“Coming,” I call softly, though I don’t need to control the volume of my voice. I’ve been keenly aware of the fact that it’s just the two of us occupying this cavernous house.
I find whatever clothes I can and pull them on so I’m not answering the door in my pyjamas. Leggings, and a fluffy knit sweater. The one I made myself, with an intricate fair isle pattern in blue and lilac against a cream background.
When I answer the door, Jett is standing in the hall in a grey hoodie and matching sweatpants. His hair is mussed, as I’ve become accustomed to seeing it. He’s leaning casually on the wall across the hall and stands up straight when he sees I’ve opened the door.
“I thought you’d be sleeping.”
“Weren’t you?” I checked my phone to see the time before I got up. “It’s 2 o’clock.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
I want to ask what was keeping him up, if it was the same mix of excitement and nerves preventing sleep for me, but before I have the chance he says, “come on, I have something to show you.”
I follow him through the hall, and out into the living room, where the large sliding door is open to the balcony. Hehas my winter boots and a blanket to wrap around my shoulders before I step out into the snow.
The night is calm, serene, the thick blankets of white absorbing any sounds coming from the forest surrounding Jett’s house. It’s completely silent besides the sound of our breathing.
When we’re both outside, Jett takes out his phone and opens an app that allows him to turn all the lights off in and outside the house. At the press of a button, we’re in complete darkness.
The only remaining light is the glow from the moon and pink, purple and green lights dancing overhead. A wash of colour against an otherwise black night sky.
Neither of us say anything for a moment as we both stare up at the stars and the northern lights. They’re mesmerizing, and magical. The vibrant ripple of colour swirls among the stars, fading in and out, creating new shapes and lines every time it reappears. My breath catches as I watch them, entirely entranced, enamoured.
“They’re incredible,” I breathe into the silence.
“I thought you’d like them.” Jett leans his arms on the railing, eyes still fixed on the sky above.
A subtle throbbing radiates behind my sternum as I consider the fact that I’ve lived here for so long and this is my first time seeing the aurora borealis. I’ve never stayed up late enough, and I’m only now discovering an entire world that exists after ten o’clock.
The chill of the night air makes me shiver, but Jett radiates warmth, so I move a little closer until our arms are almost brushing against each other.
“How are you feeling about the wedding?” Jett asks.
“Nervous,” I answer. It’s easier to admit when I’m not looking at him. When I don’t have the world’s hottest playboy staring at me.
“About anything in particular?”
Everything.Whether people buy it or not, the inevitable drama that will come when we announce our divorce.
Kissing Jett. Butterflies roll around in my gut at the thought.
“Making it seem real,” I finally answer, deciding that it encompasses the whole mess of emotions I can’t make sense of. “We haven’t had the time to practice any of this. At least, I haven’t. We didn’t even kiss when we got engaged at the restaurant.”
Jett turns and looks at me and the weight of his eyes on me is heavy like the blanket he wrapped around me.
“Oh my god, we never kissed!” The realization makes my pulse roar. “Do you think anyone will pick up on that?”
Jett drops his head between his shoulders, putting all his weight on his forearms resting on the railing. He shakes his head and lets out a soft chuckle.
“I think the fact that I punched that waiter in the face will keep people pre-occupied. For better or for worse.”
I cringe when I think back to what happened. The disdain in that man’s voice, the way he hurled insults at me. Jett gets scrutinized plenty, but it’s nothing compared to how they treat the women he’s with.
Now, that will be me. Under constant fire.
But I had almost forgotten about the way my chest had hollowed out at what the waiter said. Because the only part of the whole interaction replaying in my mind is Jett’s words. Not the ones in defence of me, the ones he used when hiseyes darkened, and this unfamiliar protective and possessive look crossed his face.
My future wife.
