His admiration spurs me to walk up to him and put a hand on his chest. He takes it in his, placing a kiss on it. “I don’t even know what to say,” he says. “But I know we will give them a show tonight!”
I was scared about seeing Jordan again, but now I feel something else in my stomach. Sweet satisfaction that I am going to this event with a man who is so much better than Jordan is, someone who will take my hand and proudly stand by me.
“Forest, Rose?” There is a knock on the door. “It’s me, Griffin. I am accompanying you tonight. Martin is still… on hisjob.”
“Come in,” I say.
Griffin opens the door, halting when he sees us. “Holy Glamour-Fashion-Magazine-Cover!” he blurts out. “You two look like you are going to be the talk of the evening and put everyone else to shame next to you.”
“If we manage to do that, I’d say mission accomplished,” Forest grins.
“Alright, Griffin.” I take Forest’s hand. “Genuine question: How do we look?”
“No words needed,” he says. “You look like two stars,” he grins. “Jordan willhateit!”
“That’s the plan,” I say.
“Alright, ready to leave?” Griffin asks.
Forest and I exchange a look, both of us taking one deep breath, and then we nod. “Let’s go.”
The plan is to be one of the last to arrive. The invitation said to come between 6 and 7 p.m., so Forest and I make our entrance shortly before 7.
“We are in this together,” Forest says. “Don’t forget that, Rose.”
“Am I obviously that anxious?”
He shows me a gentle smile. “Yeah, a bit. I get it. Jordan is here, and that has to be extremely difficult for you.”
“I just want to see him suffer,” I say. “I… want to see him in pain.”
“And youwill,” Forest emphasizes, taking my hand and entwining our fingers. “Listen, he is a narcissist and a sociopath. He will be fuming when he sees us together,” he grins. “I can’t wait to see his expression.”
“He will be so mad when he realizes someone else is playing with the toy he discarded,” I say. “You know, what? You are right. This is not the time to be anxious. I want to see his downfall so badly, and I want to see him distraught. Tristan will be here, too, right?”
“Yes,” Forest says.
“Did you give him a little heads-up?”
“Just a small one. I told him he should brace himself for some drama. But anything more would have been risky. We never know who listens in.”
“Good, I’d hate for him to feel bulldozed. Besides, we’ll need him as our ally.” I pause. “What if Jordan makes a move on me?”
“Then I will kick his ass.”
“And if he tries to hurt me?”
“He wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on you before I break his neck,” Forest says promptly. There is something dark in his eyes. It’s raw and angry, but to me it looks reassuring. He really has turned into the alpha he was always supposed to be. “Trust me, Rose. No one is going to hurt you. No one is going to insult you. Not without me calling them out on their bullshit. It’s our time to shine now.”
Something warm fills my chest, a feeling I haven’t felt in such a long time that it almost is foreign to me. “If you put it like that, I can only believe you,” I say with a smile. “I trust you, Forrest. Let’s have fun.”
“That’s the spirit,” he grins. “Let’s have fun messing with that alphahole and his insufferable friends. Today, he will feel so humiliated.”
His motivation is contagious. And he is right. I am sure Jordan will try a few things, but I am also sure he will fumble because he won’t expect me to be there, and he won’t expect Forest to be the way he is. Jordan is in for a surprise.
“Ready?”
“Let’s go.”
