Page 20 of Axe-identally Married
“You’re right. We need to own the narrative,” I said, my sadness morphing into anger. If I saw Gail tonight, I’d punch her. Then I’d probably punch Owen. I loved Lila and wanted her to be happy, but if he ever looked at Cole like that again, I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t avenge my husband.
“You’re making a really scary face right now.”
“I was thinking about how mad I am at Gail. And at Owen. If he ever even thinks about giving you shit, I’ll knock his teeth out.”
He laughed. “I hit the wife jackpot: cute and feisty.”
My heart sank, but I forced a smile.
Cute.
If I had a nickel for every time a guy had called me cute. I was always cute. With my round cheeks and green eyes. Never sexy, never gorgeous, never desirable. Just… cute.
I’d been told more times than I could count that I’d besopretty if I lost weight. That line was one of my favorites. Like I was hiding something worthwhile beneath the layers of blubber. I’d worked hard to push past that, to celebrate my body and treat myself with respect. But sometimes, one word could send me into a tailspin.
Cute.
His comment should not have bothered me. Yes, he had been flirty and handsy last night, and we had kissed a fair amount, but that was where the connection stopped. He was a generic hot guy. That was it. His feelings about my looks should not matter.
So why was I now heading back to my room, determined to look extra hot at dinner?
Chapter Seven
Cole
Willa’s face looked a little green when she met me in the lobby for dinner.
I hovered close and kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. “You look gorgeous, wifey,” I said softly.
Two little spots of pink appeared on her cheeks, making her look a little less pallid.
I got the sense that she had not been told nearly enough how beautiful she was. And while I’d keep my mouth shut and uphold my end of our bargain, I couldn’t help but admire her. Thick honey-blond hair and an upturned nose. And her lips? Fuck, she had the most kissable lips. Full and pink, with a cupid’s bow.
We’d kissed last night. The memories were fragmented, but the sensation of my hand splayed across her ass as I threw dice and the warmth of her body pressed to mine when she threw her arms around my neck in celebration were vivid.
Despite my hangover and the general anxiety about the situation plaguing me, being with her right now felt right.
Even so, I didn’t want to walk into that room and announce yet another fuck-up to my family. I especially didn’t want to dragWilla down with me. As annoyed as my family would be by my drunken Vegas wedding, they’d be horrified that I’d corrupted the saintly Dr. Willa Savard in the process.
The Savards were good people. The best people. Willa’s dad had been the town doctor for decades, and her mother was a psychologist who worked in several area schools. They showed up at every event and every fundraiser, and they were always the first to offer help to their neighbors. The town loved them for it.
I stood a little straighter. So I’d made a drunken mistake, but I was pretty impressed with myself. There was no way I could land a woman as incredible as Willa on a normal day. So we headed down to dinner, ready to face the music.
Unsurprisingly, Owen had gone all out for his fiancée. The same private chef who’d curated an incredible gluten-free meal our first night here was holding a tasting dinner in the private wine cellar at the Bellagio, and as we approached the massive mahogany doors, we were greeted by tuxedoed waiters.
I’d almost nailed my head on the doorframe before I remembered to duck—underground cellars were not tall-guy friendly—but once I straightened, I was blown away by what I saw inside.
The space was filled with priceless sculptures, Renaissance-style carvings, and tens of thousands of bottles of wine, neatly organized and laid out to create a small, intimate space in what was otherwise a medium-size underground cavern.
My family was all here, chatting and milling around. The champagne was already flowing, and a harpist was playing in the corner.
The sight warmed my chest. My family was together and happy. Debbie was beaming, taking photo after photo and chatting with Lila’s mom, no doubt making wedding plans. Chloe was sitting on Gus’s lap, and he had his hand splayedprotectively on her belly. Finn and Adele were standing, telling some hilarious story and finishing one another’s sentences.
And then there was Lila. She was tucked into Owen’s side, looking radiant in a short yellow dress. Her smile was so big and so genuine, I had the urge to hug her and tell her how happy I was for her.
There was a time when I thought I’d be the man she married. We’d stuck it out for so long together, and she’d given up so much for me. But we brought out the worst in one another. I’d wanted to love her. She was inherently loveable, and for some ridiculous reason, she had believed in me.
So I tried, for many years. But eventually, I stopped putting in the effort.
