Page 51 of Trial and Error

She shrugs, feigning innocence. “I was just reminiscing.”

I wrap an arm around the back of Bridget’s chair and gently brush my fingers up and down her arm. She leans into my touch, but she’s tense and I hate it.

“I’ll be honest, Vivienne.” I clear my throat. “It doesn’t matter what this infamous ring or what their future would’ve looked like when it’s my ring that she wears on her finger. And it’s going to be my last name she takes. Not his. You’ve made it pretty clear that you don’t like me, even though you haven’t made an effort to get to know me, and that’s fine but I am the one who’s engaged to your daughter, and I am the one who is lucky enough to call her mine. She is mine to make happy—and trust me when I say, I plan on doing exactly that.”

Sam smiles. “Let’s raise a glass to the lovebirds.” He looks at Bridget and places a hand on her shoulder. “I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy, Biddy.”

“Preach it,” Natalie comments. “You’ve got a good one there, Bids. I approve.”

I smile as I raise my glass in response, clinking it against Sam’s. Vivienne keeps her glass on the table while the four of us drink, glaring over at her husband, who seems to be ignoring her heated gaze. Bridget leans into my side, and I can’t stop myself from pressing my lips to her temple and my lips curve against her skin when I feel a slight shiver make its way through her body.

Vivienne stands from the table and clears her throat. “If you’ll excuse me.” She takes a long sip of her wine before setting the glass down and disappearing out of the room. As soon as she’s gone, you can feel the immediate shift. Natalie and Sam both slouch forward and shoot me apologetic smiles.

“I’m sorry about my wife,” Sam mumbles. “She’s⁠—”

“A fucking nightmare,” Natalie interrupts and shrugs when Sam looks over at her pointedly. “What? It’s true.”

He sighs. “You’re a menace.”

Natalie smirks and raises her glass to that before finishing the last drop of her wine.

Vivienne occupies herself until Bridget and I decide to leave, and Sam sees us to the door, waiting until we’re in my car before he waves and heads back inside.

Bridget’s body slouches in the passenger seat. “I am so embarrassed,” she grumbles. “That was mortifying.”

I can help but laugh which earns me a glare. “Your mother is a piece of work.” Bridget nods in agreement. “Are you ready to leave?”

She yawns in response and then tiredly nods. “Want to come over for coffee?” She asks as she unlocks and locks her phone. “No pressure.”

“I’d love to.”

bridget

Having Elias in my space for the third time in such a short period is doing something to my nervous system.

The two of us walk up the stairs in a comfortable silence and my body thrums with extreme awareness to his presence. With each step we take, I grow more nervous, and by the time we reach the top, I pull my keys out of my bag with shaking hands.

Elias stands closely behind me as I fumble the key in the lock, but he says nothing as I push the door open and turn the lights on.

I quickly scan the apartment, worried I might’ve left something embarrassing out, but then I remind myself there’s nothing more embarrassing them having him see me in my penguin pyjamas. I make a mental note to hide those in the back of my closet so they don’t make another appearance.

I’m not sure why I’m suddenly nervous but it feels different, somehow. The atmosphere has shifted into a territory that I’m not sure I know how to navigate. Elias stood up for me to my mom—which is something Tom never did—and just the mere thought of him being slightly possessive over me has an inferno burning in my lower belly. I dreaded taking him home and introducing him to my parents, and it went just as badly as I anticipated.

Mom has always been a tough nut to crack, but she was downright insufferable. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he wanted to get the fuck out of there. Hell, that’s how I feel every time I have to go over there myself. As the thought of him ending our agreement swirls around my brain, it becomes apparent that I wouldn’t like that very much.

I wouldn’t like it at all.

“Should I take my shoes off?” His voice interrupts my stream of thoughts, and I turn to look at him walking through the doorway.

He closes it behind him and it automatically locks with a click. His dark eyes are trained on me as he waits for a response and the warmth that dances through his chocolate irises has my lungs constricting. My mouth grows dry as his gaze intensifies.

Does he feel it? The cosmic energy floating between us?

I clear my throat, looking away as I feel my cheeks begin to burn.

“Whatever you’re comfortable with,” I say as I reach down and pull my own shoes off.

He watches before matching my movements and pulling his shoes off. Elias waits until I put mine on the rack before gently setting his down next to mine, and I can’t ignore the way I enjoy seeing his next to mine.