Aksel rubs the back of his neck, suddenly shy in a way I’ve never seen before. Color creeps up his throat and across his cheeks, and I hate how much I notice. “I got distracted.”
Eric blinks and then grins like he’s just been handed the best gossip of his life. “By what, exactly?”
Thetensioninthehallwayisthickenoughtochoke on.
“Nothing,”Akselblurts,waytoofasttobe convincing.
“Mmhmm,” Eric hums, lips pursed as he slowly waggles his eyebrows. “Well, you might want to tell yourhusbandabout the videos we found on our phones.”
Everything inside me freezes.
My blood goes cold, like someone just dumped ice water straight into my veins. “You’re fucking with me,” I say flatly. It’s not a question.
There is absolutely no way we did what Eric is implying. No way. I would remember something like that. Wouldn’t I?
My memory stubbornly refuses to cooperate. All I have is champagne, laughter, and then nothing. Just a blank stretch of time where my life may or may not have imploded in the most cliché way possible.
Drunk-married my ex–arch nemesis in Vegas.While filming a reality show. A scream starts to bubble up my throat, and I’m forced to swallow it back down.
This isn’t happening.
“I bet Mister Tentacles here would love to be doing exactly that right now,” Eric mutters under his breath.
Aksel shoots him a look sharp enough to draw blood, but I’m already moving, walking blindly toward the elevators like if I don’t stop, none of this can be real.
“Where are you going?” Aksel asks, concern clear in his voice.
“The roof,” I saybluntly.
He stumbles, just a little, and I feel a petty spark of satisfaction bloom in my chest. It dies immediately when Eric opens his mouth.
“Oh, please. Drama queen,” he says. “You want to win this competition way too badly to jump now. At least wait until after the eliminations.”
I stare at my bestie with narrowed eyes, really wanting to jump now to avoid any other world-altering shit shows. But, alas, he knows me too well. I can’t die without knowing I’m the best. Damn my stubborn siren genetics. I groan. “Ugh. Fine. The bar, then.”
“The bar?” Aksel asks. He looks genuinely worried, and annoyingly enough, it makes him even hotter.
“If I’m going to discuss myapparent nuptials, I need alcohol,” I snap, jamming my finger into the elevator button like that’ll make it arrive faster. It absolutely does. Science can’t convince me otherwise.
“I don’t think adding more alcohol is the solution here,” he says carefully.
I glare at him. “Then what do you suggest,hubby?” I gag as the word leaves my mouth.
I never wanted this kind of attachment. I’ve seen what itdoes to people. My parents are living proof that being bound to someone can turn into a life sentence.
“How about better coffee,” he says, steady but gentle. “We clear our heads and talk like adults.”
The elevator dings.
I step inside and cross my arms. “Fine. But you’re paying.”
“Oh,yay,”Ericsings,slidinginbehindus.“Free coffee.”
How is this the longest weekend of my life, and it’s only Friday?
Chapter Six
Aksel
