AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, you are. We both are, dear. We don’t do commitments or boyfriends. So, you see, you and Ryan have a lot more in common than you think. Maybe if you two found an empty room and a locked door, you’d be able to resolve your monumental issues. We are, after all, in a hotel. Waste not—”
I interrupt her, scoffing. “Bonnie, I know you’re not suggesting—”
Bonnie cuts in right back. “I am suggesting it, recommending it even. Anyway, here he comes. I’m out. See you later babes.”
Bonnie throws him a flirtatious smile as she leaves and he responds with the subtle wink of a seasoned charmer.
“Hey, darling.” Ryan drawls, taking the seat Bonnie vacated.
I grit my teeth. “What?”
His smile gets wider. “Aren’t you just a ray of sunshine today? Anyway, I’ve been wanting to talk to you all evening.”
“Why? To give me another long list of what I should do?”
The past couple of months leading up to the wedding have been crazy. I don’t think I’ve spoken to another human being as much as I’ve spoken to Ryan during that time.
I now know things about the man that only a roommate should.
Like the fact that he’s a morning person because he usually calls at the crack of dawn, sounding as energetic as a terrier while I feel like death warmed over.
I know he gets headaches when he doesn’t get his beauty sleep. Or sex. I’m still trying to work out which one is true and which is false.
And despite pretending otherwise with Bonnie earlier, I’m well aware that Ryan comes from a family so old they still use ‘lineage’ to describe which side of the family tree they come from. He could probably trace his ancestors back to the Stone Age, recounting how his clan occupied the biggest cave in existence.
Ryan chuckles. “Relax, Stella. There are no more errands or ‘to-do’ lists. The best man and maid of honor duties are officially over. I only wanted to say that I think you’re an amazing friend and you did a great job. Brooke was speechless with joy today.”
A reluctant smile pulls at my lips. “Yeah she loved it, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she did.” He continues to look at me expectantly. When I say nothing, he raises a single eyebrow in a gesture that draws my attention to his arresting eyes.
He looks away but says, “Stella, that was your cue to say something along the lines of, ‘Ryan, you too were great.’ Actually, for future reference, I prefer the term ‘magnificent’.”
I roll my eyes, shaking my head. “First off, there’s no universe, present or future, where I’d use that word to describe you. And second, you’re telling me you need yet another person to inflate your ego? How is it that your head hasn’t burst yet?”
“Aha, so it’s on your mind, you just don’t want to admit it. Come on, let it out. It’s always better out than in.”
“What?”
“Those feelings. And for the record, I think you’re smoking hot too.”
I only smile, choosing not to engage. This is our usual dance: he baits, I try to resist biting, I fail and somehow end up wanting to throttle him while he seems to get a kick out of it. Not today. “I’m sure you didn’t come all this way just to flatter me.”
Casting a quick glance at my strapless navy organza dress and lingering just a moment too long on the large butterfly tattoo on my back, he leans away with a smirk. “No, flattery wasn’t my only agenda. I thought we agreed on a best man and maid of honor dance as the final act of the evening?”
“Yep, about that, I nixed it from the program last minute. Sorry.” I’m not the least bit sorry.
Ryan chuckles. “Stella, why on earth would you run back to the printers and scrap it after we agreed to do it?”
“You make it sound like I did something scandalous or forbidden.”
“I told you. It’s bad luck not to do it.”
“For the Fairchild ancestry maybe, but not in the twenty-first century where the rest of us live.”
“So you’re saying you don’t want to dance with me?”
“Absolutely not.” I lie. I want to get lost in his embrace, yes. Just not while everyone is watching.
