“Surely the hospital must have some kind of fundraisers?” she asks.
“They do, but I usually just give a healthy donation and forego the event.” I shrug.
“Sir?”
I turn as the bartender slides my drink to me. I slip him a tip and return my attention to Mazzy. “Well, do you need to make the rounds?”
“I’m sure the hounds will come to us. That’s usually how these things work.”
No sooner does she finish speaking than an older couple I don’t recognize comes over. Mazzy introduces them as Phyllis and Stanley Richardson. I’m not sure who they are, but from their uppity attitudes, they’re comfortable in this environment.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” Mrs. Richardson says. “I have to say I was quite surprised when I heard you’d remarried, Mazzy.”
“You know what they say…” I wrap my arm around Mazzy’s shoulder and pull her into my side. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
Mazzy stiffens, and the Richardsons look at me as though they can’t believe what I said. As though that’s any worse than what they just confronted Mazzy with.
Maybe there is a way to salvage this night. I can play a little game called Shock the Rich Pricks. Tell me how much I’ve won, Alex?
Mr. Richardson clears his throat. “Well, we were on our way to check out the silent auctions when we spotted you and wanted to offer our congratulations.”
I scrunch up my face in confusion. “Funny, all I’ve seen you offer is your judgment.”
Mrs. Richardson blinks a few times, and her hand goes to her chest as though she’s scandalized at my behavior.
“Good luck with your bidding,” Mazzy says. “It was good to see you both.”
They both leave, giving us double-takes as they walk away.
I grin at Mazzy. “Maybe this will be more fun than I thought.”
“You cannot do that!” she whisper-shouts, her eyes looking around the room as if someone else heard the conversation.
“She deserved it and you know it.” I toss back half my drink in one gulp.
“Even so… Nick, long after this”—she motions between us—“has ended, I have to still be around these people. Please do not embarrass me. I’ve had enough embarrassment from my first marriage to last a lifetime.”
I’m not sure what bothers me most: the fact that she cares what these people think, the mention of her first marriage, or the fact that she went through so much pain. But whatever the reason, I feel like an ass now.
“I’m sorry.” I run my thumb over her knuckles. “I’ll behave the rest of the night. Promise.”
She nods. “Thank you.”
I return her nod, then toss back the rest of my drink. “But I’m gonna need another drink to do that. You sure you don’t want anything?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.”
“All right, be right back.”
I watch Mazzy while I’m waiting for my drink. Most of the men who pass her take their time checking her out or approach her to say hello. Who the hell can blame them? It was all I could do to keep my dick from saluting her when I saw her in that dress. It fits her perfectly and it’s the ultimate combination of class and allure.
The bartender brings me my two drinks. I quickly finish the one before sliding the glass back to him, then I take the other one with me back to Mazzy. I ordered doubles this time around. I don’t have plans to get sloppy drunk, but a good buzz would be the perfect way to get through this evening.
I’ve only just returned to Mazzy’s side when I hear, “Ah, there’s the happy couple,” behind us. When I turn, I see Brock Carrington with a pregnant woman on his arm. Mazzy and I went to high school with Brock, and while we weren’t super close, we used to pal around back in the day.
“Hey, Brock. How are you?” I hold out my hand and he shakes it.
“Good, good. Haven’t seen you at one of these things in ages.”
I shrug. “I’m only here tonight because of my lovely wife.” I place the hand not holding my drink on Mazzy’s lower back as a real husband might.
“Yes, congratulations to you both. I saw the announcement in the Herald.” Brock leans in and gives Mazzy a kiss on the cheek. “Mazzy, you’ve met my wife before, but Nick, this is my wife, Trinity.”
She smiles. “Pleasure to meet you.”
I lean in and do the stupid double kiss thing that’s expected of me. I’ve never understood it. Who wants someone they don’t know so close to them that you can tell what they ate for dinner?
“I see congratulations are in order for you too.” I motion to Trinity’s swollen belly.
She places her hands on her stomach and rubs it. “Yes, only six more weeks left, thank God.”
“Has it been a difficult pregnancy?” Mazzy asks.
“Not especially, but I’m dying for a glass of wine and this baby seems to love to sit on my bladder. You wouldn’t believe how many times you can actually pee in a day.”
We all chuckle and spend the next five minutes catching up. Brock seems like he’s still a decent guy. Proof, I suppose, that money doesn’t corrupt everybody.
“I didn’t ask. Is this your first baby?” I take a sip from my drink. The alcohol is working its way into my system now.
“Second actually,” Brock says. “We already have a two-year-old son at home.”
“You’ve turned into quite the family man,” I say, thinking back to the days when he’d pick up anyone with a pair of tits.
“Speaking of which, you two better get on it if you’re going to start a family. None of us are getting any younger.”
Mazzy and I share a look and laugh.
“It’s been great catching up, but you’ll have to excuse us. I’d like to dance with my new wife.” I set my empty glass on the tray of a waiter passing by, take Mazzy’s hand, and head out onto the dance floor.
I know the alcohol has loosened me up because once we’ve found a spot, I wrap my arms around Mazzy as if she really is my wife—possessive and claiming. She doesn’t complain though. In fact, she brings her hands up around my neck and rests her cheek on my chest as we circle around.
