Page 3 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

I’m starving. And if we’re all busy eating, there won’t be time for words. Before I can make it past the foyer, Will suddenly storms through, grabbing my hand and pulling me out the front door with him.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask, stopping in the driveway full of expensive cars. ‘And who’s the girl that claims she’s your future wife?’

He groans loudly, seemingly not listening as he runs a hand through his hair with frustration, resting it on the back of his neck before finally turning to me. ‘This isn’t a graduation party.’

‘I’m gathering that. It seems they’ve lured us here to arrange your marriage instead.’

‘What?’ he asks, confusion all over his pretty face.

I throw a thumb in the direction of the house. ‘Felicity Harper says she’s here to marry you. I don’t want to seem troubled over this, but I never got my invitation.’

Expecting a laugh at my joke, I’m surprised when he plants his hand on his forehead. ‘They invited the Harpers?Fuck.’

‘OK, you seem super stressed by this. If not a graduation party or a surprise wedding, then what?’

‘An intervention.’

I rock my head back and forth, hoping this doesn’t hurt his feelings. ‘I mean, I have been meaning to talk to you about your binge drinking…’

He lowers his chin with a guilty grin. ‘That’s not it. It’s, uh…’ He stalls, searching my eyes for whatever words he’s looking for.

‘Just say it, Will.’

‘You.’ He says the word before I can even finish saying his name.

‘Me?’

He grabs my hands, pulling one to his lips while I process, kissing it softly, his eyes on me the entire time.

‘What do I need an intervention for?’ I ask. ‘I barely drink. I’m graduating top of my class. So I have to work for every dollar I earn – that hardly seems intervention-worthy.’

‘They want us to break up. Again.’ He says the words gently as he tucks my hair behind one of my ears, his eyes begging for forgiveness.

I drop my head into his shoulder with a groan.

‘I know, it’s ridiculous,’ he says, sliding his hands to my back and hugging me close. ‘How can they look at you andnotsee the most amazing woman on the planet like I do?’

The anger building inside of me fades with his sweet words. He does it every time. No matter what I’m irritated over, he can always fix it. Always. Which means I can’t be mad at him because he didn’t choose his asshole parents.

‘With all their scheming, you’d think they’d figure out how to drive us apart for good, right?’ He laughs, then notices I’m not. Sweet words can’t change that I’m pissed – at his family.

Will releases me from his hold, running his hands down my arms from my shoulders. ‘Berkley, look at me, please.’

Reluctantly, I look him in the eyes.

‘We’re notreallybreaking up. You know this. It’s just for show, to get them off my back.’

I nod. ‘Oh, I know, but it’s exhausting considering it’s not the first time we’ve “broken up” to keep them happy. It’s time to face it, Will, they’ll never stop trying this. One day you may have to choose between them and me.’

He shakes his head. ‘I don’t think they’d ever go that far.’

I laugh. A laugh that says,you’re an idiot– with love. ‘Will, they’ve brought down people way more important than us. A blind spot in your judgment is what they’re looking for. Once they find it, they’ll best us. It’s only a matter of time.’

He says nothing, just frowns. He knows I’m right.

This family. How dare I try to steal away their youngest son and force him into a life of middle-class chaos. In their eyes, he’s worthy of a woman who comes from money and power – someone at his level who orders a second bottle of Dom Pérignon at dinner on his dime without asking permission first even though she can afford it on her own. Not a peasant like me who has a boyfriend with millions in the bank and still buys six-dollar wine, ate a gas station hot dog last week and runs a measly little bookstore I’ve worked at since I was fifteen. Clearly, I am the gum on the bottom of their Louboutin heels.

‘Let’s get this over with, I guess,’ I say. ‘Word of warning: I’m probably going to swear or, at minimum, make fun of Mike.’

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