by Sarah Skye
“Hmm? Sorry, what? I was just sitting here thinking of all the things you’ve said you want lately. Got a bit distracted, you understand. And I definitely had stopped listening after the word ‘blow.’”
Her giggles ring through the room as the door shuts behind us.
Harmony and Marco have invited so many people to their rehearsal dinner, I have to wonder how it’s not easier to just call this the wedding and have done with it. We step into a good-sized ballroom. Lily whispers to me that the next day will be twice as big at least—their guest list is rumored at around 500. It is an event. Suddenly the 100-or-so in the room make a bit more sense.
“Hi, you two!” Harmony squeals when she sees us and drags Marco our way.
I put my hand on Lily’s lower back as they approach, loving the way she leans into me. While Harmony showers air kisses on my girl, I do not miss the way Marco’s eyes walk over her a few leisurely times.
My jaw clenches.
He glances at me and sneers. A jerk of his head is meant to be a nod, so I give it right back. “Hey, man. What was your name again?” he says, and from the slur in his voice, I can tell he’s already drunk.
“Calder. His name is Calder.” Lily beats me to a reply. Her hand wraps protectively around my bicep, and I want to laugh and tell her it doesn’t mean shit to me what this arsehole says.
“Right, sure. Lily, thanks for coming. You look fantastic.”
Harmony blinks but doesn’t let her smile slip. She puts her arm around Marco and hurries to agree with him, even though she’s complimented Lily’s dress three times already.
Lily’s brows knit in a what-the-fuck look. “Um, well, we’re going to grab a drink.”
“Try the caviar, it’s divine,” Harmony chirps.
Lily flashes her a smile. “Will do.”
I guide her toward the bar, and she glances up at me. “Was he wasted or what?”
“Definitely,” I mutter.
We don’t make it halfway across the room before her mother intercepts us. Her penciled eyebrows draw together, lips pursed in a way that looks so much like Lily’s pout—but then again nothing like it at the same time. Marilyn Maldonado would be as much of a stunner as her daughter if she hadn’t spent most of her life disapproving of the world.
“Really, dear, isn’t that dress a bit… revealing?”
Lily freezes, and then tugs at the hem of her dress. “I mean, it’s just a dress.”
“Looked terrible on me, you see. Didn’t go with my coloring at all,” I jump in, not giving a damn if she finds it funny but willing to do anything to keep her scowl away from Lily.
Lily’s lips twitch while Marilyn gives me a sardonic eye-roll. “Hello again, Calder. Thank you for coming.”
I kiss her knuckles, which seems to appease her a bit more. We’re joined by a woman I vaguely remember from the apple picking, but Lily lights up and flies to hug her.
“Hi, Auntie Mayla,” she murmurs.
Lily turns to me and introduces us. Mayla’s eyes are on me as we shake hands. She arches a brow and winks, and I grin at the silent message: Take care of my niece.
Yes, ma’am. Will do. I nod my reply.
“Anak, this dress is stunning. Where did you get it?” Mayla threads her arm into Lily’s and guides her to the bar, leaving Marilyn and me to follow behind.
We order while Lily and Mayla chat/gush about some department store I’ve never heard of. Mayla raises her glass at Lily. “Flaunt it while you’ve got it, I say.”
I don’t miss the glare Marylin shoots her sister, but Mayla simply shrugs while sipping her champagne. I chuckle behind my own whisky. I think I really like Mayla.
For the next hour, we mix and mingle enough to appease her parents. We also stand off to the sidelines a good bit so I can whisper whatever pops into my head into her ear. The way she blushes and hides in my sleeve to giggle is, beyond all doubt, the best part of the night for me. The pretense and phoniness of this family and their friends is strange to me. The Rosses are noisy and fond of sharp digs and over-sharing when they get a little booze in them, but my family is authentic. This group is anything but, and I cannot fathom how they can call this enjoyable.
