My mouth hung agape as Nick studied me.
“Oh, right, you were both in the bridal party! Well, I’ll have to check with Bill and make sure that also won’t be a conflict. It should be fine, though. You’re not living in the same house!” Marcie said with a good-natured laugh.
I laughed a little too loud. “Yeah. Funny how that works!” Funny, because Nick, unlike Guy, had seen most of what I look like naked, or had my private parts in his mouth. But if being a roommate is what makes a conflict of interest, Nick and I were in the clear.
“Well, I’ll let you two chat and go put my feet up. My ankles are starting to swell.” Marcie gestured to her feet and walked off.
I took a steeling sip of my wine as Nick opened his arms for a hug. Stiffly, I went into it, giving a little hum of recognition that I should physically greet him somehow. “It’s good to see you, Annie.”
“You too.”
His smile became more polite. “How long have you been in town?”
“I got here over the weekend. Staying at Guy and Kitty’s.”
“A whole week, huh?” He looked out over my head, seeming annoyed.
“Y-yes?”
“I guess make-believe is over,” he huffed.
I screwed up my face. “You’re mad I didn’t call you?”
“Or answer my text with my beautiful dog.”
“I hearted it! Isn’t that enough?”
“You’re right,” he scoffed. “Why would it matter? It’s not like you’re going to care about me beyond one weekend.”
What the hell? “Did you think we were going to have some long-distance relationship or something? I barely know you.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I don’t know you.”
I threw my hand out. “You said yourself it was just for that night!” People were starting to stare.
“It was more than one night, Annabelle,” he bit out.
I stepped closer to him. “Nick, say whatever it is that’s bothering you. I can’t work for you unless you feel good about this.”
His jaw ticked and his green eyes met mine. “Why did you have to tell my friends I was bad at it?”
My eyes widened and my chest flushed. I tented my fingers at my temple, cool from holding my white wine. My mouth flapped. “That wasn’t supposed to get back to you.”
“I genuinely supported and cared about you, Annie. And you thank me by telling everyone that I suck at eating pussy?”
A couple of conversations close to us cut off. I gaped at him. “Lower your voice, Nick.” I grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the hallway. I remembered how he’d done that for me when he was being nice to me at the wedding. A bubble of guilt rose up. He was right to be mad at me.
“I’m really sorry about that, Nick. I told my girlfriends that in confidence, and they shared it with their partners.”
“Who are my best friends. Who are now on me about being bad at this and trying to ‘help’ me.”
I shrugged sheepishly. “Well, maybe it’ll help.”
“I can’t believe you spent that second night with me, and then still talked shit about me. I shared personal stuff with you, Annie.”
Tears welled in my eyes. I’d really hurt him. I reached for him and captured his wrist again. “Nick, I never said anything about you after that night. I just—” I sucked in a breath. “It doesn’t make it better, but I told Kitty in confidence about our little romp before the wedding and she brought it up when we were getting ready. I’m really sorry. I would never try to hurt you. You’re a good guy.”
His brow furrowed further. “Every day, Annie.”
