“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she answered, getting straight to the point without preamble. Panic latched onto me, and I couldn’t believe I had messed up so quickly and so effectively. I tried to quiet down the sirens in my brain to hear her half-hearted voice offer an explanation. “I feel like an idiot asking for all of my paid time off, especially all at once. I mean, for a bet? It’s a little silly,” she laughed, though the sound was obviously forced.
“No one has to know. Tell them you’re visiting a sick relative,” I blurted, hating how my voice rang out with desperation. She didn’t reply for a moment, snorting before speaking.
“I realize no one needs to know, Archer. I just don’t see the point—” she began, but I was quick to cut her off.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. It’s just…my ex is a bit of a touchy subject, and I really…don’t feel comfortable talking about her yet. I didn’t understand why you got so upset when I wouldn’t tell you about her…” I sighed, resting my chin in my palm.
“We have roles to play, don’t we? I’m supposed to be playing your wife here. I just wanted to be sure I had the details down,” she said drolly, and I could hear the sound of keys clacking loudly on her line. My heart ached as I wondered if she was messaging the very man who didn’t even deserve her. Gritting my teeth, I tilted my head back and counted to ten before answering.
“Alright. It was unfair of me to push. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I’ll stop poking at your past if you quit poking at…this subject. I don’t want to hide things from you, I really don’t. This…just…I can’t discuss this yet,” I muttered, closing my eyes.
“You’re entitled to your privacy. I’m only your wife legally, not emotionally. Either way, it’s fine. Like I said, I feel bad taking all of my time off at once. It’s not because of anything you said,” she said, obviously lying through her teeth. I sighed, trying not to get frustrated again.
“Will you have dinner with me? We can talk about things then. I mean, it’s a free trip to Maui,” I offered awkwardly, clicking a pen as I waited for her reply.
“Alright. The cruise sets off tomorrow anyway, right?” she replied quietly. I nodded, belatedly realizing she couldn’t see me.
“Yeah, we’re leaving tomorrow. I was thinking you could stay at my place for the night. It would save time, and we could practice being convincing as husband and wife,” I suggested, receiving a soft laugh for my efforts.
“Sounds like you’re just trying to get in my pants,” she laughed lightly.
“No! I would never—”
“It’s fine. That’s how it usually goes. No strings, right? I’ll meet you at the La Petit Cherie soon, okay?” she interrupted, hanging up before I could manage a reply edgewise. It seemed it wasn’t my computer alone that was betraying me. Even my phone was doing the trick. That or I was simply being an idiot, which seemed more likely in all honesty. I knew I had to make things right at the restaurant. I couldn’t bear to deal with Jasmine and my parents alone, my feelings for Tiffany aside. The thought of losing her was somehow even more unbearable, but I refused to consider that too deeply. Grabbing my jacket, I slipped out of my office and locked the door behind me. I hadn’t scheduled any procedures that day, wanting to give myself a bit of time to unwind before dealing with the trip. It seemed like unwinding was out of the question, but at the very least, I could prove I wasn’t a total dick to the one woman who mattered.
Stupid thoughts. She did say we were only married legally. In spite of my desire to do things the right way, it seemed less and less like she even enjoyed talking to me, let alone my company. I groaned, slipping into my car and entering the restaurant address into my GPS. It was on the outskirts of the city, and I’d not been to it since early in my relationship with Jasmine. I cursed my brain for drawing so many parallels between the two women. Tiffany was nothing like Jasmine. I didn’t have to know everything about her to be sure of that. Even though the spat with me earlier had made me question who I was with, I knew deep in my heart that Jasmine was nothing like Tiffany, and vice versa. Tiffany was a kind and caring woman. Yes, she had been upset about me not discussing my ex with her…however, she hadn’t talked to me about her ex either. I felt as if I was resolved of any guilt at the poor thoughts I had experienced earlier. Now that my mind was a bit less mushy, I knew Tiffany was a completely different type of woman than Jasmine.
Stepping into the restaurant, I almost expected to get stood up. Hoping I didn’t look entirely pathetic, I mentioned my reservation so that I could at least be seated and drink away my sorrows.
“Ah, yes. Mr. Roman, your guest is already waiting for you.”
Eyes wide, I trailed behind a waiter as we wove through the restaurant to one of the more private back rooms. The table was candlelit with a single, long-stemmed rose in a vase situated on the center of the table. I expected some kind of prank, like one of my parents showing up or something, but I’ve never been so relieved as when I recognized that hair. I rushed toward the table, paying little mind to the fact that she seemed to still be dressed in her work clothes. Her hair was pulled back, and she looked entirely exhausted as she used her straw to push a lemon wedge around in her glass of water. She looked up when I approached the table and made an effort to smile, though it seemed like more of a grimace.
“I’m sorry, Tiffany,” I said as soon as I sat down, not caring about the presence of the waiter. He looked somewhat awkward, so I waved him off while I spoke to my date.
