again, it’s always the sweet ones you have to watch out for.
Darby’s voice is soft and uncertain. “Nate…that’s my boss.”
“The asshole?” He doesn’t even bother muttering it under his breath.
“No! Just…just my boss. Not an asshole. I’ve never called him that, and I don’t even think it.”
“No, but he never gives you time off.”
“That’s because no one can take holidays their first year. I didn’t have any seniority. It wasn’t his fault.”
“Kind of standing right over here,” I mutter, kicking the grass with the tip of my shoe. My sister would die of shock and delight if she realized I was actually wearing the canvas-style things she gave me that are supposed to be kind of dressy but also not dressy. They have no laces, and they’re brown. They’re a bit of a puzzle to me.
Nate points at the car. “That’s a crazy car for coming out here. Down the grids? Really? Is that electric? There’s hardly any clearance under it. You’re lucky an errant tree root sticking out of the ground didn’t tear out the whole undercarriage.”
“Still right here.”
Darby and Nate ignore me completely. Normally I like being ignored, but my head is pounding, and I was looking forward to a dark room and a week of locking myself in said room and working on my laptop, surviving from the food stash in my suitcase like a marooned astronaut and purposely not having any fun, just to make a point. I was not planning on arriving at a cabin buzzing with life.
“Grandma and Grandpa are here too. We’re just staying until tomorrow.”
Oh, thank god.
Nate’s brow wrinkles like he can hear my thoughts. “How long are you going to be here?”
“For a week. It’s going to be so great!” Darby answers before I can say anything.
Nate’s obviously really shaken by that prospect, which makes two of us. “You’re staying alone with this guy for a week? Please tell me this isn’t some fucked-up work retreat thing that’s actually code for him taking advantage of you then lording it over you in some sick power trip because he’s your boss. I will end that douchecanoe if that’s what’s going on.”
Douchecanoe. I like that, actually, even if I’ve had just about enough. I can think of one way to either get myself out of this real fast or guarantee my ass getting locked in a dark room for the rest of the night, alone, because no one will want to talk to me. Certainly not Darby. It’s a dick move, but right now, with my head about to explode, I’m not above it.
I clear my throat. Darby freezes like she knows it’s coming while her brother eyes me down like he wants to tear me several new assholes with rusty lake life implements. “Is that any way to talk about your new brother-in-law?”
I don’t know who yelps louder. Darby or Nate.
“You—you married him?” Nate points a finger at me.
Oh joy, now his expression is entirely murderous. I’ve really done it this time. Sadly, I am not the least bit sorry.
“Fake married!” Darby hisses.
It’s dark out here in the yard since the car’s headlights finally shut off, and the light from the small log cabin’s windows only goes so far, but there is no mistaking how pissed she is. She looks extra pretty that way, with her cheeks stained pink and her chest heaving up and down. She looks dangerous. Exciting, wild, and enchanting. She’s no meek, mousy assistant, and she doesn’t look like the goddess who showed up at my house earlier today either, which I’m thankful for. What should I not be thankful for? All those thoughts I just had because they are totally wrong.
“How does one get fake married?” Nate’s eyes are bugging out, and the veins in his forearms are popping. He’s older than Darby and probably an inch taller than me, but he’s built wiry. He also probably didn’t have the upbringing I had to make him tough. Not that I’d put him in a fight if he wanted to kick my ass at the moment. I’d actually happily let him knock me into oblivion if it helped the shit storm of pain raging in my brain.