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“He’ll have you all to himself for the rest of his life,” Hex puts in wryly. “You’d really think that would be enough for the guy.”
“He doesn’t get it,” Killian says, shaking his head.
I shake my head with mock sympathy. “Poor Hex.”
“People in love are disgusting,” Hex states, then he goes off to find his wandering blonde.
I smile at Killian, then look ahead at the rack of pretty white dresses. “I know traditionally grooms aren’t supposed to see the bride’s dress until she’s coming down the aisle, but I also know you like picking out clothes for me, so… how should we do this?”
“I don’t need to be surprised. We should schedule an appointment and come in together. You can model them for me like you did in Paris.”
“We need to set a date. I want to make sure it’s before I start showing.”
Killian places his hand over my stomach. “You’ll be gorgeous, bump or no bump.”
I wind my arms around his neck and lean close, resting my head on his firm chest.
Unfortunately, that’s the moment the door opens and a couple we didn’t expect to see comes through the door.
Sloane and Aiden.
On instinct, I try to pull back, but Killian’s grip tightens. “Nope.”
My skin warms when I feel her gaze drift our way. “I’m trying to be considerate,” I whisper.
He shakes his head, leaning in to steal a kiss. “Nope. I’m not done holding you.”
I don’t want to look because I don’t want to make eye contact when Killian is basically hugging me, but once she approaches the counter and I know her back is to me, I give in to the urge to look over my shoulder.
Aiden wasn’t even going to be one of Silvan’s groomsmen given he wasn’t made a Blue Blood until very recently, but since Sloane had already ordered a dress when she thought she would be coming with Killian, she has one. And since she has switched fiancés and Killian is mine now, Aiden was added to the lineup of groomsmen. One of the Blue Bloods without a girlfriend stepped down to make room for him.
I haven’t spoken to Aiden since the night of the masquerade ball, but I’ve gotten updates from Killian. I know he and Sloane had apparently been hooking up in secret, but it’s unclear if he was ever actually interested in her, or… well, he just wanted the Sloane Whitley package.
I heard from Addison that he was only using her, that he blackmailed her into the engagement, and, of course, Killian helped push it along for his own selfish reasons. Now Sloane is in a new arrangement—this time with Aiden, and there’s no chance she’ll get out of this one because unlike Killian, he’s exactly where he wants to be.
I feel bad for Sloane, especially seeing her here, in a bridal shop. She’ll be getting married soon, and she doesn’t seem to even like the groom.
Not that I blame her.
I’ve seen for myself how ruthless Aiden can be, and when he sets his sights on something, he seems to go after it relentlessly until it’s his—no matter the cost or what stands in his way.
I hope for her sake there’s more to it than what people are saying, but we’re hardly friends, so I’ll probably never know.
They turn around, and her gaze skates right past us like we’re mannequins modeling dresses she has no interest in.
I’m certain I’m the one who should feel bad for her, but when she strolls past us as if we don’t exist, it’s hard to believe that.
I guess that’s the point.
Sloane has her pride, so she’s not going to show it even if she is sad.
Aiden could fall in with the guys, but he hangs over by himself to wait for her. It reminds me of the car ride we took together when he didn’t really speak to me, but feels at odds with the story he told me before the house fire that went something like, “I just want somewhere to belong.”
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Killian, gently peeling his arm off me so I can step away.
He probably lets me go because he thinks I’m going to try on my dress.
He probably isn’t happy when I approach Aiden instead.
