Page 110 of Breach of Honor

“Is that right? How are you going to make up for not being with me to watch the fireworks?”

“I’ll buy you a fireworks show. Whatever the cost. With your name lighting up the sky too.”

“Stop it and be serious.”

He pressed his nose to mine. “I am serious.”

“You don’t have to go to all that trouble and expense. It’d be cheaper to take me to Florida so I could see the fireworks above Cinderella’s Castle.”

“Name the day and we’re there.” His kissed the tip of my nose.

Will always sounded so earnest when he spoke. It confused the hell out of me. I wanted to trust that he meant every word, but something didn’t feel right about him going sailing with Jason.

“I’ll check my schedule, but I don’t think I can take any trips until after… Well, I’ll check my schedule.”

“You do that. I love you, M.” He turned me on my side and spooned me.

“I love you too.”

“And it doesn’t bother you at all that he’s out on a boat with Jason?” Lily asked while slicing watermelon. For the last ten minutes, she had been dissecting Will’s motives for going sailing with Jason. I’d expected as much from her; she’d always been the guarded one who didn’t trust men.

“Yeah, it bothers me a little. But not enough to hang him by the balls.” I snorted, but nobody joined me in laughing. “Aw, come on. That was a little funny.”

Admittedly, I didn’t want to hear Lily’s thoughts because Will and I had worked it out last night. He’d promised to be home from now on when I was home, and the sincerity in his voice had been genuine. This morning, I had sensed an uneasiness in him about leaving. He told me to invite the gang over for a cookout and to watch the fireworks. He was so sweet about it. Then Jason arrived and blared on the horn. Will kissed me deeply, struggling to pull away.

Seeing the distress in his eyes made me wonder if Jason had guilted him into going. The thought had angered me. So much had changed in the last month, and I wasn’t sure what to make of Jason anymore.

“You’re just trying to hide your true feelings. Why are you protecting him?” Tate huffed, darting from the patio table to the grill. He poked the steaks, flipped the corn, and checked on the skewered shrimp.

Aside from his black hair and thick eyebrows, Tate reminded me of Bobby Flay from the cooking show Lily liked to watch. The poor girl couldn’t cook to save her life and didn’t care to learn how. She only watched the show for the visual stimulation.

“I’m not protecting him. I’m thinking of it like a dude’s day trip.”

“I think that’s perfectly fine,” Viv interjected, passing Tate a beer. “Couples don’t have to do everything together. It’s just the Fourth of July for God’s sake. Big freaking deal.” Her words gave me pause.

“You’re absolutely right, Viv! It’s not like it’s my birthday or Christmas.”

“Exactly.” She nodded.

“No, no, no. I disagree. You rarely get days off. Thisislike a special holiday,” Lily countered. “What happens when he picks Jason over you the next time?”

“He said there won’t be a next time.”

“Riiight,” Tate drawled in a snarky tone. “You just wait. He’s going to make you cry again before the month is over.”

“Don’t be a hater.” Viv scolded. “What’s with you, anyway?”

“I don’t like to see any of my girls cry.”

“But you liked Will,” I reminded Tate. I was in total agreement with Viv, the rational one in the marriage. Tate was harmless, but hewasprotective of “his girls.”

“Yes, until he cheated on you and made you cry. That changed everything.” He raised a hand as if putting us on hold. He flipped the steaks, then turned back around. “You shouldn’t have to take that shit. Grow a pair and cut the guy loose.”

“Grow a pair?” Viv shook her head disappointedly. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Why am I the only feminist in the group?” He raised his clenched fist in the air. “Where’s the ‘girl power,’ the take-no-shit anger? I don’t get you ladies. Lily’s pining after a guy who gave her the best sex of her life and then he hightailed it across the Atlantic to get away from her.”

Lily gasped.

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