My mouth has fallen, and then my surprise transforms into the purest fucking joy. I smile so bright; I can’t do anything but kiss her on the cheek, on the lips. I tackle her on the bed and pin her to the mattress.
“Richard,” she says with a smile. “Stop for a second.”
I grin. “You want children?” She said yes.
“When I’mthirty-fiveor older,” she retorts.
She wants children.
I kiss her deeply.
“You have tohelpme,” she says between kisses.
Help. She’s asking for help. A girl who struggled to take my college blazer to hide a stain is willingly opening her arms to me—to us. “All I’ve ever wanted to do was be on your team, Rose.” I laugh as I remember. “You, Miss Highest Honors, were the one who chose to be my rival by attending Princeton.”
She tilts her head. “I like competing against you.” She sits up on her elbows, her lips so close to mine as she says, “But I like being your teammate more.”
“Me too, darling.”
Me too.
CHAPTER 46
ROSE CALLOWAY
7 days– Mom
I try not to let the countdown alter my mood anymore. I’m more upset that Poppy, my oldest sister, decided not to come to Lily’s bachelorette party. Since we’re spending the weekend in Vegas with the cameras—andScott,tall villainous Scott—she chose to stay back in Philly. At least she wants to be a part of the wedding.
Lily dances beside me, wearing a pink sparklyBachelorettesash and tiara. Her happiness makes Scott’s looming presence worth it. We’re in a huge club with multi-colored strobe lights and half-naked girls gyrating in cages.
I grab Lily’s hands, all of us a little buzzed. Usually Lily doesn’t drink, but when I ordered shots with Daisy, she said she wanted to be a part of it.
“You’re getting married!” I shout over the music, swinging her hands.
She beams from ear-to-ear. “I’m getting married!”
I don’t really understand her sudden change of heart. But why question it? I’ll just ruinthis, and I’d rather enjoy tonight and the next seven days.
Daisy twists her sweaty hair into a bun on top of her head. Savannah and Brett try to film us without being shoved by other dancers.
“Hey, look who it is?” I hear a guy shout.
Great.
“Go back to Philly, sluts!” The guys don’t near us, but the longer they yell, the more likely they will find the courage (or stupidity) to do so.
“Get out of Vegas!”
“Should we take a bar break?” Daisy asks. “Beer time?”
Lily tries to ignore the heckling too. She nods quickly. “Beer time”
“You girls want beer?” I say. We have the option of fruity cocktails, dirty martinis, tequila shots, and they’re going to choosebeer.Really?
“You’veneverhad beer before,” Lily refutes. “This is the day for us to try new things together. Come on.”
She tugs my hand.