But nothing is stranger than the way that prick Marco keeps appearing in our line of vision. If I’m imagining it or not, it sure as hell seems like he finds a reason to walk by and look our way far more than necessary. Lily notices him a few times. Usually she tosses him a backhanded glance or outright turns away, but she definitely doesn’t realize the full brunt of his shadowing us. Half the time he walks past, she’s too busy laughing to notice. On those passes, the bloke scowls at me and shouts for Harmony to join him.
He strides by again, and I catch both of Lily’s hands and gently turn her so her back is to the room. In the corner of my eye, I see him drain his glass and stride away, but I’m focused on Lily as I say, “Do you remember our first party together? How awkward we were?”
She tilts her face up to me, a smile making her glow even as she nods and wrinkles her nose. “Ugh, I felt like such an obvious sham. Like anyone would believe a quiet art teacher was your girlfriend.”
“Funny, I spent the night feeling like a sham too. Quite sure no one would buy the idea that I’d actually been lucky enough to trick a classy, beautiful woman like you into falling for me.”
“Classy? You mean shy,” she laughs.
“I mean classy as hell—but just the right kind of bossy and filthy too,” I add with a wink.
She shakes her head. “God, I can’t believe myself with you sometimes. Like, when did I find this side of me? And where has it been all my life? Ugh, I wish I’d had a little of it when I was dating Marco.”
“No regrets, love. Just enjoy where you are now.”
“I guess so.” She pokes her tongue playfully at me, so I bend down and kiss her.
“Hey, Lily?”
We both whip around to see Marco. My jaw clenches again, and I instinctively put my arm around Lily’s collarbone, drawing her back to my front.
She gently picks up my wrist and laces our hands instead. “What.”
It’s not a question. Her voice is so flat and cold that I smirk at him.
“I was wondering if we could talk. I’m getting married tomorrow, and I just thought we could…”
Lily groans and looks at the ceiling. “Marco, go away. Isn't it enough that I’m here, making an appearance? We have less than nothing to say to each other. Just go stuff your face with caviar. I’m happy where I am.”
“Lily. I’m saying I want you to—”
“You heard the lady.” My voice growls when I cut him off.
Lily squeezes my hand reassuringly. “Come on, Calder. I need another champagne.”
She tugs me away as I throw another glare at him.
“Easy, big boy. You’re about to lose your cool,” she mutters, bringing my attention back to her. “Getting a little protective, huh?”
“I don’t like how he’s skulking around you tonight.”
“Forget him. We’re nearly done here. Dessert, and then we can go upstairs and have some actual fun.”
I grumble but don’t argue at that.
There are a few toasts, and then pumpkin pie is served. I don’t care for it, so I drink a cup of tea while we wrap up the evening.
“Excuse me, I’ll be back in a minute. Restroom,” Lily announces softly to the table and then leans close to my ear. “This is what I want: wait three minutes, then excuse yourself and find me in the unisex bathroom around the corner at the end of the hall. I can’t wait any longer to have your hands on me.”
“Yes, Professor,” I breathe back before she vanishes.
I set a three-minute timer on my watch and then try to listen as her father drones on about the average cost of weddings these days. For some reason, he has an in-depth knowledge of the subject. When Mayla teases him by saying as much, he flusters.
“Well, I suppose I got rather interested in the topic a few years a
go when Lily was dating Marco. From a finance standpoint, it is rather interesting even now.”
Fuck. I clench the teacup so hard I’m worried it’ll break. Just the thought of Lily in a wedding gown next to that smarmy—
“Pardon.” Screw the three minutes. I need my girl now.
I purge the ire from her parents and their rigid traditions by imagining what I’m about to do. I’ll knock on the door and find her sitting on the sink, then I’ll drop to my knees and shove that tiny skirt up to her waist as I kiss up her thighs. She’ll moan and beg for more…
I’m lost in this image, already semi-hard as I round the corner and come to a dead halt.
At the end of the hall, just outside the restroom where I’m supposed to be feasting on that beautiful girl, stands that prick Marco with her instead. He steps forward and cages her against the wall, but there is nothing romantic about her stance. Her arms are crossed, jaw set hard as she glares up at him.
