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Tobias drags a hand through his long hair and looks at Owen. “She’s right. We’re better together at this point.”
“We’re better in Las Vegas, away from this shit show,” Owen mutters.
“Owen, please.”
When he doesn’t respond, I lean up and put a hand on his shoulder. “Please, Sir. For me.”
Tobias blinks at me. But I stop him from speaking by holding up a hand.
“Get out of the car, Tobias. Let’s talk in private.”
He glares but does as I ask. I step out and close my door.
“Do I need to…”
I stop him with a hand on his arm. “Stop. You don’t need to remind me I’m engaged to you. But clearly, I do need to remind you that you don’t own me. I’m begging you to please put aside your dislike for him and work together. Yes, I’m in love with him. We’ve talked about this. But I’m still going to marry you. When it’s safe to do so, we will have our wedding and fulfill our commitments. But right now, I’d like to just focus on staying alive.”
He looks at me skeptically. “You’ll still marry me? What about him? What’s with you calling him sir like that?”
I exhale through my nose and pray my answer is good enough. “Our relationship was unconventional. That’s all the information you need. But that’s over, and I will marry you. You have my word, Tobias.”
His face is a storm of emotions, but he doesn’t say anything. I wonder if he realizes how much his eyes give away. Or is that only with me? The silence drags between us before he reaches for my cheek and cups it, tracing his thumb along my cheekbone. “OK, little vixen.” He opens the door and slides into the car without another word. I’m thankful he didn’t make me go into more detail about the nature of my relationship with Owen. It’s not easy for outsiders to understand.
In the car, Tobias clears his throat and looks at Owen. “Let’s figure out our next steps.”
Owen looks in the rear-view mirror and makes eye contact with Tobias. “We can work together. We’ve done it before.”
That makes me smile, but I school my expression when Owen glares at me. They’ve been so at odds with each other since the rehearsal. Understandably so, but the glimpse of them working together made me miss our childhood friendship so desperately, and I allow myself the fantasy that one day we’ll have it again.
***
Owen
We drive a couple of hours outside of London and check into a small hotel for the night. Tobias wasn’t comfortable trying to fly out of London, so we’ve arranged for a jet to take us to Las Vegas from here. At least he’s agreed to let us go there. It’s the safest place for us right now.
The small hotel has a dining room that is still serving dinner when we arrive, so the three of us sit at a table. It’s awkward, but Bellamy takes over the conversation.
“Do you remember that summer you and Owen stole his mother’s car.?”
Tobias scowls. “What do you mean, me and Owen? You were right there with us, little vixen.”
Bellamy giggles at his response, and I tamp down the twinge of jealousy. Now isn’t the time for that.
“I was just a passenger going along with your crazy ideas.”
I clear my throat. “If I remember right, you’re the one who came up with the idea to begin with.”
Bellamy gasps. “I most certainly did not.”
Tobias snorts and I just shake my head. Bellamy was just as much a part of our mischief as the two of us.
The conversation continues, with us sharing childhood memories. I admit there’s a sense of rightness about the three of us spending time together. I wish it could always be this way.
“Was there actually a bachelorette party?” Tobias asks when the conversation lulls.
Bellamy frowns at his question.
“What do you mean? Did I have one? You know I did. You insisted on sending your damn security team with us.”
