Page 57 of Harbinger

Ronan gives me one last look before he starts walking in the direction of a large, greying older man in the corner, lightly tugging my hand along.

The brunette he’s speaking to looks at us, her eyes wafting over my dress before she notices Ronan and smiles.

I shouldn’t feel possessive, but I do, a shimmer of jealousy thrumming through my veins despite there being no reason for it being there. He’s not mine, and by the way the man moves to face us, his hand on her lower back, I think she’s taken.

“Steven!” Ronan greets him, shaking his hand with a smile. “This must be Allison?”

“It’s good to see you out and about, Ronan. This is Allison, yes.” The man has a large smile on his face, his teeth chipped and yellowed.

Allison, at least half his age, leans into him, plastering a smile on her face as she acts the part.

I’ve known that there are many young women who will marry an older man for financial security, and I get it. I do. I would never judge. It’s just not something I’d ever be able to do. The idea of having to put on a performance every second you interact with them, pretending to enjoy the touch of a creepy older man as he infantilizes you, makes me want to throw up in the corner.

I watch her as he grabs her waist, palming it with his big, sweaty hand, and miss what he’s said to me until Ronan’s hand squeezing mine breaks me out of my trance.

“This is Sydney, my wife,” he tells the man in front of us, a twinkle in his eye. It’s one of the first times I’ve heard him say it, and it sends a shockwave through me.

I’ve always wanted to be called that.

I just never thought it would happen like this.

I smile, offering my hand. “Hi, nice to meet you,” I tell him, careful to stay friendly while not slipping into my customer service voice.

I don’t know that bitch.

“I didn’t know you were married,” Steven says, taking my hand and shaking it. His palm is clammy, yet his skin is still rough against mine.

“Just got married the other day, actually,” Ronan smiles at me, and my breath catches. “When you know, you know, right? Had to lock it down.”

Steven chuckles, turning back to Allison. “It was so nice to see you guys here; enjoy your night!” he says before directing her away from us.

“That’s one of my bosses,” Ronan tells me, dipping down to whisper it in my ear. He stays there, playing with my hair as he kisses my cheek.

“Boy, you’re laying it on thick, aren’t you?”

“Do you want to get this over with or not?” he asks, pulling away just slightly to graze my lips with his.

“Is anyone even watching?”

“And if they weren’t?”

“If they weren’t, I would think you like touching me.”

“I like touching you just as much as I like touching any woman,”

“I’m pretty sure that’s the opposite of what you’ve told me in the last couple of days,”

“We all lie,”

I pull away, narrowing my eyes. “What’s happening here?”

“We’re playing a part, Syd.”

My hands start to shake, my chest heaving slightly. “This doesn’t feel like a part for some reason.”

His eyes meet mine, a grin on his face as he looks over my shoulder. I can tell when he sees someone he knows, and he puts on the mask. I can tell when he’s pretending. He’s been flipping between acting and not since we got here.

“Who do you see?”

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