I swallow hard and set my empty glass down, hopping off the stool. “Yeah well, it’s been fun, but I think I should go find my fiancé now,” I say before turning to walk away.
“Good luck, Romeo,” he says. “You’re going to need it.”
I find Lainey talking to Brendan by one of the fire pits, and she tells me that the last time she saw Mila, she was going into the women’s room. I thank her, wondering if she knows the truth about our arrangement or not. When she gives me a small, knowing smile, it answers the question for me. I take in a deep breath and let it out, wondering who else knows.
Just as I approach the door to the single-stall bathroom, it opens, and she walks out looking startled and flushed.
“Are you alright?” I ask, instinctively touching her. Suddenly I’m questioning myself about all the things I just do instinctively.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she says with a weak smile, but I don’t buy it.
“You sure? You look like you’re going to throw up,” I tell her, looping my arm around her.
“Oh, that already happened,” she says. Now I’m really concerned. Mila picks up on it and pats my chest. “It’s okay, really. I just…it was a lot of attention and a big surprise and–”
“I guess I should have told you I was planning on proposing,” I grimace.
“I mean, I knew that was the plan; I just didn’t know it would be tonight or in front of all these people,” she says. Something about the wordsthe planhits a nerve, though I can’t really explain what kind.
“I understand,” I tell her as I lead her back out to the party. Everyone is still buzzing, dancing, eating, and drinking; enjoying themselves. Everyone except Rafe and Brynn.
My eyes catch them across the way because they’re talking and keep looking in our direction. She’s saying something that has him nodding. And then his eyes fall on me and stay there. I don’t know what they’re saying, but if I had to guess, it’s nothing good.
“I feel bad,” Mila tells me as we drive back to the house. I reach over and take her hand in mine.
“You don’t have to feel bad. I’m pretty sure everyone thought we pulled an Irish exit for other reasons,” I chuckle. “Kinda worked in our favor though because I was done being around all those people too.”
“No, I mean I feel lousy,” she groans, leaning back in her chair, and I look away from the road to glance over at her.
“Are you sick again? Do we need to go to the doctor?” I ask.
“No!” she blurts out, quickly sitting back up. “I mean, no. I’m fine. I just get nauseous when I’m…from…social anxiety,” she insists, and I’m not sure I buy it. I also have a headache pressing behind my eyes from the events of the evening, and I’m glad we are going home.
After we get to the house, Mila kicks off her shoes and apologies for the hundredth time. “I’m sorry again,” she says. “I feel like I ruined the evening.”
I sigh and take her shoulders in my hands gently and kiss her. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I promise. The proposal was perfect,” I insist and her eyes draw down to her hand.
“Yeah. It really was,” she whispers, and I watch as her small smile fades a little. Then she swallows, and something in me jolts.
“Hey,” I say, drawing her eyes back up to mine. “How about a bath?”
“That sounds nice,” she says, and I walk with her to the bathroom in her master suite. As she undresses, I run the water, adding bubbles to the tub. Mila lets her towel fall to the floor and steps gracefully into the tub. My eyes sweep over her bare shoulders, the small of her back, the swell of her hips, and everything else.
“Oh my god, this is lovely,” she says as she sinks into the water, letting the suds swallow everything but her head, neck, and the top of her shoulders.
“Does that feel better?” I ask her.
“Yeah,” she answers, repositioning herself in the tub and rubbing her neck.
I get behind the freestanding tub and reach in, massaging her shoulders. I can literally feel all of her muscles softening in my palms. “How about now?” I ask.
“Much, much better,” she answers. “God, you’re good with your hands.”
“Oh, really?” I ask. “I could ease all of your stress if you’d like…”
Mila giggles. “I might regret saying this, and don’t quote me on it, but I think a shoulder massage will do. I’m actually pretty tired.”
It doesn’t bother me at all, but I had to make the offer. Mila leans her head back against the tub, and I massage her shoulders and neck until the water grows cool. I help her out, and she slips into pajamas before crawling into bed. Without thinking about it, I slide in with her.
