Page 59 of Marry Lies
“Then what would you call that whole stunt earlier?” she asks, her voice low.
I chuckle. “Like I said, I’m not jealous. I’m territorial. Jealousy implies wanting something that’s not yours. Territorial is protecting what’s already yours.”
She stiffens next to me. “You sure have a funny way of showing me that I’m yours,” she murmurs. “Try harder, Miles.”
Before I can respond, she pulls out from under my arms, excusing herself to use the restroom.
After she’s gone, Juliet and Chase return their attention to me.
“I really like her,” Juliet squeaks, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol. “I think you should marry her.”
“Too late,” I answer, deadpan.
She scoffs impatiently. “You know what I mean. Marry herfor real,” she slurs, her eyes slitted.
I arch a brow at my brother, who just watches his new wife with a soft, enamored look.
God, they’re nauseating.
“Yes, well, I doubt she’ll want to continue for the year with the way I’ve been acting.”
Especially when she finds out what I’ve done.
“It couldn’t hurt to tell her how you feel,” Chase says smugly, sipping his whiskey.
I glare at him, frowning. “Juliet, it’s time to take your drunken husband home.”
She laughs. “I don’t think so. I’m on Chase’s side this time. I’ve never seen you like this with anyone.”
I grind my jaw before taking another sip of my beer. “I think you’re misinterpreting things,” I tell her slowly.
She shakes her head. “No. I’m not. And I think she feels the same way about you.”
“Can you believe this is the same guy who was givingmeadvice aboutyouonly three months ago?” Chase asks Juliet, obviously goading me. “My, how times have changed. He can dish it out, but he can’t take it.”
“Fuck off,” I mutter, though I can’t help the small smile playing at my lips. I finish off the rest of my drink.
Chase slides the rest of his double whiskey over to me. “Drink this and go give your wife a real kiss, Miles.”
I stare at him. “You can’t be serious.”
He raises his brows in a silent challenge. “Idareyou.”
“Fuck you,” I grunt, shooting the rest of his whiskey and wishing I’d eaten dinner. It instantly makes me feel courageous andwaytoo brave for my own good.
“Go, Miles, go!” Juliet cheers, giggling.
I flip them off before walking off to find my wife.
She’s just coming out of the bathroom when I see her, and I step to the side, into the shadows of the hallway, so that she doesn’t see me right away. I watch her as she glances at herself in the full-size mirror, pulling on her skirt slightly and rolling one of her ankles. She runs a hand through her hair, and my eyes flick over to her reflection. My heart pounds when she places a hand against her chest, closing her eyes and muttering something I can’t hear.
Like she’s gearing up to see me again.
Like she has to work herself up to be near me.
Fuck.
I can’t move. Iwon’tmove.
