Page 74 of Resisting You
“Here,” she said again, thrusting the champagne flutes at us. “Toast. To a lifetime of happiness.”
Rosa looked at me, challenge arching in her dark eyebrows. It was already my first test to see if I fell back into the king of douches.
“Well?” Rosa said. “Are we drinking to a lifetime of love or not?”
I tapped the edge of my glass to hers. “I will always drink to a lifetime of loving you, Dr. Rosa Alvarez.”
Smiling, we both took a sip of our champagne.
“No, no,” Morgan said, tilting the edges of the glasses. “Drink up.”
I finished my champagne in a few swallows, but Rosa only took a couple of sips before she set it down on a passing tray.
Reality has this annoying habit of crashing the party. I glanced around; the crowd was still cheering, but my time was up.
West was leading Reid through the sea of people, with Hazel behind holding her husband’s hand. "Alright, lovebirds,” Reidsaid, bending to give Rosa a quick kiss to the cheek. “You both have nights of debauchery to finish.”
“Do we have to?” I groaned.
“Yes!” Hazel says, giving my shoulders a little push toward the door. “My best friend only gets married once! And since webotheloped, we’re all going to do tonight right! All of you, go look at some boobies and then you’ll realize how good you two have it with us.” Hazel gave Reid a little shimmy.
I broke away from her to lean in to give Rosa another kiss. “I love you,” I whispered.
Her cheeks went pink as she smiled up at me. “Go,” she said, covering her smile. “Go enjoy the night.”
“Are you sure? Fuck all them. I don’t have to. I can go back to the hotel and watch a movie with West, Reid, and Birdie.”
She shook her head. “No. I feel better now. Besides, your mom was very excited to dog-sit Birdie tonight. We can’t take that from her.” She gave my hand a squeeze. “I love you, Noah.”
I grinned. “I love you, too.” I swallowed hard, my eyes searching hers. “I’m glad we’re doing this.” Then, leaning in, I whispered, “Reallydoing this.”
“Me, too.”
Before we could say anything more, Hazel and Callie tugged Rosa away and West and Reid led me back upstairs.
The stairs seemed steeper going back up to the gentleman’s area of the club, each step heavier, each laugh from the room above grating against the memory of Rosa's smile. As I emerged into the chaos of my own celebration, there was Morgan, already upstairs, leaning casually against the wall like some femme fatale out of a film noir.
"Noah, we need to talk," she said.
"About what?" I asked, stepping past her to make my way to the bar.
"Us," she insisted, her gaze piercing and determined.
“There is no us.”
"Youcan'tbe serious about marrying Rosa. Noah, this is crazy.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck where tension had decided to make its home. With a glance back at West and Reid, I gestured for them to give us a moment. With a nod, they shifted across the bar to place an order with the bartender as I turned back to Morgan. "Can’t be serious? Morgan, It’s already done. Whether you like it or not, I’m married?—"
"Think about it," she interrupted, stepping closer. "We'd be unstoppable together. Hollywood'sitcouple. We could have it all."
There was an earnestness to her plea that almost—almost—made me believe she actually cared about me. But even if that were the case, it wouldn’t be enough to make me waver. Rosa's kiss still lingered on my lips, a silent vow that anchored me. She loves me. And I love her. I wasn’t going to fuck that up. Not for anything.
"No,” I said firmly. “You and I are over. I choose Rosa. I will always choose Rosa.”
Morgan didn't flinch, didn't falter. Instead, she stood there, blocking my path to the bar to order another drink. "Choices can be changed, Noah," she countered, her phone already in her hand. Before I could protest, I felt my pocket buzz with the notification of an airdrop. "Just take a look."
I stared down at the pdf she just sent me and opened it to reveal a meticulously crafted five-year plan like some kind of twisted fairy tale roadmap. It detailed a saga of public appearances, strategically timed dates, and headlines that would catapult Morgan and me to the zenith of Hollywood royalty.
