Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“This is my last song,” she says and the crowd groans in disappointment. “So, let’s make it a good one. I want to see everyone dancing!”
The song kicks off and the crowd pushes in tight as everyone dances. I spin Grace around and hold her protectively in my arms.
She smiles as she looks up at me. She’s so perfect.
My eyes drop to her soft cherry lips.
I have to do it… I don’t care if her father is watching us right now…
I have to kiss her.
I wet my lips and lean down. She tilts her head up as her eyes drift closed.
Every cell in my body comes alive as I’m about to kiss this beautiful woman for the first time.
But my lips never get there. Thatcher, one of our big defenders, bumps into me and it ruins the moment.
“Sorry, Barlowe,” he says, slapping his big hand on my back. “Can you believe this shit? Gemini-X, right there! My little sister is going to freak out when I tell her!”
“Yeah,” I say, trying to move away from the brute, but the crowd is so packed, there’s nowhere to go.
“Look at Edvard,” he says, pointing at the Swede and laughing. “He thinks he has a shot.”
All I can think about is tasting my girl’s sweet lips, but the song ends and my shot is over. Grace releases me, turns around, and claps as Gemini-X waves to the crowd.
Everyone gasps and turns as the helicopter bursts to life on the tall platform behind us.
“Look at him go!” Thatcher says with a laugh as Edvard chases Gemini-X up the stairs to the roaring helicopter. He grabs a bouquet of flowers out of a vase and leaps over a railing to catch up to her.
“Wait!” he shouts as the security guard holds the door open for her and her crew. He climbs over another railing and pulls himself up onto the platform.
Gemini-X stops halfway in the helicopter and looks down at him. He drops to his knees, holding the flowers up as the whole crowd watches from below with their breaths held.
She grins, takes the flowers, and gives him a quick kiss on the lips.
The whole crowd erupts in cheers around me.
Gemini-X waves to us one last time, gets into the helicopter with her people and they fly away, leaving Edvard on his knees, clutching his heart as he watches it disappearing into the night sky.
“I guess he did have a shot after all,” Thatcher says with a chuckle. “We’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Nope,” I say with a heavy breath. “He’s going to be rambling on about that kiss in the locker room for years.”
“Good for him,” Grace says, looking up at him with a smile. “Isn’t it so nice when two strangers come together?”
“Where can I get a hot stranger to come together with?” Thatcher says, looking around.
“Okay,” I say, grabbing Grace’s hand and pulling her away from the hairy Neanderthal. I’m done with him intruding on our special moment.
I guide Grace off the dance floor to the front of the yacht where it’s dark and quiet.
We find a secluded spot on a rarely-used hallway and I lean on the railing as I stare at her in wonder.
“Don’t fall off,” she says as she grabs my hand and holds it.
My heart picks up a beat as I gently squeeze her hand back.
The moment is right. I lean in to kiss her.
“I’m the king of the world!” a voice shouts out.
We both turn and spot Austin and Norah down below on the bow of the ship reenacting the iconic scene from Titanic. Norah is standing on the lower railing with her arms out as Austin holds onto her from behind.
“Oh my god,” I whisper as I watch them switch places. Austin steps onto the railing and puts his arms out as Norah holds him.
“I’m the king of the world!” he hollers as the wind blows through his hair.
“They’re cute,” Grace says as she watches them with a smile. “Before tonight, seeing that would have made me jealous.”
“Jealous?” I say with a laugh. “Of that?”
“They belong together,” she says. “They’re soulmates. Just like my parents. My dad may seem like a ball buster to you, but to my mom, he’s a total sweetheart. He’s always leaving love notes around the house for her, dancing around the kitchen, and holding her hand. They’re adorable together. I always wanted to find someone like that for me.”
I’ll be that for her. I’ll be everything she needs and more.
“I think the search is over,” I whisper as I put a hand in her hair, feeling her silky locks. I step forward, towering over her. She holds her breath as she looks up at my mouth.
A whizzing sound rips through the air and then explodes with a pop. Beautiful fireworks burst in the night sky all around us, colorful sparkles rippling down to the dark sea. They’re coming from the yacht.