Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Matthew clapped Jackson on the back. “You any good at shooting hoops?”
“Fair,” Jackson said, and then he and Matthew started playing a basketball game in which they had to get as many baskets as they could in a set amount of time.
“I’m glad you were able to come tonight,” Claire said, looping her arm through mine. “Let’s get something to drink.”
She led me over to the bar, but I just got a soda. It seemed smart to keep my wits about me. I didn’t want to slip up and call my supposed boyfriend by his real name instead of Reid. That would be bad—especially since Jeff and Tanya were here, too.
I looked back over my shoulder. Jackson looked like he was having fun playing against Matthew. It would be odd if the two became friends. Of course, after the wedding, he wouldn’t be seeing Jackson again. Neither would I. After all, it wasn’t like their regular videographer would be out of commission forever. Reid had told me that after their ten-day push, they’d usually collapse with exhaustion for a week or two, but then they’d get out there and find the next house they wanted to tackle.
Only next time, it would be without me.
“You can’t keep your eyes off him, can you?” Claire said with a grin.
“Apparently not.”
“He really is handsome. Where’d you find him again?”
“At my art class.”
She giggled. “He’s so hot he could’ve been a nude model for you to draw.”
I choked on the soda I’d just attempted to swallow, and Claire pounded me on the back.
“Get it together, Penny. You’ve got a gorgeous man in your life—it would be tragic to die drinking a soda.”
My eyes watered as I coughed. Finally, I managed to croak, “Yes, it would.”
“What would?”
We turned at the sound of a familiar voice, and my heart sank.
It was Tanya.
“Nothing,” Claire said. “Are you having fun?”
“Yes.” Tanya said it with as much enthusiasm as she could muster, perhaps in an attempt to convince me that her life was going so much better than mine. In truth, it probably was. She had a job. She had a working car. She had a boyfriend. But that boyfriend was Jeff, so that definitely didn’t count as a win in my book.
“Where’s Jeff?” Claire asked.
Tanya pointed toward the basketball game. “He’s going to play the winner.”
Crud. I exchanged a look with Claire, and then we headed over there, where Matthew and Jackson were still playing.
Jeff looked up as I arrived. “Hi Penny.”
“Hi.”
Jackson looked over at the sound of my name, and the ball he’d just thrown bounced off the rim but didn’t sink into the net.
“Your new man is four points ahead, so I guess I’ll be playing him next,” Jeff said. I didn’t like the smug look on his face.
Jackson was concentrating on the game again, but I still tried to catch his eye. I wanted more than anything for him to lose so that we could get as far away from my ex as possible.
“Beat him, Matthew!” Tanya shouted. Apparently, she wanted my supposed boyfriend to lose just as much as I did.
But he didn’t.
“Good game,” Matthew said, shaking Jackson’s hand.
“My turn,” Jeff said. “Ready for a real challenge?”
Jackson said yes, but then he met my eyes, and I shook my head. Part of me wanted Jackson to wipe the floor with Jeff, but a bigger part of me just wanted to get away from the man who’d treated me so badly.
“You promised we’d play the two-person trivia game next,” I said to Jackson.
My fake boyfriend went with the flow. “That’s right, I did. Maybe Matthew will play against you, Jeff.”
Matthew took one look at my expression and nodded enthusiastically. “Sure, I’d love another chance.” It was nice to know that my future cousin-in-law had my back.
Jackson put his arm around me as we walked over to the trivia area along with Claire. Tanya stayed behind to cheer on her man.
We settled at a bar-height table in front of a large trivia screen. Jackson pulled his stool close to mine and our legs were almost touching.
“I’m not much for trivia,” Claire said. “I’m going to get some food. Do you want anything?”
“I’m good,” Jackson said.
“What do they have?” I asked. I hadn’t been to this place since I was in high school.
“The fried mushrooms are really good. I can get a large basket for us to share.”
Jackson shook his head. “Why don’t you two split an order? I’m not a big fan of mushrooms.”
“Sure,” Claire said. “But would you like something—” She cut off mid-sentence.
“What’s wrong?” The way she was looking at Jackson worried me.
“You said you loved the mushroom risotto at the hotel yesterday,” she said to him.
I panicked. “He doesn’t like fried mushrooms. He’s very careful about what he eats.”
Claire’s eyes swept down Jackson’s toned body and back up again. “I can see that. Want a beer, at least?”