Page 40 of Paradise & Vodka
"You can't. That's exactly why I wanted to do this in private."
"But something is going on. I need to find out. What if my parents need my help?"
I hated to say my next words, but there was obviously something going on that they didn't want her to know. "Then they would have come to you."
Her brown eyes stared back at me as thoughIhad hurt her. As though I was the reason her family was keeping her in the dark. My heart ached to think of ever hurting her. I barely knew Ashleigh, but I cared deeply for her and wanted only the best for her. I wanted her to get all of her answers, and that was what I was trying to help her with, not be the cause of more questions. Ashleigh had gotten her apology from Everleigh, but she was still hurting.
"What do I do?" she finally asked.
I pulled her to me, needing to comfort her, needing to touch her. Needing to wrap my arms around her, and show her that even though she felt as though her world was spiraling, I was still there for her. "Let’s just pretend we know nothing, have a good time at this wedding, and tomorrow you can have a long talk with your folks."
"Okay. That’s probably for the best."
I kissed her softly and then said, trying to lighten the mood, "Don’t think I forgot you’re not wearing any panties, baby."
Ashleigh snorted. "I haven’t forgotten, but I still think you’re not going to do anything about it."
I grabbed her hand again, and we started back toward the reception. "That’s where you’re wrong. I know the perfect time to get you off."
Ashleigh was quiet as we sat at the table with her parents. If I’d been in her shoes, I would have been dying to find out what was going on too. We ate, we drank a little bit, and we watched as people gave toasts—even Ashleigh’s father.
"I’m not a man of many words, so I’ll keep this short and sweet." He turned and faced Everleigh at her table. "Twenty-five years ago, two of the most precious gifts a father could ask for came into this world. Since that day, I’ve wanted nothing except the best for them. I wished that they would find someone to protect them, provide for them, and love them like I tried since that first day. I thank God that Everleigh has found that man, and I’m happy to welcome you to our family, Douglas. Thank you for taking care of my little girl, and I wish nothing but the best for both of you."
My blood boiled at the speech. Most people had to know the circumstances of how Everleigh and Dougie met, and Ashleigh’s own father acted as if he was oblivious to it all despite my conversation with him.
What the fuck was wrong with these people?
I leaned over and kissed Ashleigh’s temple to show her that I knew what her father’s words had done to her. He might not know that the entire thing was a sham, but he had to know that his words would hurt Ashleigh. Was it only Everleigh and Dougie who knew about the agreement, or did the people it affected (the bride and groom and Ashleigh's parents) know as well?
After the toasts were made, Everleigh and Dougie danced, and from the outside looking in, they really did appear as though they were in love. If I hadn't seen the fight, I would have thought nothing was wrong. It was ironic that I was with Ashleigh under false pretenses, and Everleigh and Dougie weren't really a couple either.
People had moved to the dance floor after the couple finished their dance. I stood and held out my hand for Ashleigh. "Dance with me?"
"Sure." She smiled, but it didn't light up her eyes as I had seen in the past, and I had to change that. Her smile was too beautiful to be hidden by sadness about things she couldn't change.
We joined the other guests out on the dance floor. Song after song, Ashleigh and I laughed, we kissed, and we sang, forgetting all the bullshit and just enjoying the paradise we were in. When the DJ switched to a slow song, I brought her against me and swayed to the beat. I'd never heard the song before—it was country, and country music wasn't my thing—but I got lost in the words under the stars and the ball lanterns as the singer sang about getting lost inhereyes. I felt as though we were the only two out on the dance floor, and everything he was saying was exactly how I was feeling.
"I love this song," Ashleigh admitted.
"I've never heard it before. What's it called?"
"'Here Tonight' by Brett Young."
"I like it."
"It's so romantic."
The beat picked up slightly, and when he sang about lingering kisses, I took that opportunity to do just that. My lips brushed against Ashleigh's, lingering in the most sensual kiss I'd ever had. I wasn't sure if it was the words of the song, the moon shining down on us as we danced in Fiji, or if I was really getting wrapped up in her, but I did forget about everything and everyone around us. I wanted to stay there in that moment forever with her in my arms, and lose all track of time like the guy sang about. He sang about being all in, and even though the words terrified me, maybe I was? I knew there was something special about Ashleigh, and even though I wanted to prove my friends wrong, maybe I was falling for her?
I didn't knowwhat was happening.
One minute, Nick and I were dancing and laughing, and the next, I felt as though something had shifted in the air. Like all the stars above were aligning and everything was falling into place. Granted, it could have been because the words of the song were about falling in love, but it also could have been because I was falling in love with Nick.
How could I be so stupid? How could I think that the feelings would be reciprocated? How could I let my emotions get the best of me?
I stayed in his arms until the song was over.
He cleared his throat, almost as though he was feeling something too. "Want to grab another drink?"
