I reach for the picture book, using it as a personal shield to hide my blush when laughter echoes all around me—Nate included.
It’s his first happy emotion of the night.
Thankfully, I’m no longer the centre of attention when Anya falls face-first into her mother’s lap, legs kicking out excitedly. “Can we pretty, pretty please go—”
“Anya, look up!” Richard calls from his spot beyond the pool.
A deep, continuous roar echoes through the air, and the girl shoots up faster than I can blink. She runs to her grandpa and stops to watch a large plane zip above them—it’s red and green lights flickering in the dark sky.
“That was so cool!” Her fists pump in the air before turning toward us with puppy dog eyes. “Can we pretty, pretty please go airplane watching?”
The food from earlier churns at the question, no longer sitting well with me. I take a deep breath, closing my eyes to gather myself when another rumble of engines surges.
It’s like I’ve been sent back nine years in time.
“Is that something you guys are up for?” Audrey asks, glancing from Nate to me. “There’s a nearby airport we love to go to. It’s sort of a tradition around here.”
“I don’t mind,” Nate answers, looking over to me.
Iwantto go. I want to make up for the events that brought us here in the first place. But I’m not sure if I can without breaking into thousands of jagged pieces.
I nibble on my lip nervously, and it isn’t until a large hand lands on mine that I realize I’ve been fidgeting this whole time.
My gaze drops to where Nate’s skin meets mine, and a shiver rakes through my spine at the touch.
It’s meant to calm me down, and while it does shift my mind away from the incident, I now find myself consumed with something else entirely.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to go. It’s getting late, anyway. We should be heading back home,” he says softly.
“Nonsense,” Natalia protests. “It’s way too dark for you to make the drive back to the city. Stay the night and leave tomorrow.”
Audrey’s brows perk up. “Now, that’s what I call a great idea. We could also swing by the Audrey Archer Atelier before you head off? We have so many stunning bridal looks you could try on—maybe even findthe one?”
Nate stiffens beside me at the mention of picking out wedding dresses, while I’m internally freaking out at the implication of spending the night.
It’s been a long day for us both, and I speak on our behalf when I say that the only thing that will fix it is to sleep in our own beds.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Nate answers.
Audrey’s lips part in disappointment while Natalia’s shoulders slump in defeat. Something about their reactions elicits a sense of guilt in me.
His family went out of their way to accommodate us tonight.Richard spent an hour barbecuing. Audrey is offering me one of her dresses for my nonexistent wedding. Natalia regarded me as if I were already her daughter-in-law.
They treated me like one of their own despite the cheating allegations that brought us here. And if Nate and I can’t inconvenience ourselves for one night to please them, I think we’d be the bad guys in this situation.
Before I know it, I’m speaking from the heart.
“We would love to spend the night! And visiting the Atelier sounds like so much fun!”
Nate’s head snaps in my direction, his gaze boring into me. “I don’t know if that’s a great id—”
“It’s decided, you’re staying the night, and we’ll go to the atelier tomorrow.” Audrey stands, cheering. “Have you taken down thePlayboyposters from your wall, Nate?” she singsongs, looking down at her big brother defiantly.
I muffle a cough while Nate’s hand lands on my leg.
“There never were anyPlayboyposters!” he defends. “They’re cars and planes. You know this!”
“Tomayto, tomahto.” Audrey waves a hand dismissively.”They both have a way of turning you on, one way or another.”
