The only sensible way out is to lean into the fact that they’re doing me a favor. They’re just pretending, even if they’re doing much too good a job of it.
As dessert is being served, Mom comes by yet again, this time to remind me of my hair appointment at the resort’s salon tomorrow morning, even though we just went over that information at the rehearsal, and nothing has changed.
“Before you go to the salon, can you make sure all of the other bridesmaids are on their way, too, Callie? I don’t want anyone to be late. The whole schedule will be thrown off.”
As soon as I agree to that, she says, “Oh, and it looks like your sister’s in need of another glass of wine. Can you get her another from the bar? It’s chardonnay.”
I’m not sure why Adam wouldn’t fetch his bride-to-be a refill, or why my mom, who’s been flitting around the room all evening, wouldn’t grab it while she’s making her rounds, but I set my fork down and get up from my chair, telling Miles I’ll be right back.
He reaches for my arm before I can walk off. “I’ll get it.”
“I got it. Thank you, though.” It’s probably a good idea to put some distance between Miles and myself for a couple of minutes,anyway. Watching him eat the whipped cream on the strawberry shortcake isn’t going to do me or my hormones any favors.
Up at the bar, after I make my request, the bartender turns away to grab a glass from the shelf on the wall. Suddenly, there’s a voice in my ear, and the unpleasant weight of a body pressing against me. “Don’t move, Callie. You’re going to stay right here and listen to what I have to say.”
CHAPTER 42
CALLIE
There are both garlic and beer on Rick’s breath, but they’re not the reason I’m repulsed by him. I try to step to the side to get away from him, but he clamps an arm on the counter, blocking me in.
“You and I are done, and you know that,” he says, his voice like vinegar. “So you have no business running around telling Alexis stories about me. Your lies aren’t going to break us up. I’ll never get back with you, so you need to move on.”
I’m so shocked by the motivations he’s accusing me of, that I can’t speak. Surely, he doesn’t think I would ever—ever—want him back? I knew he was many things, but I had no idea he was this much of a narcissist.
The bartender sets the glass of chardonnay on a napkin in front of me. She gives Rick a look, but his voice was low enough that she wouldn’t have heard what he said. He’s probably smiling at her over my shoulder.
As soon as she turns away, he clamps his hand on my shoulder, so I’m no longer blocked in, but I still can’t move. “Now, get backto your pretty boy and stay out of my business, or you’ll regret it.”
“Get your hands off her.” It’s Miles. His voice is quiet but dangerous, and he’s in Rick’s face just enough to intimidate him without drawing attention from others in the room. He’s in his face as much as someone as tall as Miles can be with someone as short as Rick.
I already knew this, but up close, it’d be hard to label them both as men. And that’s not because of their height difference, but because Rick is pathetic, and contrasted with Miles, he’s an absolute joke.
Miles tucks me into his side, sheltering me under his arm, and angling his body to put distance between mine and Rick’s. “Is there anything else you’d like to say before you get the hell away from us?”
Clearly outmatched in every way, Rick shakes his head, his face tight like there’s something bitter in his mouth.What did I ever see in him?
“How about I’m sorry?” Miles demands, keeping his voice low. “How about you apologize to the best woman you’ll ever have the chance to know? How about you apologize for being such an asshole?”
Instead of saying anything, Rick turns and hurries away from us and toward the door. Honestly, it’s what I’d prefer rather than having to hear him say another word.
From the energy radiating from Miles, I get the strong impression that if he wasn’t keeping up appearances for the sake of the occasion, he very well might use force to pull an apology out of Rick.
For a few seconds, I let my imagination run wild with the image of Miles punching my ex squarely in the jaw, and I very much enjoy the idea, but in reality, I’m grateful that he kept this altercation so quiet that absolutely no one’s head has turned. The last thing I’d want to do is cause a scene that would disturb Sadie’s special event.
Once Rick is gone, Miles turns his full attention to me, looking me over to make sure I’m okay. “Want to get out of here?”
“Yeah.” My voice is a whisper as I gesture to the wine on the counter to remind him of my original mission.
Keeping me under his arm, Miles scoops up the glass and walks us over to my sister, where he delivers it like everything is perfectly fine and normal. Engaged in a conversation with Adam and his best man, she smiles and thanks “Max” and me, without completely looking my way, thank goodness. I can’t imagine what my face must look like, even though I’m feeling much better than I was a minute ago.
Then, instead of exiting through the main entrance, Miles leads me to a door that goes directly outside. I didn’t realize how loud it had been in the dining room, with everyone talking and laughing, until we’re immersed in the stillness of the garden.
The sweet scent of flowers blows on the gentle ocean breeze. Soft lighting mingles with the trees and shrubbery that line the path. There are other people outdoors, but they’re at such a distance that I feel as if Miles and I are in our own little world, far from everything that just happened.
“Are you okay?” he asks after leading me a distance away.
I nod quickly. “I’m okay. Thank you for stepping in.” The edge of his jaw is hard as stone as he nods once. “And thanks for what you said about me. That was really nice of you.”
