Page 79 of Gorgeous

“The woman to your right spends her afternoons in ‘book club’ which we all know is really the woman to your left’s cunt,” he says flatly, downing the last of his champagne. I haven’t been drinking since the fiasco with Hayes, but Theo seems to be havingmore fun with less of a filterafterdowning a couple glasses.

“Are you saying they are having an affair with each other?” I don’t know why it seems so scandalous, but I was fully prepared that he was going to say with another man. “Yup. The First Wives’ Club of Madison.”

“No way do they call it that,” I argue. Theo shrugs, his line of sight moving from the dainty thirty-ish woman to Anniston. She and Cade are talking to a couple men dressed in tuxes like all the rest. Their body language is comfortable, laughing at something one of the suits has said. I watch Cade scratch a spot along his scruff, nodding as if he’s fully invested in the conversation. Anniston’s simple black gown pools at her feet, and her voice carries toward us when she laughs. She takes a step back, nearly falling over her dress. Cade snags her elbow and she flashes him a smile of thanks, leaving her hand tucked there. It’s a simple move. It’s kind—chivalrous even. But this nasty taste creeps into my mouth, making me frown while my eyes narrow at the two beautiful people in front of me.

I chance a look at Theo. He’s not showing any outward signs of jealousy. Having him storm through the two men and yank his wife off my man is not asking too much, is it?

I ask him the question I really need the answer to. “How do you deal with it?”

His stare never leaves Anniston when he responds, “How do I deal with what?”

Ugh. Why couldn’t he have known what I was talking about? Having to spell it out is awkward. And sad. But I’ve already opened my big mouth, so I may as well get what I need.

I fumble with the bracelet on my wrist, sliding it up and down my arm. “How do you deal with their relationship … their love?”

This time he does look at me, and it’s the strangest expression I’ve ever seen on his face. He’s not offended or pissed, or about to cuss me out in front of hundreds of people. Instead, his cheek twitches and the hint of a smile emerges. “Is Cade’s jelly girl jealous?”

Yes. But I’m not about to own it at this moment. I shrug like maybe I give a fuck about Cade. A little.

Theo’s chuckle is low and laced with amusement. “I’m going to be real with you, okay?”

I nod. I can handle real.

“At first it bothered me.”

Thank you. I knew it had to.

“I hated Cade.” He glances at the two still locked in conversation. “Even now, good friends as we are, I still think mine and Anniston’s relationship would be easier without having to share her attention with five other guys. But how shitty of me to demand she leave them just because I get a little insecure occasionally.” He shrugs like admitting this is awkward to him.

“Do you ever think one day she may wake up and realize she and Cade are more than just friends?”

There’s a pregnant pause before Theo answers. “Sure. But isn’t that the risk you take in any relationship? Maybe she falls in love with the bag boy in the checkout line? Or, maybe she decides that she wants Martha’s killer cunt?” I laugh. “The thing is, relationships aren’t guaranteed. It’s up to each one of us to fight to keep what we have alive. Cade may be a pain in my ass, but he’s part of what makes Anniston so incredible. Before Cade, she wasn’t the girl who fought for what she wanted. She followed me from game to game, unhappy. She wasn’t the bright and vibrant woman I see today.” He sighs, taking a moment before he continues, “I guess what I’m saying is, the Cade you know now is not the Cade from nearly two years ago. Would you have loved him at his lowest? At his filthiest?”

I interrupt because I know the answer. “Yes, I’dlike to think I would have.”

Theo nods his head slowly like he’s just getting to know the real me. He lets out an amused breath. “You know what? I actually believe you would have.”

I feel a smile tug at my lips. Hell yeah, I would have. I gave up my life for him. I’ve watched him for a year, praying to see the Cade my brother spoke of, waiting for him to notice me again. I can’t be sure I would have been able to pull him back from the brink of death like Anniston did when she found him. She is a doctor after all. But even if I could have handled the mental and physical issues he had back then, I don’t know that I would have pushed him like Anniston did, commanding him when he wanted to give up.

I’d like to think I would have, but I’m not positive.

I’m grateful to Anniston for saving Cade’s life when no one was there for him, but it’s hard to digest their relationship. I think Theo’s point is simple, though. Cade is who he is because of Anniston and vice versa. Who are we to ask them to give up something so precious just because we get jealous?

“Has it gotten easier for you?” I ask him. His lip pokes out in thought, his eyes becoming brighter as he catches movement from Cade and Anniston. Anniston is stroking Cade’s upper arm, her playful eyes locked on Theo. She’s fucking with him. I look at Cade, and he’s grinning, too. Apparently, they’re bored with the conversation and have decided to play,‘Let’s see how pissed we can make Theo.’ But Theo doesn’t look pissed. He looks the opposite—eager, bouncing on his heels like he’s ready to sprint in their direction. A man in a suit steps in front of him, blocking his view, and I swear he growls beside me.

Theo snags another glass of champagne from the waiter as he passes, downing it in one gulp. “Look, B,” he drawls, taking a step behind me. “You and I have something that Cade and Anniston don’t.” His breath dances along my bare shoulder, the muscles along my neck tensing under the warmth.

“What are you doing?” I ask him, a little breathless. I’m naïve, I’ll admit, but this conversation took a wild turn and I’m not sure how to handle it.

Theo rumbles out low laughter. “Trust me, B. Let me show you what we have that they don’t.”

I stare back at Cade whose smile is waning with Theo’s head bent at my shoulder. Anniston’s bright blue eyes are narrowed, too, and it seems their stroking has stopped altogether.

Huh. “Okay,” I tell Theo, eager now to see what he’s about to do. “Show me.”

He huffs out a, “Good girl,” in my ear, dragging his fingers up my bare arm, stopping as he reaches the curve of my neck. “Watch his face.” I don’t need for him to tell me that he means Cade because that’s the only person I’m watching.

Replacing his finger, Theo blows along my neck, inadvertently creating chills. “Do you see it?” he whispers. I chance another look at Cade. His jaw is clenched, the muscles in his neck straining.

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