Page 45 of Wild Ever After
DECLAN
Something is wrong.
I haven’t quite figured out what, but from the second Jade and I sat down at dinner, she’s been acting strange. The vibe of the restaurant is fun and playful, which makes her behavior stand out that much more.
A live band plays at the front of the restaurant. The meal is buffet-style, and the drinks are bottomless. The tables are pushed close together, making the place feel like a big party. It’s not what I would have chosen for our last night here. Slowly, I’ve been finding out more about Jade, but here, it’s impossible to talk, without couples nearby hearing our every word.
The band switches to a slower song and several people around us stand and make their way to the dance floor. Jade watches them almost wistfully.
Downing the rest of my drink, I stand and offer her my hand.
She hesitates, but slips her hand in mine. That familiar heat at her touch has my chest tightening. I’ve been careful not to let my gaze linger too long and to keep my hands to myself this week. She said that she didn’t want to go there again, and I respect that. Doesn’t make it any easier, though. Jade is smoking hot and the chemistry between us is unreal, but more than that, I just like being with her.
I pull her close and we move to the music. I keep my tone playful as I say, “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thanks. I figured I might as well go all out for our final night.” She moves one hand from my shoulder to my neck. “You look nice too. Then again, you always do.”
“I do?” The question is out before I can think better of it.
“Don’t play like you don’t know. The bartender earlier was ready to jump over the bar and eat you alive.”
“The bartender?” I ask. It hits me as soon as she starts speaking again.
“I saw you on my way to the gift shop. She likes you.”
I tense a little, hoping she didn’t get the wrong idea. The bartender was cute and nice, but I’d never do something like that to anyone. Let alone Jade. “We were just talking.”
“I know,” Jade says. “I trust you.”
“Good.”
“But I think maybe you should sleep with her.” The words tumble out quickly and then she peers up at me.
“You want me to sleep with someone else on our honeymoon?”
“No one really knows us here and it might be your last chance.”
I don’t say anything. I’m angry and frustrated, and I don’t entirely know why.
“Twelve months is a long time,” she adds.
“And you? Are you going to sleep with someone else too? Maybe that server that keeps checking you out every time he walks by.” My jaw tightens while I wait for her answer.
“What server?” She looks around but then shakes her head. “No. I’m not…I don’t want to sleep with some random person.”
“And you think I do?”
“I’m responsible for getting you into this mess. I owe you this at least.”
“You owe me the chance at a quick fuck with some chick I don’t know?”
Her eyes squeeze shut, and when she opens them again, she looks flustered. “I don’t know how to navigate this. The gravity of what I’ve gotten us into is sinking in and I don’t know how we move forward, but I don’t want you to hate me when this is all over.”
Her chin drops and I use a finger to lift it, so I can look in her eyes when I say, “I could never hate you.”
“You say that now.” Her voice is raw and filled with pain.
“I promise it.” I take her hand and place both of our palms over my heart. “I vow it. Whatever happens, at the end of this, we stay friends.”
