Kai lowers his brows, confused. “You are not eating pizza, you crazy bitch. I’m not sending you off to the ball with Prince Charming with garlic breath and jacked up lipstick.”
“But I’m hungry.”
“Suck it up and drink some water like the queen you are.”
I sigh in frustration. “So I can’t breathe, I can’t walk, and I have to starve?” I ask, referring to the Spanx constricting my waist and the strappy heels digging into the tops of my feet.
“Exactly,” Kai says with a nod. “Oh, and make sure you smile.”
“I’d rather be here watching TV with you. Even The Real Housewives of Orange County would be better than a whole night in heels.”
“I put some folded ballet flats in your purse for later.”
I brighten, smiling. “Why don’t I just put those on now?”
“I will fucking kill you if you aren’t wearing your heels in the photos of this event. Those Jimmy Choos are sold out everywhere. I had to pull major strings to get them.”
I huff out a sigh. “Okay, okay. But can I at least eat some crackers or something?”
He considers this as he gives me a once over. “Only if I can break them into bite-sized pieces and put the pieces on your tongue so they don’t touch your lipstick.”
I nod. “Done. I’d lick food off the floor right now if I had to.”
“Oh, my Rey.” Kai puts an arm around me as we walk to the kitchen. “The things that come out of your mouth sometimes.”
I convince him to add a little peanut butter to my cracker bites, and he even gives me a few bites of ice cream, so I’m much less hangry by the time Jonah rings the doorbell.
When I open the door and see Jonah standing there in his tuxedo, my heart starts beating faster. He’s so handsome, made even more so by the awestruck expression on his face as he takes in my appearance. I wish I could snap a photo of his smile.
“Look at you,” he says softly. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Kai.”
“No, you put your own underwear on,” Kai quips. “You get credit for that.”
I laugh and say, “Okay, well, all the rest was you.”
“Kai, I’m Jonah.” Jonah reaches his hand out for a handshake. “It’s great to meet you.”
“You too. Want to come in for a drink?”
“I wish I could, but we’re riding to the event with some friends and they’re waiting in the car for us.”
Kai hands me my purse and says, “Another time. You kids have fun.”
“Hey,” Jonah says to Kai, looking serious, “I’m sorry about what happened. I wish there was something I could do.”
Kai smiles and says, “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“I’ve been thinking of you,” Jonah says. “I know that’s not much, but it’s true.”
“That’s really nice of you and I can tell you mean it.” Kai’s eyes shine with emotion. “Thank you.”
I squeeze Kai’s hand and say, “Call me if you need anything. Anything, okay?”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Jonah takes my hand and leads me through the doorway and I listen for the locks to click into place after Kai closes it.
“It’s really good to see you,” Jonah says, leaning close.
“You too.”
“I’m sorry I left the other morning.”
We’re standing at the top of the stairs outside Kai’s apartment, and I think Jonah paused so we can exchange a quick, private word before getting in the car with the others.
“It’s fine,” I assure him. “I appreciate you, and I don’t tell you that enough. You’re pretty amazing, even when…you don’t have to be.”
I hope he can decipher my cryptic message. Jonah isn’t only good to me when others are watching, in order to keep up our cover story—the meal he had delivered after Kai’s attack meant a lot.
He leans a little closer and kisses me softly.
“I’m trying,” he says softly.
Trying at what? I want to ask him. I’m dying to know if he feels something for me. But I don’t ask, because the answer may not be something that’s safe to discuss here. So instead, I nod and squeeze his hand. He leads me down the stairs to a waiting SUV limousine.
Our chauffeur opens the door and I see Anton, Mia, Luca, Abby, Easy and Allie all waiting inside.
“You guys look amazing,” I say as I settle into my seat.
“So do you,” Abby says. “Jonah was just telling us you’re a beauty writer, that sounds like so much fun.”
“I love it.”
“Can you show me how to do a cat eye?” Abby asks. “I can never get it to look right.”
“Sure, I can show you.” At least with Kai’s help I could.
Not only can I not show her, I can’t even do a cat eye on myself. I’m hoping I won’t end up having to talk my way out of it.
“Liquid eyeliner is the worst,” Allie says. “I always end up looking like a little kid who broke into my mom’s makeup drawer when I put it on.”
Mia is busy pouring champagne into glass flutes. She generously fills each one and then passes it to an outstretched hand.
“To a night out,” she says, grinning and holding up her glass.
“Hear, hear,” Abby says as everyone clinks glasses and takes a drink.
Anton cringes and sets his glass down. “That’s shit, babe.”
“Get over it,” she says, kissing him.
Mia has several bottles of champagne on ice, and she keeps everyone’s glass full. I’m glad I ate a little food before this, even though I’m trying not to drink too much.
“Remind me what this event is for,” I murmur in Jonah’s ear.
“It’s a fundraiser for a charity that raises money to build houses for wounded veterans. There’s a former Blaze player, Harry Stone, who started it.
“That reminds me, I need to pay someone for our tickets,” Easy says.
Luca shakes his head and says, “We bought the table. Just buy something from the auction.”
“Thanks, man,” Easy says.
Jonah has told me before that Luca and Abby are beyond wealthy through the success of Abby’s home furnishings business. My instinct tells me that they’re the kind of people Darren Shields will gravitate toward, if he’s at the event tonight.
When we arrive, it feels like a Hollywood movie premiere. There’s a red carpet, outfitted with photographers on both sides, flashes from their cameras blinding me where I stand. Jonah locks an arm around my waist, which I’m grateful for when I stumble in my heels and lean on him for support.
“Good champagne?” he quips.
“It’s these damn heels.”
“I’m sure it is.” He winks and I can’t help smiling.
I’ve never been a woman who glows when her man looks at her, but with Jonah, it’s more than just an act. His eyes are the swirling gray blue of a sky just before a storm, and I was so wrong to think those eyes are pretty. They’re intense, darkening when he feels conflicted or guilty. The storm inside him still rages, and it has since the day his wife died.