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“Where are you going?” he calls out.
“To the gala,” I answer. “Without you.”
As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I hear him curse followed by the sound of his footsteps on the ceiling above me. “Babe, wait.”
But I don’t want to hear it. Not right now. He spent the last few days barely speaking to me, and after the shit he just said, he can taste his own medicine for a few hours.
I HAVE TO ADMIT,I don’t want to be here. Everyone looks so happy, dancing around like their worlds are so perfect. And they probably are. These kinds of people, they come from old money. They’ve never had to worry about anything a day in their lives. Most of them don’t even work. They just show up to events like these and toss their money around like being born is something to be proud of.
Hayes might have had a point—thisisn’tour world. But he was wrong when he assumed that I want it to be. As if any world other than the one with him is something I’d even begin to consider. It makes me feel like I never should’ve come without him.
A part of me just wants to leave. To go home and work this shit out. We’re married. We made vows. And to be here right now instead of home with him feels wrong. But it’s not a bad idea to let us both calm down. If we’re still angry when we try to talk, it’ll only make it worse.
So, I stay, but it doesn’t mean I’m having a good time.
Monty keeps a hand on Mali’s back, like he has something to prove. And I can’t help but notice the way Cam keeps glancing at it. The second he realized Hayes wasn’t coming, I could tell he wanted to leave. But it’s too late. He’s already here.
“I can’t believe summer is over,” Mali says as she looks around the party.
Cam doesn’t agree. “It’s locals’ summer now.”
“Yeah, but that only lasts a few weeks. It’s essentially over.”
I sigh, thinking about how Hayes’s twenty-first birthday is coming up. Our original plan was for the bar to be ready so we could celebrate there, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen yet. In no way does that mean we’re going to let it go unrecognized though.
“H’s birthday is coming up,” I point out.
Cam gasps, feigning shock. “Really? Wow. I had no idea. Thank God you married him so I could find out that useful information.”
I flip him off. “I was thinking of throwing him a surprise party. You know, since the bar won’t be ready in time.”
“Wow,” Mali says. “Mad at him and still planning something nice for him? How grown up and mature you are. I’m so proud of you.”
Monty only latches onto one part of that. “Mad at him? Is there trouble in Wilder Paradise?”
A pit settles in my stomach. The idea of talking to Monty about our issues when I know Hayes doesn’t like him—it doesn’t sit well with me. That’s why I only told Mali about it while we were alone. I wouldn’t want Hayes talking to a girl about the weak spots of our marriage. So, it’s only right that I give him the same respect.
“Nope, we’re good. Just aput the toilet seat down, you don’t live alonekind of disagreement.” I wave off the topic. “Seriously, though. His birthday. Should we throw it at the house? The rink?”
Cam isn’t a fan of the idea. “Nah. He’s not the surprise party kind of guy. You want to make him happy? All he wants is to get drunk with a few of his friends.”
I purse my lips. He has a point. That’s really all Hayes ever wants. I know his mom is planning on having a cake for him in the afternoon. She made sure to mention it the other day in case I was planning something. But to leave that and go somewhere that we can just drink and have fun sounds like a pretty good idea.
“If it’s not too many people, we could use my boat,” Monty suggests.
Mali snorts, but the moment she goes to open her mouth, I cut her off. “I’ll think about it. Thanks Monty.”
She’s already four glasses deep in champagne. The last thing I need is for her to word vomit Hayes’s dislike for Monty in detail. At least Hayes pretends to be nice to his face. And Monty doesn’t know him any better to notice it’s fake.
“I need a beer,” my brother says, then mumblesor sevenunder his breath.
Monty nods over toward the right. “Open bar, my friend. Knock yourself out.”
“Thanks,” he grumbles, walking away.
Mali’s eyes seem to linger on him and there’s a hint of sadness on her face, but when Monty kisses her cheek, she tears her attention away from him and smiles. It doesn’t reach her eyes though.
It never does with him.
