An emptiness settled in my stomach as I stared at it. I wasn’t accustomed to expensive and shiny items like this, and I felt awkward wearing such extravagance. I had even been uneasy about the enormous ring he’d given me. I appreciated the gesture more than I could say, only I knew I wouldn’t wear expensive jewelry, and spending money on it wasn’t something I wanted him to do.
“Wow,” Lana said over my shoulder. “Look at that.”
Sarcasm dripped in her tone.
“It’s beautiful,” I forced out. “But you know you didn’t have to,” I said, meeting his eyes.
“I know. I was told I should wait until our wedding day to give it to you. Something about a gift exchange tradition? I’m not sure. However, I wanted to give it to you now. I’ve been away a lot this month on this project. I wanted to make it up to you.”
Was it horrible that I hadn’t noticed that he had hardly been home over the last month?
“It’s fine,” I said. “I love it.”
A lie, except I was too tipsy to get into it then. Especially with Lana there. The argument would have been over the top.
Tyler leaned in and kissed my cheek before taking the box out of my hands. “I’ll put this away somewhere safe,” he said. “I’m off to bed. Wake me when you come in?”
I nodded, trying to keep the forced-smile on my face. He kissed me again, and then took the box and headed toward the bedroom.
“Night, Lana,” he said as he passed.
“We’ll try to keep it down,” Lana said, her voice dripping with a smart-aleck flare.
The moment he disappeared into the bedroom and we heard the door snap closed, Lana looked at me with an expectant glare.
“Not a word,” I said, grabbing my wine.
Lana’s lips pressed together thinly, and I could tell it was taking everything in her to bite back the words on her tongue. I knew she wanted to say something about his being there, about the gift he’d brought that even she knew I wouldn’t like, and most especially, about my poor attempt to sober up upon seeing him.
“Narwhal,” I said firmly.
Lana huffed. “Fine. We can talk about it tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
Fucking hell,tomorrow.
I downed my wine at the thought of what might happen the next day. Gavin’s face flashed behind my eyes, and my stomach twisted into knots.
One thing at a time, Chloe, I reminded myself.
CHAPTER FOUR - CHLOE
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Lana and I woke at the crack of dawn to make it to my dress fitting on time. Tyler was still in bed, exhausted with jet lag, his dark brown hair a mess of loose curls. He had gotten up as I was getting dressed to grab a coffee from the machine, and then got back under the sheets to scroll through his phone.
“What time is this social tonight?” he asked as I looked my outfit over in the mirror.
“Ezzie said eight,” I answered. “So we should leave here about fifteen minutes before that.”
“I have a meeting across town at six,” he said, setting his phone down.
“Is that your way of telling me you’re not making it tonight?” I asked.
“No, I’ll make it back,” he answered. “Any chance to hang out with all of your friends,” he added, and I noted the fake smile on his lips.
I almost laughed. “I know we’re loud when we get together, but we don’t get to see each other all the time.“
“What are your plans Sunday?” he asked.