“Back the fuck up,” she growls. Neither of them has noticed me. Lily shoves his chest, and at last he complies.
“Come on, Lil. It was you and me forever, baby. I’m getting married tomorrow, and fuck, you’ve gotten so sexy lately. So… bold. Don’t tell me there’s anything real between you and that boy toy you’ve been dragging around. Just, come out to my car. We’ll talk, old times and all that, and… see what we want to do.” He puts his hand on her shoulder and strokes her arm.
Lily leaps away, hissing. “Marco, are you out of your mind?”
I am, that’s for damn sure. My vision goes red, and I stalk down the hall seeing nothing but a fucking target on his face. Goddam that asshole, it wasn’t enough he smashed her heart and belittled her talent. Now he’s putting his hands on her the night before his fucking wedding?
My fist connects with his nose before I realize what I’ve done.
Lily shrieks, and the asshole’s head snaps back as he groans. He swings back at me and lands a blow to my temple that I know will equal a bruise. Going to have to reschedule Monday’s shoot with Oak & Thistle, I think vaguely even as I grab his collars and shove him against the wall.
“Keep your fuckin’ smarmy hands off my lass, you wee bawbag.”
“Calder!”
Lily’s nails dig into my arm and snap me out of it. I drop the human scrotum and turn to her, rage morphing into pure concern.
“Did he hurt you, love? Are you…”
The look on her face stops my words. A storm cloud is brewing in her eyes. That wide, sexy mouth is turned down in a horrified snarl. “What the fuck, Calder? You can’t just punch someone, for crying out loud!”
“Erm, sorry, think I just did.”
She doesn’t smile, but then again I wasn’t joking. I spear my hand through my hair and try again. “This cunt was putting his hands on you, Lily. What do you expect me to do?”
Her chin lifts. It’s the hurt in her eyes that tells me I’ve fucked this up much worse than a couple of bruises.
“I expected you to trust that I can say what I want and get it.”
Fuck.
22
Lily
All I see is red. I can’t believe it. Calder of all people, stepping in, throwing his weight around like he knows better than me.
“Are you kidding me right now, Calder?”
He frowns like this the most confusing moment of his life.
Marco groans as he stumbles onto the floor. We both glance over for a second, and I roll my eyes before looking back at Calder. I start to walk away, but he grabs my arm to stop me.
“Don’t!” I bark as I yank out of his hold.
“Lily, please. Will you just—”
I hold my hand up, cutting him off. “After all those times you encouraged me to say what I want, to stand up for myself, to put myself and my feelings first. That’s exactly what I was doing just now. I don’t need you to barge in like some testosterone-crazy caveman and smash in Marco’s head to defend my honor. God, what decade do you think this is?”
Yeah, my piece-of-garbage ex was more than out of line. He invaded my space and touched me multiple times without my permission. But I knew exactly what I needed to do to get rid of him. That’s why I shoved him and told him off. I was doing just fine until Calder inserted himself into the situation.
Calder’s face scrunches in disbelief even more. “I was just trying to protect you, Lily. Do you really expect me to just stand there and watch while your ex creeps on you?”
“Yes!” I yell. “Because I’m not a helpless, weak little flower who’s too meek to do anything bold. If I needed your help, I would have asked for it.” I shake my head. I’m dizzy with frustration. I take a breath to ease my pounding heart, but it doesn’t help. “I know that’s what everyone thinks about me, and honestly, I don’t care. Because I know what I am and what I’m capable of now—and I thought you knew that too. But I was wrong.”
He opens his mouth, but he doesn’t speak.
“Don’t. I want to be alone right now. Just leave.”
I stop talking before my voice breaks and walk back toward the dinner service. Just then Harmony comes running over.
“What is all the yelling—” She cups her hands over her mouth. “Oh my god!” Her shocked voice is muffled against her hands as her gaze centers on Marco, who’s rolling around on the floor while cupping his face.
Harmony runs over to him and crouches down next to him. “What… what happened?”
