I leaned forward at the table, my elbow sinking deep into some kind of beetroot dip, and listened to her response.
It came swiftly and airily, like she hadn’t even given it a second thought. “In his dreams. Cruz is just a plaything, an interlude to pass the time. I belong to no one, Robert Gussman. Only to myself.”
Cruz is just a plaything, an interlude to pass the time.
In his dreams. I belong to no one.
That was what Tennessee had said.
Clear as the August sky.
She had one chance to own up to our relationship, to show me that she gave half a shit, that I wasn’t the only one here doing the heavy lifting, and she blew it all to hell.
I knew it was bullshit posturing, but the fact that she didn’t take the goddamn chance to legitimize me hurt like a bitch.
I mean, for puck’s sake.
Did I just say for puck’s sake? Even in my head? God, I needed another drink.
“Where are you headed?” Wyatt asked as I made a quick exit out of the rehearsal dinner minutes after we were finished.
My parents stayed behind to discuss canapes and honeymoon arrangements with the Turners. Tennessee was sneaking looks, no doubt waiting for me to come to her side.
Unfortunately for her, I had no appetite to be her designated fanboy for the evening.
I made a beeline to my car, feeling like a jackass for not telling Bear goodbye. The adults had no excuse—they were all shitheads—but Bear deserved better.
Wyatt followed my steps stubbornly, trying to catch up. I was secretly proud of him for not giving me shit even though his confession to Trinity got him in hot water.
Maybe he was finally growing up.
“Where you off to, baby bro?”
“Getting a drink downtown. I need something strong.” I stuck a finger into my tie, loosening it as I cracked my neck.
“Sign me up. I’ve been pre-gaming before the rehearsal dinner, but I need more.” Wyatt slipped his entire tie off.
“Sure about that?” I slid into my car, turning on the ignition. The engine purred. Wyatt got into the passenger seat. “Don’t want you to end up yielding to temptation again.”
Wyatt shook his head, cranking the volume of my stereo up as soon as I hit the gas pedal. Classic rock filled the car.
“No way. Cheating is way too much hassle. I think I’ll have to be faithful from now on.”
“Smart guy.”
“I take after my baby brother.”
“If only.”
We ended up at the only bar downtown. The Drunk Clam was a fine establishment that only served three types of beer, one type of whiskey, and peanuts I was pretty sure had expired pre-World War I.
“So what’s up with Nessy? You two seemed cold.”
Wyatt ordered both of us beers and perched himself on a stool at the bar. From the corner of my eye, I detected one of Trinity’s little girlfriends, who always came to the clinic to pick her up for Pilates class.
I groaned but shot her a polite smile, anyway. I didn’t want any company tonight. The woman texted on her phone furiously, while I redirected my attention to Wyatt.
“She’s a chickenshit.”
“Why?”
“She won’t own our relationship.”
“And that’s important to you because…?” Wyatt took a pull of his beer.
“I’m not some dirty little secret.”
I expected him to laugh, but he squinted thoughtfully.
“Maybe she’s trying to protect you. Her reputation’s tarnished.”
“Mine’s pristine and can take the hit. It could elevate hers.”
“Not if she knows everyone’ll talk about how she hooked up with the best man at her sister’s wedding and whether that was before or after he dumped the maid of honor… Why’d you think Trinity was so against y’all getting together?” Wyatt tilted his beer bottle in my direction.
“Because she’s a self-centered cow.”
Wyatt chuckled. “Well, I suppose there’s that, too. But she didn’t want the scandal to overshadow the occasion. It is supposed to be the one time in a woman’s life where everything is about her as the bride.”
“Do you even love her?”
Wyatt rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes at a spot behind the bartender’s shoulder as he gave it some genuine thought.
“Dunno. I loved Valerie, and that turned out to be a disaster. I guess I love the idea of Trinity, and she loves the idea of me, and that’s enough. For what we want. For now.”
A few minutes later, Gabriella swaggered into the bar, dressed in something I could not describe as anything other than a self-important bikini. It didn’t have enough fabric to pass as a skirt, and that cropped shirt barely covered up her nipples.
And she had on a lot of makeup—I’m talking every shade of eyeshadow and enough red lipstick to paint a particularly gory crime scene—and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and you’ll get the train wreck.
Trinity’s friend was an informer.
Shocker.
Wyatt snickered and clapped my back as Gabriella’s eyes zeroed in on me. She sliced through the throng of bar-goers like Moses parting the sea.
“My, my. It sure ain’t easy being Cruz fucking Costello.”
“Cruzy,” Gabriella pouted, squeezing between Wyatt and me, parking her ass on my knee. Barely.
Most of her weight was still propped over the bar, which was why I couldn’t exactly push her away. Also, she called me by my mother’s nickname, which sent my already-soft dick shriveling into the rest of my body.
At this point, I was cracking so deep and wide, I didn’t have it in me to be perfect Cruz anymore.
“Gabriella. Fancy seeing you here after your shift at Hooters.”
“I figured that’s the type of girl you like, considering your recent plaything.” Gabriella flipped her hair, which barely moved, it had so much hairspray in it.
“She is not a plaything. She’s a pain in the ass, and most days, I wonder why the hell I bother with the relationship.”
“Relationship?” Gabriella sucked in a breath. I spun myself on the stool to get her off of my knee. “Cruz, really. Aren’t you getting a little carried away here?”
“I’m not the one who missed a rehearsal dinner to throw a fit.”
Damn, it felt good to be bad.
“I had a headache.”
“Not anything that a few Tylenols couldn’t solve, seeing as you’re here now.”
Just then, Tennessee walked into the bar, her head twisting here and there. My heart almost fucking screamed at the appearance of her face. She was looking for me.
Wyatt must’ve texted Trinity where we were. I couldn’t fault him for being truthful to his future wife. No one wanted to start their marriage in the courthouse, obtaining divorce papers.
Her chest rose and fell.
Tennessee was panting, out of breath. Looking for me frantically.
I waited for her to find me. When she did, she began making her way toward me, and my heart leaped inside my chest.
But then she saw Gabriella standing next to me, and instead of proceeding, instead of claiming what was hers, showing me she was all in, she stopped, looking uncertainly across the darkened room.
Goddammit. Just make a move. One move. I’ll do the rest.