“I’m sorry too,” she said quietly, sipping her water. I considered pressing the subject, but she seemed content to leave well enough alone. I smiled, opening my menu and scanning over the items. The daily special was always a treat, and as I glanced up, I noticed that my date didn’t seem to have even opened her menu.
“Have you already decided what you want?” I asked gently. She chuckled a bit, a weary sound, as she shook her head.
“I don’t read French.”
The awkwardness extended for the duration of our shared meal, but she seemed to approve of what I ended up ordering for her. Conversation was stilted, but I entertained the hope that once we got to my penthouse, we could talk things over. She didn’t seem particularly willing to open up, probably expecting that I wanted to take her to bed. In the end, however, we simply rested on the sofa together, my arms around her as she snoozed. For once, going to sleep with someone in my arms felt entirely right. Of course, I didn’t want to read too much into that.
She was only doing it for the bet, after all. I had to keep this in mind so that my heart wouldn’t become too involved with her. I had no idea if it was too late for me already. I knew I cared about her and that I wanted her. However, the big L word, I wouldn’t even let that enter into my mind right now. It was far too early in this….thing to make conclusions about my feelings for my lovely wife.
9
CHAPTER NINE
Tiffany
I had expected my first cruise to be an entertaining experience, at the very least. What I didn’t anticipate was how foul Archer’s mood would become the closer and closer we got to port. Waking up in his arms had felt unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. A sort of completion, I suppose. I’d never had that with Nicholas, though. He’d usually left before I even had the chance to wake the next morning.
It was strange being held tightly in the plastic surgeon’s arms, like he truly cherished me. He’d woken up with a smile, one that bode well for the rest of the day – at least, I’d thought as much. As we grabbed our packed belongings, his smile had slipped, if only slightly. I hadn’t paid much attention at the time, but the tension in his shoulders as we drew nearer the ocean was almost palpable. I could only glance at him from the corner of my eye, unsure of what had him so out of sorts. We could be a bit strange regarding our emotions, but for the most part, he always remained in control of himself. I parted my lips to ask what was wrong, but silenced myself as he parked the car. He gripped the steeri
ng wheel a long moment longer, allowing his forehead to rest against it.
“Archer?” I asked gently, hoping for some kind of response – any would do. He grunted, sounding more than mildly irritated by my presence. I couldn’t help feeling a bit annoyed, as well as slightly wounded, although I refused to acknowledge that secondary emotion. I scoffed, glancing out the window and waiting for him to make the next move. I had no idea where we were supposed to meet his family, and I would feel entirely stupid wandering around aimlessly.
“Sorry,” he said quietly after a moment of complete silence in the car. It had seemed to stretch on forever, so I was startled when he actually spoke. I glanced toward him, trying to smile reassuringly.
“I’m not really sure what the problem is here, but you’re entitled to your feelings,” I murmured, and it was true in spite of how much I wanted to shake some sense into him. It seemed the bet was the furthest thing from his mind at the moment, and I considered taking the moment to back out of the situation altogether. I’d come this far, however, and backing out seemed like a callous move. He was obviously troubled, and while I could by no means try to understand the situation, it was clear that he needed help and had no one else to turn to.
“Alright. I should give you fair warning that my father can be a bit of a bastard,” he muttered, lifting his head to look at me. I hadn’t noticed how exhausted he looked – as if he hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep the night before.
“I believe you’ve mentioned as much,” I smiled in an attempt to soothe his nerves. He chuckled but still seemed rather rattled. Inhaling a steadying breath, I watched as he got out of the car and circled around to get our things. Getting out as well, I took a moment to consider the ship we’d soon be boarding. It was huge, and I could only imagine how pricy it must have been to get a room, let alone the number of rooms his father seemed to be taking financial responsibility for. I hardly noticed as an older couple approached the car, only glancing up when I heard a woman clear her throat. Archer looked up, seeming none too pleased about the presence of the older couple.
“Archer. What a surprise to see you,” the man said coolly, forcing an obviously fake smile. Archer grunted by way of response, and I watched the scene unfold rather awkwardly.
“Who’s your…friend, dear?” the elder woman inquired, looking vaguely predatory. I stepped closer to Archer, hoping he would protect me from…whatever the couple seemed to have in mind.
“I’ll explain once we board the ship,” my husband said dismissively, glancing at me with a forced smile of his own. I might have recoiled at how easily my brain fell into the role of being his wife, but it seemed insignificant at the time.
He slammed the trunk closed, carrying his own bags as well as mine. I trailed behind him, offering to help him but not receiving any sort of reply in turn. I sighed, rolling my eyes a bit as I continued to follow him to the ship. I was startled to see a number of people lingering around, most of which lit up upon seeing Archer. A man who nearly matched my husband’s good looks bolted toward him, grabbing two bags from his hands.
“Archer,” I heard a male voice call from our right side.
