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My lips parted open, a little shock fluttering through me. I honestly hadn't been sure what exactly Gareth told his friends, and subsequently their wives, but it seemed they were under the impression that this had been by choice.
And that was probably just as well, especially with the stakes revolving around our marriage. The less people knew, the more protected they would be. That's another reason, despite being forbidden from making friends outside of our contacts, that I’d kept myself mostly closed off whenever the girls approached me during the billionaire’s game. Sure, we’d exchanged some kind words, and I listened to their gossip with rapt attention, but I never gave up anything of my own.
Because I couldn't.
Because I knew that with the life I lived, bringing civilians into it was a dangerous game.
At least I could be completely transparent with Gareth. He'd been in the game longer than I had.
“I like it,” Savannah said. “It looks like you're perfect for him. I've seen him smile at least three times tonight, and that's three times more than normal.”
I laughed softly, my eyes tracking Gareth across the room. He turned and looked at me, like he could feel me watching him. I didn't dare break my stare, instead offering him what I hoped was seductive smile to let him know exactly what we were talking about. I may not want to keep asking him for that kind of attention, but it didn't stop me from flirting occasionally.
“He's not as scary as he looks,” I said, taking a sip from my drink and finally returning my attention to the girls.
Daisy and Brynn begged to differ, but Savannah agreed with me.
“Sometimes the scariest-looking ones are always the biggest pushovers,” Savannah said.
“Who's the pushover?” Gareth asked, suddenly at my side and looking down at me.
“Apparently, you are,” I said, feeling as confident as I ever had before.
Maybe I was getting used to this sort of lifestyle. The one where I could make my own choices, whether that be food or clothes or entertainment, or even passion projects. Not that I'd landed on one yet, but Gareth told me that if there was something I wanted to do, all I needed was say it. Of course, the one thing I really wanted to do was the one thing he constantly denied me.
Pushover, my ass.
Gareth grunted at that, then smoothed his hand over the exposed skin on my back, the cream-colored dress I wore dipping low. The touch was familiar and welcome and it always gave me so much hope. He was affectionate in public, barely even allowing me to be out of his sight for more than a few minutes at a time. And while I could chalk that up to his protectiveness, there was more to it. I would go as far to say a steady friendship had built between us. Our nights were spent talking and laughing, watching reality shows that made me cringe, or shopping online together just because we could.
And yet every time we went to bed, he’d give me a chaste kiss on the forehead before firmly turning over and falling asleep.
At least I slept easier in his bed. Something about his presence kept the nightmares away.
After the event finally wound to a close, I said goodbye to my friends, happy to have that settled feeling in my heart knowing the girls genuinely were my friends now.
“Did you have a good time?” Gareth asked me on the ride home.
I smiled at him from where I sat in the passenger seat of his car. I really loved Charleston’s version of Gareth. He was more at ease here, not using a driver or hiring staff for his home. He was less ready to jump in front of a bullet at a moment’s notice here, and when we went home, it was just the two of us.
“I really did,” I said. “I gave the girls my new phone number. I'm going to have texting friends now.” I bit my lip. “What if I don’t text the right way? What should be my first text to the group chat?”
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t text them like we have before,” Gareth chuckled as he turned into the drive of his Charleston home. “Unless you plan to contend with Hendrix, Asher, and Wes.”
I laughed at the joke. He so rarely made them.
“Most people start with hi,” he continued.
“You don't think I should open with a story? Something interesting?” I asked as I got out of the car and we headed into the house.
“You could do that,” he said. “Whatever you decide will be great. They all love you.”
His words made my heart expand.
“This is all so new to me,” I admitted. “I'm worried about making a mistake. I’ve never had real friends before. I don’t want to push them away.”
“You won't make a mistake. They’re good people. They don't know everything about your background, but they know enough. They’re not going to abandon you.”
I nodded, lingering outside the hallway that led to Gareth’s room. He’d seen right through my panic, understanding the worry immediately.