After we’ve been dancing for a minute, she draws her head back to look me in the eye. “I guess this is our first dance as husband and wife.”
I chuckle. “I suppose it is. Good thing it’s a good song.”
She cocks her head. “You know it?”
I shrug. “I listen to a lot of jazz these days.”
There’s a sad note in the smile she gives me. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because that’s something she didn’t know about me and once upon a time, she knew everything about me. But I didn’t start listening to it until my thirties. Our friendship ended when I was twenty-six.
“So? Are you going to tell me what it’s called or are you going to keep me in suspense?”
“Maybe I should torture you for forcing me to come here tonight.”
She playfully slaps my chest.
“It’s called ‘Someday Sweetheart.’”
She stops dancing and looks at me with her heart and soul in her eyes. “Seems almost fitting.”
I cock my head. “What do you mean?”
“I always thought I’d be your sweetheart someday.” The disappointment and regret in her voice is like a sledgehammer to my sternum.
I start moving again, and although I shouldn’t, I say, “I always thought so too, Maz.”
Thirty
Mazzy
Nick’s words are both a lash and a balm to the soul.
I settle my head on his hard chest once again. It’s so good to be this close to him. To feel him underneath my hands, to smell his cologne—the same fragrance he’s worn since his twenties.
What I wouldn’t give for tonight to be real.
After another minute, I gather the courage to ask the question I’ve wanted to ask since our fake marriage began. “Do you think there’s a chance we could find ourselves back in each other’
s lives again, even if it’s just as friends?”
He twirls me around and I guess he hasn’t lost that dance training. I assume he either didn’t hear me or is ignoring my question. But then he leans down so his mouth is inches from my ear. “I want that, Maz. I really do. But I don’t know if it’s possible.”
I’m not sure whether to be happy or sad. An outright no would’ve crushed me, but maybe knowing there’s a chance but never actually getting it is worse.
“If I could take back what happened, I would in a heartbeat. I was just so hurt…”
He’s quick to respond. “Me too. I would’ve done things differently too. I wish I had.”
“Nick, maybe we can—”
His gaze flicks over my shoulder and he stiffens.
“What?” I start to turn my head to see what has him so alarmed, but one of his hands lands on my cheek, forcing me to turn toward him.
His lips land on mine. A noise of surprise leaks out of me before I melt into the kiss. His lips feel claiming, as though he’s making it known to all that I am his and his alone. I revel in the feel of his tongue exploring my mouth and the way he tilts my head exactly where he wants it. Electric pulses fire in all my nerve endings, and my breasts grow heavy. I lean into the kiss and push my breasts against his chest. He groans low in the back of this throat then nips my bottom lip.
I’m a woman starved and I’m greedy for more of whatever he’ll give me. When he begins to pull away, I tighten my hold around his neck, not wanting this moment to end. Our kiss lasts a little longer until he finally pulls back and looks at me with heavy eyelids before glancing behind me.
“Was that show especially for me?”
My stomach lurches. And now I know who Nick spotted over my shoulder. His brother, Keith.
I turn to face Keith, and Nick wraps a possessive arm around my waist, pulling me into his side.
“Congratulations, you two. I was surprised to see your announcement in the paper. I guess true love does prevail, huh?”
“Is there something we can do for you?” Nick says in a stony voice.
“Not really. I was just shocked to see you at one of these things and I had to come see for myself that it was actually you.”
“Well, now you’ve seen. Bye.”
“C’mon, brother. Why so quick to try to run me off? You afraid I’m going to ask you to compare notes?”
I clutch Nick’s arm when he steps forward, and I ask, “Are you just here to cause trouble, Keith?”
“Not at all. You look gorgeous tonight, by the way.” He gives my outfit a slow perusal from head to toe.
“Stop looking at my wife like she’s a buffet,” Nick grates out.
“Relax, Nick. You have nothing to worry about with me. That’s what I came over here to tell you. My girlfriend and I got engaged this week.” When neither of us says anything, Keith goes on. “What, no congratulations?”
“Congratulations,” we say in unison with monotone voices.
“We’ll be having a wedding for the ages, not some cheap, spur-of-the-moment affair. Unlike some people, I understand what it means to be a Ryan in this town.”
“It means you’re a dick.”
Keith steps forward. “Careful, bro, you’re not exactly perfect.”
“No, but I don’t use other people for my own advantage or toy with people’s lives like you, so there’s that.”
Keith’s hands fist at his sides. “You don’t know shit, brother. You’ve been gone too long.”
“I don’t know shit? Where should I start? Well, I know you stole money from Mom in high school and blamed the housekeeper and she was fired. I know you had Dad call in some favors when you couldn’t get into your college of choice and he made a large donation to get you in. I know that when you had that car accident in college because you were drinking, you didn’t get charged because of your last name. And I know you think money can buy you out of any problem you have. But you can’t buy your way out of being a douchebag, so I hate to tell you, brother, you’re screwed.” Keith takes another step forward, eyes like lasers, but Nick holds up his hand. “Careful now. You don’t want to damage your sterling reputation.”
