Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“Wait, Mum is helping Grandpa with the guest list?” Freya said, gripping Stuart’s arm. “Are we sure that’s a good idea?”
“No,” he replied with a wan smile. “I’m sure your brother can handle it.”
“It’s always nice to have faith,” Morag said, looking at me. “Come on, toots. Let’s get a cup of tea and see what we can do to make sure this wedding doesn’t implode on itself.”
If that were even possible.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN – GRACE
Not Even The Llama Wants The Drama
I peeled my arm away from my eyes as the door opened, and William stopped dead when he saw me.
“Don’t,” I said, dropping my forearm back to where it was. “Just don’t.”
His light chuckle filled the air, followed by the click of the door closing. “I did warn you, but you wanted to be a hero.”
“I said ‘don’t,’ William,” I repeated, not moving from my dramatic, woe-is-me position on the couch. “I am exhausted. I’m hungry. I have a headache, and I need a strong drink.”
“Yes, that’s usually how my sister leaves people feeling. Luckily for you, I’m prepared, and I happen to have all those things right here.”
Slowly, I raised my arm and tilted my head to look over at him. He had three bags from a supermarket, one of which was clinking.
“That one,” I said, pointing at it. “That’s the one I want. I don’t even know what’s in it, but I know I want it.”
He laughed and put all the bags down. “I also have pizza,” he said, pulling five boxes out of the bag.
“Why do you have five boxes of pizza?” I propped myself up on my elbows, staring at the stack of pizzas.
He clicked his tongue. “I didn’t know which one you liked.”
“And you couldn’t text me to find out?”
“No, I couldn’t text you. That would involve having to explain to my mother that I don’t know what my girlfriend’s preferred pizza is.”
“Good point.” I nodded. “Although given your dreadful communication skills, she probably wouldn’t be all that surprised that you didn’t know.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that,” he muttered, putting them back in the bag. “The downside is that we have to cook them.”
“McDonald’s and frozen pizza two days in a row? What a life.” I dragged myself up to sitting and sighed.
“Your other option is a catered dinner with my entire family.”
Nope. I’d done my time with his family today, thank you very much. “You know, it occurs to me that we don’t have a cooker in here.”
William half-smiled at me. “I thought you’d say that. There are three kitchens in this castle.”
“Of course there are.” Why wouldn’t there be? Two people obviously needed three kitchens.
What was it? One for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for dinner?
Either way, I bet none of them had empty cereal boxes in the cupboards. Amber was the worst for putting them back in when she’d just used up the last of the chocolate chip mini Weetabix.
Did you know how heart-breaking it was to pick up a box of your favourite cereal only to find it empty? Knowing you hadn’t bought any the day before when you went grocery shopping because there was a box in the bloody cupboard?
Exactly.
If I had two kitchens at home, that wouldn’t be a problem.
“Come on, let’s go. We’ll be left alone all evening.” William picked up the bag with the pizza boxes and held out a hand. “I’m starving, and I’m sure you must be, too.”
“Okay, fine.” I put my hand in his so he could pull me up and said, “But I still want whatever is in the clinky bag.”
With a laugh, he released my hand once I was on my feet and pulled out a bottle of wine. “You mean this?”
“I’ll take that.” I plucked the bottle from his grip, cradled it against my body, and looked expectantly at William. “Lead the way.”
He shook his head with what I was sure was a quiet chuckle and opened the door to the hallway. It was considerably colder out here, and I shivered as the chill of the old building hit me.
“Sorry,” he said softly, closing the door. “I forgot to mention it can get cold outside of the living areas sometimes.”
“It’s an old castle. I hardly expect every inch is warmed to perfection,” I replied, wrapping my arms around my body, keeping a tight grip on the neck of the wine bottle. “Is the kitchen warmer than the hallway?”
“Antarctica is warmer than this hallway.”
An excellent point.
“If not, the oven will soon warm it up. I’ll have someone take wood up to the room, too, so we can get a fire going there.”
I peered at him out of the corner of my eye. “That’s an actual working fireplace?”
“No, I thought I’d light a fire and choke us out with the smoke.”