My eyes are too preoccupied by all things shiny. And right now, that’s everything in this room.
"Not big enough," Noelle’s voice breaks my gaze, and I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand.
"You’re right," Avery says, swallowing his laughter as he watches my eyes bug out of my head.
"Baby, if anything, that one istoobig," I say, nearly throwing up in my mouth at the pet name I just voluntarily used.
I never spend this much time with a person after sleeping with them, but he and I have no choice. So, I decide I’m going to force myself to step out of my comfort zone, and pretend to love him until the day I sign those annulment papers.
"Nothing is too big for my girl," he says to Romi, and she blushes, turning her back to go fetch the other box that holds rings worth a ridiculous amount of money. "Isn’t that right,baby?" That last part he whispers, just for me, and I have to clench my thighs together to stop the pulsing between my legs from taking over, switching off any logic left in my brain.
Warmth pools between my legs, and I’m not even ashamed to admit that. Hearinghimcallme‘baby’?
Yes, please.
"Ew, guys. Focus." Noelle glares at us like we’re two toddlers who don’t know how to follow simple instructions.
I straighten my back. "You know what? You’re right." Clearing my throat, I get Romi’s attention. She approaches the three of us slowly, carefully carrying a fresh case with high-end jewelry, hands covered with black fabric gloves. "I hope you have something big in there, Romi. My hands have been feeling a little empty of late." Avery muffles his laughter beside me, peppering kisses along my shoulder. Noelle smiles gently at the sight.
"I think you’re going to walk away from here a very happy girl."
I think you mean stressed, Romi, but sure. Whatever is going to get you through your day.
Maybe if my career in music doesn’t work out, I’ll hit up Cole Green for some advice on how to land my first role in a movie.
Chapter twenty-two
Olive
The Herring Girls
Cassandra
Is it true????
Lizzie
On one hand, I want it to be because, hello, super hot basketball player alert. But also, could you guys all stop being paired up with super successful men? You’re setting the bar too high for this small-town kindergarten teacher.
Jenna
Go get 'em, Ol.
Jenna
I don’t know why I said that. Harley said it to me right before I went out the night I met Cole, and it felt like the right thing to say.
Me
Lizzie
Holy fucking shit, talk about a ROCK!
Jenna
I never knew I wanted to be engaged until I saw that ring. BRB messaging Cole.