Keith heeds his words and steps back.
Nick takes my hand. “Come on, Maz. Let’s get outta here.” He turns without a backward glance and pulls me through the crowd.
Instead of thinking about the argument he just had with his brother, all I think about is the kiss. How his brother might have spurred it to start, but he’s not what kept it going. That flame that’s always been lit between us hasn’t blown out yet.
Thirty-One
Almost ten years ago…
Mazzy
“Maybe you should slow down on the alcohol.”
I look at Ava, though my vision is a bit blurry. “You’re one to talk.”
“I just mean because your mom keeps glancing over.”
I shrug. “I don’t care. I lost the love of my life two days ago and she still forced me to be here tonight, so whatever.” To punctuate my point, I take another large slug of my wine.
Ava’s eyes shine with pity. If she were anyone else, I’d want to deck her, but she’s been there for me ever since Nick showed up at my apartment and called an end to something we hadn’t even started. She’s nursed me through my heartbreak with copious amounts of ice cream, wine, and reality TV the last two days. She even agreed to be my date tonight since Nick was supposed to be on my arm at this particular charity function.
It hurts to even think his name. How in the hell can he believe that what he’s doing is right? There’s nothing right about this.
But, oh no. He’s doing this for my own good.
Jesus, the nerve of him to think he knows better than me what’s best for my life. Did he even think of the pain he’s causing by pulling the rug out from under me?
My fingers clench around my wine glass as I bring it to my lips. I’m so angry with him I could spit. My rage is like lava seeping through my veins, and I want nothing more than to make him feel the same kind of pain I do.
“Evening, everyone.”
The male voice draws my attention from my thoughts. I look to see Nick’s pompous younger brother—who’s the same age as me—has approached my family’s table. I’ve never really gotten along with him, partly based on the fact that he and Nick have never gotten along, to put it mildly.
A seed of an idea sprouts in my brain.
“Maz, what are you doing?” Ava asks as though she can read my thoughts, but I ignore her and walk over to Keith.
“Keith, care to take me for a spin around the dance floor?” I ask, not waiting for him to answer. Instead I grip his hand and drag him after me. His hand in mine feels wrong, but I don’t pull away, thinking of how much Nick would hate this if he saw it.
We reach the dance floor and Keith pulls me into his body, wrapping his arms around me. “You look ravishing as always.”
“Thank you.”
We turn in time to the slow song. Though I don’t like this man—even as a friend—I don’t care. Doing something I know would piss Nick off feels good. Even if he’s not here to witness it.
“I must say I’m surprised you want to dance. You’re usually hanging off a different Ryan.”
I clench my teeth. “I don’t want to talk about your brother.”
He chuckles. “Has that man still not got his head out of his ass and snatched you up yet?”
Keith’s knowing tone pisses me off even more. Nick’s made me look like an idiot. Does everyone know he’s kept me on the sidelines, just waiting until the day he feels like calling me into play?
“Your brother is an idiot.”
“Whatever he’s done, it’s clearly pissed you off.” He tugs me into him. “You know what would really get under his skin?”
“What?” I lean back to see his face better.
His lips fall to mine and… Keith is kissing me, his tongue seeking entry into my mouth. I press my lips shut, not allowing
him in at first, but I lose the fight. Nick’s already blown up our relationship. Why shouldn’t I seal our fate?
Nick
I’m the world’s biggest dumbass.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I wasn’t thinking is the correct answer. It’d been thirty-six hours since I slept and everything about Mazzy and me felt like too much. But now after a good night’s rest, I’ve gained some perspective, and I realize how wrong I was. All I can hope is that she’ll forgive me.
I’ll have to do whatever I can to make it up for her. And I know how I’m going to start.
My mother called earlier today, asking whether I’d be at the fundraising gala tonight. My parents have a table there every year, and Mazzy’s do as well. She and I had planned to go together, though I’m sure she’s not expecting me now.
What better way to show her that I’ll endure functions like this if it means being with her than to show up tonight and surprise her?
I pull my tuxedo from the closet and put it on. It pains me to think that this is probably how she felt the night we were supposed to be together and I didn’t show up.
No matter, we can figure it out. I need to find her and give her a declaration of my love, but this time, I’ll also say how much I’m committed to being with her.
How did I ever think I could deal with watching her marry someone else? It’s always been Mazzy for me. I didn’t know when the moment would be right for us, but the time is now.
I call a car to pick me up, and an hour later, I’m walking into the ballroom after a short argument with the organizer at the door since I didn’t have a ticket. Once I showed my ID, he let me, realizing my family had purchased an entire table.
I spot Ava, Mazzy’s best friend, near the bar. I guess I’m not surprised Mazzy brought her tonight. Mazzy probably expected me to be on her arm this evening.
I have so much to make up for.
I don’t spot Mazzy anywhere, so I make my way over to Ava. “Where’s your date?”
I must startle her because Ava whips around and her eyes widen. Then they narrow. “What makes you think she’d want to see you?”
Don't Mind If I Do : A Fake Marriage Romantic Comedy Page 14