Page 164 of Dirty Husband
"I'm sorry." He smiles that sickly sweet smile. "I'm going off about my marriage when this is your day. I have to make sure you know how proud your mother would be, Shepard. And you too, Phoenix. She would be proud of the men you've become."
"Excuse me." Nick places his glass on the table. "I've got to meet Lizzy at home."
Jasmine looks to me for explanation.
I shrug as if I don't know.
But she doesn't buy it.
No one buys my ignorance.
"It's hard to hear about Mom," Nick says. "Painful."
Thank fuck he's helping me for once.
"Shep, I have something for you. A wedding present. But I can't let the bride see." He motions to the hallway. "Can I have a minute?"
"Of course," Lucien speaks for everyone. "But first." He holds his glass a little higher. "To the Marlowe family. They deserve the world. And I hope they get every single thing they deserve." He smiles through the threat. He convinces the room he means it as a fucking compliment.
Nick stands.
I toast. Pray for my sparkling water to turn to wine.
It doesn't.
I swallow it anyway. Follow Nick to the hallway. The stairs. The quiet street outside.
We're at a cozy place near the park. A quiet area for families. A neighborhood for respectable people.
It's warm tonight. Too warm for this suit. This fabric shouldn't feel so confining—I wear this in August, when it's ninety and humid—but it does.
I need it gone.
I need to break the fucking window.
Any window. It doesn't matter as long as I destroy it.
Nick places his hand on my shoulder.
I almost deck him.
He doesn't flinch. "You're still sensitive?"
"Fuck off."
"You know what he's doing."
"What about fuck off is unclear to you?"
He takes a step backward. Away from the restaurant. "I have a car waiting." He motions to a sleek black town car parked across the street. "You should leave."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
"I'm not leaving." I suck a breath through my teeth. "He'll think he's won."
"He has."
