Page 53 of Indulge
He clicks his tongue. “Your fiancé said you do. And here I am. Like magic.” He waves his hand like a showman.
“My fairy godmother. You know we’re going wedding dress shopping, right?”
He blows out a breath. “Sounds… fun.”
I smack his arm. “You mean you can see why Reggie bailed?”
He frowns and shakes his head. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress. Reg’s superstitious like that. Got it from our loopy mother.”
That makes me laugh. “Your mom was crazy? Or is?”
He shrugs, but there’s no humor in it. “Yeah. She thought she was a witch. Like, a real one. Turns out ninety percent of the time she was high as a kite on shrooms.”
“Jesus. That’s awful. Do you speak to her now?” I ask gently.
A shadow crosses his face. The first time I’ve seen anything but carefree Rowan. He looks younger, lost.
“Our parents died when we were thirteen. Drug deal gone bad. Both shot dead. Probably the best thing to happen to us, though. Our lives were shit. The Quinns gave us a real shot.”
I slip an arm around him without thinking. He hugs me back, resting his head against mine.
“Don’t feel sorry for me,” he whispers.
“Why not?”
His heart hammers against my ribs. “Because I’m good now. I’m happy. It all turned out fine.”
My throat tightens. Tears burn. I don’t talk about my parents. I can’t, not without drowning in images of my father’s death. But, for some reason, the words fall out.
“My dad was shot too. I saw it.”
He cuddles me even closer, resting his head on the top of mine. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
It feels too easy in his arms, so I force myself to pull away.
“You can talk about it whenever you want with me, Bels. I’ll always listen.”
I sniffle to hold back my tears, I will not cry. “Same goes to you, rockstar. I’m here for you.”
Rowan clears his throat, nodding toward Lily, who’s still wrestling with Reggie’s expensive coffee machine.
“Go help her. But please get me your caramel syrup,” I say, batting my lashes.
He winks. “I hid a bottle in Reggie’s cupboard. Well out of his reach so he won’t throw it away.”
That makes me smile. It’s the little things a girl notices.
24
ROWAN
I’ve been in a lot of places I didn’t belong—clubs, back rooms, church pews—but never in my life did I think I’d end up here. A bridal boutique. Sitting in a velvet chair like a bored husband, except the bride parading out of those double doors isn’t mine.
And if she was, I could never be bored in her company. Every time I’m near her, my body bounces with excitement.
Bella steps out in the first dress, and my cock damn near jumps to attention before I’ve even taken a proper breath. White silk, fitted to her waist, slit up the thigh like it was made to ruin me.
“So?” she asks, spinning slowly, green eyes glittering.
