Page 37 of Menace in Vegas

12

ALLISON

I’m trapped like an animal, suffering needlessly.

And Connor Byrns is enjoying every second of it.

We stop for breakfast at a diner, and the waitress — an older lady with a perm and a name tag that says "Betty" — gives us a once-over before she smiles.

"Newlyweds?"

Before I can open my mouth to correct her, Connor wraps a thick arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him.

"Yep," he says smoothly. "Honeymoon road trip."

My mouth drops open.

Betty beams.

"Oh, how precious! Y’all just look adorable together."

I whip my head toward him, my eyes wide with betrayal.

"What?”

Connor just smiles that perfect, smug, cocky-ass smile.

He leans in, rubbing slow circles over my shoulder.

"She’s still adjusting to married life," he tells Betty.

I gawk at him.

"Adjusting? What the?—"

He cuts me off, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

"She’s a little shy," he murmurs. "But she’s the best thing that ever happened to me."

Betty clutches her chest. "Oh, honey! That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard!"

I can’t process this.

Connor just sighs like a lovesick fool in front of a total stranger.

Betty winks at me.

"Oh, sweetheart, you got yourself a good one," before she waltzes away.

I numbly eat my food and drink my coffee, feeling like I’m stuck in a nightmare I can’t wake up from.

Even worse, Connor keeps up the act the entire meal, casually calling me “babe” like it’s normal.

“Pass me the salt, babe.”

“Would you like more coffee, babe?”

“How’s your breakfast, babe?”

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