Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
“She is your mother,” he said gently. “She raised you for eighteen years and he raised you part-time for four years courtesy of a boarding school. I wouldn’t expect to win that argument against her either.”
“He won the argument to put me in that boarding school,” I snapped. “Why shouldn’t he win this one?”
Wilder didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. My internal voice berated me on its own.
Sighing, I said, “I didn’t mean that. I know it’s not the same thing. Mom is trying to protect me from the place and the people who took Winter. If I’m honest, she was trying to protect me when she sent me to France too. If I was anyone else’s stepdaughter, crashing that boat would’ve gotten me a record, probation, and a label. I almost sent my life off track to impress...” I swept the quad. “People like this.
“Regalia wasn’t good for me. France was. I’m glad that I left... but I hate that I wasn’t here.”
Wilder closed over my hand, squeezing my fingers. “I understand.”
“I know,” I whispered. “Thank you.”
Wilder turned my palm up, pressing ours together as he slowly, deliberately, spread my fingers and laced his through. My heart thumped in my ears.
I swallowed roughly. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Haven’t you learned by now?”
“You’re free to blow the question off. Though, I’m curious how often you date when you refuse to hug a girl for more than five seconds?” I cocked a brow. “I’m starting to think there’s a reason you’ve got so many computers in that room.”
“They’re queued up to play your videos every night.”
I choked on a swallow. “Don’t tease me with your lies, O’Rourke!”
He busted up. “Sorry. I’ll answer the question you’re dancing around. I don’t date. No woman has passed the required background checks. But I’m not a virgin if that’s what you’re thinking. I get more ass than my boys Rafael and Lucien combined—if you’ll excuse my crudeness.”
My mouth hung open.
“It’s all of this.” Wilder waved a hand over all of him. “Girls say I look like Chad Michael Murray. I don’t see it, to be honest.”
“You’re lying,” I blurted. “Exaggerating. You never leave your room. What ass are you chasing?”
Wilder winked. “Just ’cause the door’s locked, doesn’t mean I’m on the other side.”
Acid dripped down my throat. “Who?” I hissed. “Whose ass? Who are you hooking up with?” While you’re flirting with me.
“A gentleman never tells.”
“A gentleman gets his head dunked in this fountain!”
Wilder laughed so hard he wheezed, falling over onto my lap. “Whew, someone’s jealous.”
Oh yeah, he’s going in that water. I’ll let him up in an hour.
My phone buzzed. I got it out from under him and tapped the message.
Katie: Get his head from between your legs and get in the car. Five seconds or I’m leaving without you.
I glanced around and spotted Katie’s car and driver waiting at the curb. “This isn’t over.”
Wilder mock shuddered, chewing on his nails like he was oh so scared. He was a second away from getting on the list.
I left the howling jackass behind and slid in the back seat with Katie. She had my phone out of my hand and a drink in it before I clicked the seat belt. “Cheers, Lu-Lu.” She clinked her glass with mine.
“What are we celebrating?”
“Your disturbing, self-destructive knack for making everything worse. Saylor was spitting fire when she came from your little chat last weekend.”
Spitting fire. Perfect word choice.
“Dare I ask what you said to her?”
I reclined against the leather, soaking into the cool, recycled air. “I reminded her that she is nothing but a golem—formed from mud and manure, then given life to serve her master, Beelzebub. Once I find the spell to destroy her, she’ll return to the pile of rotting shit that she is.”
“Yeah, that’ll do it,” Katie muttered. “Enough with your death wish. I swore I was having a fun year and I meant it. Next week, I’m throwing a party. My mom needs some chill time, so my parents are going to the beach house in the Hamptons.”
I felt compelled to mention there was a beach a few miles to the west, but I squashed it.
“You’re staying over to help me plan the food, drinks, decoration, theme—the whole thing.” Katie clinked our glasses again. “Don’t expect to get any sleep tonight because we’re already behind. The party’s only a week away.”
“Ah, yes. So once again you’ve mistaken me for your assistant. Driver, pull the car over here.”
Katie rolled her eyes, waving the driver off. “For fuck’s sake, I’m inviting you over to taste-test my chef’s finest, get tipsy, and fool around choosing themes. It’s called having fun and getting shit done while you’re at it. My goodness, you’re so snobby.”
I was so outraged at the comment, it struck me speechless.
The drive to Katie’s place was short. We toed off our shoes on the welcome mat, padding inside her rent-free, lap of luxury. Flopping on the bed, Katie flicked the big screen on and called down to the kitchen, ordering the person on the other side to start bringing in the samples.