She turns to me now. “What are you doing in here now then?”
“Asking Reid if he needs coffee or if he’s calling it quits.”
She waves a hand at him. “You look fine, Reid. Drink some water and move on.”
“Thanks, Kate,” he calls behind us.
“Anytime!” She focuses on me again. “I need you to go get the champagne.”
“Don’t you mean Prosecco?” Kate stares at me as if awaiting me to further explain. So, in a state of people pleasing panic, I do. “It’s just that champagne is from France and Prosecco is from Italy. So since we’re, you know, in Italy, I assume?—”
“Jane, if I wanted Prosecco I would’ve said Prosecco. I have an order placed forchampagnethat I need you to go pick up,” Kate says.
Lydia strolls past, casually stopping in front of a mirror to check her makeup. I gesture a frustrated hand toward her.
“This really feels like a job for your maid of honor.”
“Jessica and I have plans to sightsee today,” she says, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
“I want to go sightseeing today.” I know my voice sounds whiney and petulant, but how am I the one who keeps getting sucked into doing these ridiculous tasks?
Kate grips my hands. “Jane, come one. I need your help. Please? You can sightsee as you get it!”
So many emotions are swirling in me right now, from frustration to anger to humiliation that she’s so willing to belittle me so easily. Especially in front of Lydia and Reid and everyone else who can hear us in this villa.
“I’ll go with her.”
I jump at the sound of Reid’s voice directly behind me. I spin and face him and come face to face with his muscular chest. I finally drag my gaze up to his face. He winks at me quickly then looks up at Kate.
I turn around with a quicker pulse and a heat on my cheeks. Kate is staring at me like she’s trying to piece together a puzzle, and I vaguely wonder if she’s remembering our conversation at the spa yesterday.
“I guess Jane wouldn’t be strong enough to carry all of the cases.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kate,” I mutter.
“Please just be back in time for the group dinner we have planned.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I offer.
Reid walks over, offering me a hand to escort me out of the room.
“Do you even know where we’re supposed to be going?” I ask Reid as he takes our group rental car through the winding narrow streets. My hands are a little bit sweaty at how much he’s weaving around these streets, especially as a low fog is starting to settle in.
“Ido, actually.” He keeps his hand on the wheel but uses his other to pick his phone up and wave it at me, showing the GPS map directing him.
“Just admit you’re dumping me in the middle of nowhere. My anxiety can’t handle the unknown. Be upfront about my ultimate demise.”
“How would you prefer, instead, if we did something fun?”
“Over death? Yeah, that sounds great.” The corner of his lips pull up and I tamp down the stupid fluttering in my stomach. I hate how much I actually love making him smile. “Where exactly is this fun though? I just feel like we’re getting really far from the villa and I can’t imagine Kate has some order this far away.”
“Oh, yeah, we’re not going there.”
I whip my head to look at him. “What?” Panic seizes me. A pit of nerves form in my stomach. If we don’t come back in time with the thing she sent me out for, I’ll have her wrath to contend with. “Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise.” Before I can panic further, he deposits his phone back in the cupholder and rests a hand on my thigh. With just the feel of his hand on my skin, I can feel my stress easing ever so slightly. “Hey,” he says gently, “this is my idea. It’s my fault. If she’s mad when we get back, let me handle her. Okay?”
“Okay.” My voice is quiet, nervous.
