Page 62 of Mess With Me
The salesclerk slid her glasses on and peered at them. “What an adorable couple.” She turned to him. “Would you like the matching sheer robe?”
This place was pricey. He considered the high dollar value of the combined outfit that Ally would throw away if they broke up and then decided in an optimistic burst that he didn’t have to worry about that.
Ally shook her head. “That’s okay.”
“We’ll take it,” he said.
Ally squeaked and hugged him around the middle again.
Worth it.
Ally had enjoyed their night out, but now that they were back at her place, she was hiding in the bathroom, heart racing, hands trembling in the black satin and lace slip and sheer robe. Ethan was lounging in her bed, probably naked, waiting to see her model the lingerie.
Why did she let him spend the night? She was only getting herself in deeper. She needed space not more togetherness. She could practically feel the inevitable crash about to slam into her when this all went south. Yet when she imagined coming home to an empty apartment after their tumultuous night, she knew exactly why she allowed him to stay. She wasn’t ready to let him go. As simple as that.
Ethan was grounded and solid in a way her ex-boyfriends had never been. She didn’t know if it was because he was a cop or because he was a little older than her ex-boyfriends. In any case, she liked his solidness, liked that he was someone she could count on. When he made a promise, she believed him. She wasn’t nearly as freaked as she should’ve been at the possibility of an accidental pregnancy. Because it was Ethan. He was husband material.Dammit!She hated that her mind went there, even with her new enlightened attitude about making her own happiness.
She loved him.
Her stomach did a topsy-turvy flip. She loved the tough guy and didn’t have a clue if he felt the same way. He cared for her, liked her, definitely, but love? She told herself not to put any heavy expectations out there. The future would take care of itself one way or the other.
Maybe she’d be pregnant, maybe she wouldn’t.
Maybe he’d bail, maybe he’d stay a while longer and then bail.
Maybe she’d stay in this bathroom forever.
She gave herself a last look in the mirror, her worry written all over her face. She turned away, leaving the bathroom and making her slow way into the bedroom on shaky legs.
He’d left the light on the nightstand on, probably to see her outfit. He was definitely naked, sitting up in her bed, the pillow bunched behind him. He looked out of place—all hard sculpted muscle—in her girly bed with its coral paisleys and flowers comforter. Normally she went to her boyfriend’s place because she used to always have a roommate.
He wolf-whistled. “Beautiful. So beautiful.”
She stopped next to the bed and blurted, “I’m scared.”
He threw the cover back and pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her so they were lying side by side, facing each other, and then stroked her hair back from her face. “Don’t be scared. What’re you scared of?”
“Everything. You, me, the future.”
“It’ll be okay.” He kissed her forehead, her cheek, the spot just below her ear that made her melt. “Don’t worry, okay?” he said in a husky coaxing voice by her ear. “Just enjoy.” He nuzzled her neck, bringing a hot shiver.
She let out a shuddering breath. “I’ll try.”
He rolled on top of her in one smooth move, settling between her legs, his mouth claiming hers, his hard warm weight at once comforting and arousing. His tongue took possession, his fingers tangled in her hair, carrying her away to the realm of pleasure, and she let him.
14
The bride looked like a princess, the groom her handsome prince, and the flower girl—Lauren’s two-year-old stepdaughter, Viv—was so freaking adorable Ally’s uterus hurt. Ally waited in the back of St. Joseph’s Church with the bridal party to walk down the aisle for Lauren and Alex’s big day, the catch in her throat over the emotional occasion purely for the happy bride, not because she wished she was also a bride. Okay, old habits died hard. This beautiful occasion was exactly how Ally had pictured her own wedding, but the groom’s face had always been blurry in those fantasies. That should’ve given her a clue that her ex-boyfriends were not the One, but now she wasn’t waiting for the One. She was the One.
She sighed. She hadn’t seen or heard from Ethan since last Sunday morning when she’d headed out to Lauren’s bachelorette brunch. Six days ago. He wasn’t one of those guys who called or texted just because he missed her. Maybe he didn’t miss her at all. He got in touch only to schedule a time to meet up. When she saw him, he was great, tender and caring, but then when they were apart, which was most of the time, it was like he forgot about her. Absence might make the heart grow fonder, but it made her feel hurt and put aside. Like she was only a sometimes thing when it was convenient. She hated that her emotions were all tangled up. She’d been trying to do things differently this time, better.
At the very least he could’ve checked in to see if she was pregnant. Not pregnant, thanks so much for your concern.
Organ music began inside the church. Hailey, both maid-of-honor and the wedding planner, walked over and took Viv’s hand. The little girl had been bouncing all around the bride, wearing her special Princess Kei-Kei dress, a character from a beloved animated movie—pink satin with a pink tutu covered in a pattern of neon green elves. The neon green continued on large bows on her shoulders and waist. And, like any self-respecting princess, she wore a rhinestone tiara. She clutched the handle of a small basket of red rose petals in one hand. The princess fantasy started young.
Hailey leaned down to Viv. “It’s time. You remember what to do? Walk slowly to your daddy andgentlytoss the petals.”
Viv nodded vigorously, her tiara bouncing askew on her wavy light brown hair. Hailey fixed the tiara before opening the church door for her and gesturing for her to go.