“Dad, this is Tiffany. Tiffany, this is my father, Stanley Roman,” Archer introduced me to his father.
“Nice to meet you.” I held my hand out, and he looked at me with a little disdain, but he finally took my hand.
Yeah, not a great start, I thought with a sigh. I felt Archer grab my hand, and we sat at the table. Archer pointed out his mother to me. She hadn’t even stood up to greet either of us, hadn’t even said hello to her own son. I wondered why he’d even agreed to go on this trip with them in the first place. It didn’t seem like they wanted him around. If I were Archer, when I explained his parents to anyone, I would tell people they were both assholes, not just his father. I shook my head, realizing how lucky I had been to have such a great family of my own.
“So, is she your sister?” I asked, pointing to a blonde who was sitting by his mother. I figured she had to be related, since his mother had paid all of her attention to the girl.
Archer laughed loudly.
“I am not his sister. My name is Jasmine, and I’m an OLD family friend,” the girl told me snottily.
Wait…Jasmine? That was the name of his ex.
“Really, Archer. Couldn’t you find one who had at least a semi-intellect? Or did you just pick this one for the sex?” the snotty girl who I didn’t give two craps about said to Archer as she looked down at me.
“Watch how you talk about my WIFE,” Archer said slowly, a smug smile crossing his face.
I sat back as a cold splash of reality hit me in the face. He’d only brought me along to rub the marriage in his ex’s face. I doubt he even likes me. All of that bullshit he’d told me last night while we watched his favorite move meant nothing. I should have just stayed home if this was what I was going to have to deal with the next two weeks. He was using me for his own damn revenge…how fucked up was that?
“Hmm, wait a minute,” I whispered to myself. I could use this. I would go along with this charade, but only if he agreed to do the same thing for me with Nick.
“All passengers can start boarding.” We heard the announcement, and Archer led me onto the ship. He grabbed my hand like a husband who loved his wife and wanted to touch her. I played along, chalking this up to the list of things we would do in front of Nick too.
“We’ll see you in the dining room at lunch,” I heard his father call out to us as we peeled off to our own room.
As soon as we were in our cabin with the door shut, I turned to face him. “Here is the deal – you can make her as jealous as you want, but when I want to do the same with Nick, you’re on board, no matter what it takes.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, honestly,” he hedged, and I think he actually might have believed it.
Dropping the subject for now, I decided that I would remind him when the time came later. “Let’s go to lunch,” I said instead.
At lunch, I was introduced to his brother Mark, who was some kind of biologist and a miracle-worker with the oceans. He explained to me what it was he did, but the whole lunch, I was distracted by the looks Archer was giving Jasmine and whomever the guy was that sat beside her.
I wanted to draw his attention to me, but instead, I listened to his brother talk. His sister, Kelly, came down a bit later, and she was very sweet too. She was the one who finally got Archer to stop staring at his ex and her fiancé, I had found out thanks to Kelly.
“I’m going swimming,” Kelly announced after lunch. Turning to me, she asked, “You want to go, too?”
“Sure! I’ll go change and be right back.” As I walked to our cabin to change, Archer was talking with his brother and didn’t acknowledge my departure at all.
I came back down to find Kelly at the side of the pool, preparing to jump in. Mark, being an older brother, pushed her in from behind and died laughing. I couldn’t help but laugh as well at the contagious laughter.
I jumped in and looked toward Archer, but his eyes were squarely on Jasmine’s very well-endowed chest. She was closer to Ms. Hart’s size than I was. This made me angry. He’d told me my breasts were perfect but was now staring at boobs that were quite a bit larger than my current size, and about the size I had asked him to put me in.
Glaring at him, I asked him if he was coming in the water. He looked at me long enough to say, “Maybe later,” before his eyes went right back to Jasmine’s breasts. I felt sick; he had lied to me about my own breasts. As soon as he saw a nicer pair, he couldn’t take his eyes off of them. So much for convincing me to not get the surgery. Even if he refuses to do the work, I will get that job done as soon as I have the time. I was very determined at this point, and very angry.
My head began to throb, not from anything more than my own anger. I had to get out of here, or I might say something to Archer, and it wouldn’t be nice. I stood up out of the water and got my towel. “I’ve got a headache; I’
m going to turn in early,” I informed Archer.
“Okay, I’ll see you later.” He barely looked at me as he replied. He wasn’t playing the part of the doting husband very well at all. After the first time when he’d stood up for me, I haven’t felt very much like a wife. I ordered a drink as I cried to myself about my mistakes. I had actually convinced myself that he might like me. When he’d invited me on a family vacation, I’d thought, Wow, this guy might really like me.
But now, his plan was quite obvious. He had taken our fake marriage and used it to his benefit. Along the way, he had also succeed in trampling my heart into a million tiny pieces. I ordered another drink, telling the bartender, “Send a bottle instead.”
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