“Uh. I have work.”
“Take it off. I’m your sister and I’m getting married.”
“I can’t afford a plane ticket.”
“I’ll buy you one.”
“No, no,” I muttered. “I’ll figure it out.”
She sighed. “Torie, for real. We’ll fly you up. Please let me.”
“Would you accept that, if it was the other way around?”
Her silence was telling. “No.”
“All right, then. I’ll find my own way to Alaska.” I laughed. “Why Alaska?”
She giggled. “Ask Mom. She was the one to move up here. But once you’re up here, you never want to leave.”
“Great. I’ll get stuck in B-F-E, Alaska, and have no future in the middle of nowhere.”
“God, Torie, you’re such a downer,” she griped.
“Leighton calls me Tor-Eeyore.”
“Oh—my—god, that’s perfect. Tor-Eeyore.” She cackled. “I’m calling you that, now.”
“No, you’re not.” I huffed. “Shouldn’t have told you.”
“But ya did!” She sing-songed. “Anyway. Two weeks from today, that’s the date. Be here. If you get stuck in like Kansas, call me. I’ll have Myles send his jet down to pick you up.”
“He has a private jet?”
“Yep.”
“You bitch.” I laughed. “You had to snag a rich and famous dude?”
She laughed with me. “Right? Luckiest girl in the world, right here.” A serious pause, then. “I love you, Tor. Get here. And ask for help if you need it. I know the feeling, but ask. Okay? Don’t just be stuck.”
“Yeah, yeah. Love you too.” I picked at a scab on my knee. “Is Poppy coming?”
“Yeah, she’s driving. She met some guy apparently, and they’re making it a road trip.”
“Poppy has a boyfriend?” I asked. “No fucking way. I thought she swore off men forever after the last guy. I was half convinced she’d turn lesbian.”
“I know, right? But yeah, I guess. I don’t know, she’s cagey about it. I guess we’ll meet him at the wedding, though.” A pause, and I knew what was coming. “Are you gonna bring Max?”
I sputtered. “Max? Hell no. He’s a friend. But not the kind of friend you bring to a wedding. It’s never been like that.”
“Didn’t you lose your virginity to him?”
I blushed, swallowed hard. “To Max?” I scoffed. “No.”
Leave it at that, Lexie—please leave it at that.
“Tor?”
“Lex?”
“Are you still a virgin?”
“Shut up.”
“You are!” she squealed. “Oh my god! I thought for sure you’d done it with Max.”
“He wants to,” I muttered, hating this conversation with all my soul. “But I’m not in love with him. I don’t even really like him—not like that. He’s just a friend. And it’s fun messing around. But if and when I give a man my virginity, I want it to mean something. I’ve waited this long, I mean god, I’m almost twenty. Practically an old maid. If it happens now, it’s going to be meaningful.”
“Your first time probably won’t be this magical thing, Tor. I’m not trying to ruin any dreams here, but—”
My face was on fire. “I know, okay? I’m not some little girl daydreaming of Prince Charming, here.”
“Tor, we gotta talk when you get up here.”
“Not about this we don’t.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll drop it. I can see you blushing from here. But…promise me you won’t change your mind on this?” She sounded oddly serious. “Promise me, swear to me, you won’t just give it away to the first hot, charming guy who kisses you just right. Make it worthwhile. Promise me.”
I was baffled. “You sound like you’re about to cry, Lex.”
“Shut the fuck up and swear.” She was crying, softly, and choking it back, but I could tell she was emotional. And Lex NEVER cried.
Weird.
“Yeah, yeah—I promise.”
“Victoria.”
“I swear on Dad’s grave it’ll mean something, okay?” I was shaken by her sudden intensity on this. “Lex, what’s—?”
“Another time. You just keep that promise, sis. That’s what matters, here.” And now she was bright and chipper again. “And…that you get your cute little butt up here for my wedding.”
“My butt is neither small nor cute, I’m afraid,” I said. “So don’t go buying any size zero bridesmaid dress for me, because I done gained a few, Lex.”
“Oh shut up, I saw you six months ago and you’re smaller than me. And no bridesmaid dresses. We’re going informal.”
“Thank fuck.”
She laughed. “I gotta go.”
“Me too. I need breakfast, and to process that my sister is getting married to a famous country singer with his own jet—and figure out how I’m getting to Alaska.”
“Tor—”
“I’m not taking your money, so shut up. I love you. I’ll see you in two weeks.”
“Okay, okay. Love you. Bye.”
I hung up, left the phone on the charger, and went in search of breakfast…and ideas.
Could I ride a bicycle to Alaska?
That was looking like my best option from here.
Oh lordy.
Alaska, for a wedding.
And me too stubborn to ask for help. Could I get a bus ride with twenty-four bucks?
Why, Lexie? Why now?
But, one way or another, I’d be there for my sister.
If only to find out why the hell she was so worked up about my virginity. That story alone would be worth the trip.
Alaska, here I come.
Somehow.
A REAL GOODE TIME
Available June 26, 2020!
Also by Jasinda Wilder
Jasinda Wilder
Visit me at my website: www.jasindawilder.com
Email me: [email protected]
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My other titles:
The Preacher's Son:
Unbound
Unleashed
Unbroken
Biker Billionaire:
Wild Ride
Big Girls Do It:
Better (#1), Wetter (#2), Wilder (#3), On Top (#4)
Married (#5)
On Christmas (#5.5)
Pregnant (#6)
Boxed Set
Rock Stars Do It:
Harder
Dirty
Forever
Boxed Set
From the world of Big Girls and Rock Stars:
Big Love Abroad
Delilah's Diary:
A Sexy Journey
La Vita Sexy
A Sexy Surrender
The Falling Series:
Falling Into You
Falling Into Us
Falling Under
Falling Away
Falling for Colton
The Ever Trilogy:
Forever & Always
After