“I punched him.” Calder’s tone is humdrum, like he’s reading his grocery list. He shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs. I let out a disgusted sigh.
I’m tempted to run off and leave this mess, but I can’t help but focus on Harmony as she crouches over Marco. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears as she gazes with worry at him.
I walk over to her. “Harmony,” I say softly. She looks up at me, her blue eyes dazzling as a few tears fall. “Minutes ago, Marco groped me and tried to get me to leave with him.” The breath I let out shudders through me. “I know… I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but he’s a piece of shit. You deserve way, way better.”
For a second, I wait to see what she’ll say. Will she lash out at me or accuse me of lying? Will she twist the scene and think that I was the one coming on to Marco? Will she refuse to believe me?
But she says nothing. All she does is stare at me with that bewildered and heartbroken look on her face.
“It’s true, Harmony,” Calder says from behind me. I register how much softer his tone is now. “That’s why I hit him.”
My head spins at the chaos of the last few minutes. I need to get the hell out of here. A handful of people from dinner who must have overheard the commotion start to filter into the hallway.
“What’s going on? What was all that shouting about?” Mom asks when I stop back at the table to get my purse.
Just then Marco emerges holding a napkin to his face. I notice that Harmony isn’t with him. Part of me wants to run back and check on her, but I fight the urge. Instead, I focus on my parents. The anger coursing through me from minutes earlier still has me on edge. Instead of just brushing what happened aside, like I’ve done so many times before in my life, I decide to tell them the truth, no matter how ugly it is.
“What happened was your golden boy Marco pulled me aside on my way to the restroom so he could grope me and proposition me to cheat on his fiancée. At his own rehearsal dinner. The night before his wedding. With his wife-to-be in the next room. So I told him off, then I told Harmony what a sack of crap she’s about to marry.”
Mom’s jaw drops just as Dad’s brow furrows.
“He’s not the perfect guy you two seem to think he is. I tried to tell you that before. Hopefully now you’ll finally believe me.”
I yank my purse strap off my chair and walk toward the lobby of the hotel before they can say anything in return. I’m clenching my jaw so hard, I start to feel the beginnings of a tension headache. I was supposed to spend the night with Calder in our hote
l room, getting up to endless naughty antics in the bed and shower and anywhere else we felt like it, but that’s obviously not going to happen anymore. Not after the stunt he pulled.
My head aches as I wander over to where the elevators are. Hurried footsteps echo behind me.
“Lily!”
I turn around when I hear Auntie Mayla’s voice. She pulls me into a hug.
“What a disaster tonight was,” I sniffle as she squeezes me tight. “I just… I was just trying to do the right thing.” I suddenly feel exhausted.
Just then she pulls away and grabs me by the shoulders to look at me. Her kind brown eyes gleam with fierceness and determination. “It’s a disaster all right, but not because of anything you did. You did do the right thing tonight, anak. Now, let’s get you to bed.”
I babble something about how I can’t stay in my room. Her eyebrows wrinkle with confusion.
“It’s a long story,” I mutter. “I’ll explain once I can change out of this dress.”
She nods once and pulls me into the elevator when it opens. “You’ll stay with me tonight and tell me all about it.”
I start to say that I can get my own room, but she waves a hand to cut me off.
“No, no. None of that.” She squeezes my hand in hers. “I’m always happy to spend time with you, nakkong. And when’s the last time we had a sleepover? Not since you were little. We’re due for one.”
Auntie Mayla’s room is on the same floor as mine and Calder’s, so I quickly pop in, grab my stuff, then follow her to her room. She insists that I take a hot bath to unwind. When I finish soaking and walk out of the bathroom, the table in her room is loaded with plates of desserts.
Dressed in the floral mumu she wears to sleep, she gestures to the table. “Since we missed dessert, I ordered room service for us.”
I smile at the yummy offerings. I plop down into the plush armchair next to the table and dig into a slice of carrot cake. Auntie Mayla grabs a single-serving trifle and settles on one of the two queen beds in the room.
“Now,” she says while digging her spoon into the dessert. “Tell me everything.”
