10. plus-one
plus-one
OTHELLO
I feel like I’m under a microscope. Carina and her crew are looking at me as if I’m about to perform magic tricks.
Danielle, Carina’s best friend, and her cousin, Jaylah, are the only faces I recognize.
The other two are strangers, and neither of them bothers hiding the way they look me up and down.
And trust, the looks from these four women bouncing between Carina and me, searching for any trace of animosity, desire, or regret, are impossible to ignore.
They know. Carina must have told them.
We’d dated for a year, and keeping our relationship private had always been more important to me than it was to her. So while the world never knew we were together, her family and closest friends did.
Carina was becoming a big star back when we were together, and I wasn't interested in becoming a headline every time we went out to dinner. But Carina wanted dinners without having to go through back entrances. Pictures of me with her on red carpets. Photos on Instagram. The freedom to take trips that didn’t need to be hush-hush.
My personality needed the opposite.
As these girls I don’t know look at me, unease sets in.
I can practically hear the questions forming behind their eyes, and I see the entire week playing out.
The past I shared with Carina being exposed.
The questions, the speculation, talking behind my back.
Why did I come? Is Othello still in love with her?
Does he hate Gavin? Is he here for revenge?
I shouldn’t give a damn about any of that shit, but would I be able to handle the speculation and judgment for seven whole days? What version of our break-up had Carina told them? If I had to guess, it was one where she came out looking a lot better than I did.
Would these uppity rich folks be eyeballing me, waiting to see if I crack?
Anxious to see if I will do something stupid, or something far more horrendous like sabotaging my cousin’s wedding, because I’m a bitter man scorned?
That’s not what I’m here for. But of course that’s what they would see.
In fact, that’s how Carina’s girls are looking at me right now.
A bead of sweat forms on my brow. And the anxiety that crept up on me this morning in the Uber is back with a vengeance. The one I’d shoved down with tequila and Marley’s laughter.
That maddening feeling of irritation was back, slithering up my spine.
“We thought you’d be here hours ago,” Carina scolds. “We had a meet-and-greet right after check-in.”
“We stopped to get something to eat,” I tell her evenly. “But I’m here now. Safely.” I put emphasis on the word safely, because clearly Carina doesn’t give two shits about that.
“Safely. Yes, you are here, safely. Glad you made it, Ozzy.” Her gaze flicks to my side, finally noticing Marley, who is swaying like she is seconds from ruining the pristine marble floors with vomit.
Carina looks Marley up and down, her brow lifting in curiosity. And then, as if Marley can’t speak for herself, Carina turns to me.
“Who is this? I didn’t know you were bringing a plus-one.”
A plus-one?
I wasn’t. I mean, I didn’t. I’m about to correct her and tell her she has it all wrong. Marley isn’t my date. She’s just a woman I’ve spent half the day with, who, somehow, I’ve developed a feeling for that I can’t explain.
The truth almost spills from my lips, but before I can say anything, my senses prickle. My hand is wrapped around Marley’s. I don’t even remember reaching for it. And before I can stop myself, before I can weigh the consequences, I say it.
“This is my girlfriend, Marley. Marley, meet Carina, the one marrying my cousin.”
Marley turns so fast I swear I hear her neck crack. Her eyes glance up at me, a subtle hint of surprise and betrayal swimming in their depths.
I squeeze her hand, my heart hammering against my chest.
Then she looks back at Carina, stretching her lips into a smile that is strained and all teeth.
Carina’s gaze sweeps between the two of us.
“Your girlfriend?” she asks, her words slightly offended and steady, as if she needs to be sure she heard correctly. “I had no idea you were bringing a date.” She stretches out the word date like it’s laced with poison. “We haven’t set up any of the venues for an extra person.”
“It’s okay,” Marley stammers, her free hand placed on my chest. “I can sit on his lap.”
Laughter bubbles up from the two girls I don’t know, but Carina’s body goes rigid, her expression twisting in the way it does when she’s disgusted or upset.
“It was a joke,” Marley adds. She sways. Hiccups. And I find myself wrapping an arm around her shoulder to steady her and pull her closer.
“You okay?” I ask her. It’s a loaded question. But the concern is real. And so is the guilt I feel in my gut when I realize I’ve gotten Marley stuck in the middle of a lie.
“I’m not feeling too good,” Marley answers.
The way she looks at me makes my stomach drop. “I’m going to go.” She gently tugs her hand free. I study her, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the vibes between us are no longer vibing. She won’t even look at me, and there is…attitude?
Fuck.
“Okay,” I say slowly. “Let me go with you.”
“No, no. You stay and catch up.”
There’s an edge to her tone that wasn’t there before. Marley turns, moving quickly towards the front desk, which now has only two people in front of her. I turn to Carina and her friends, who are watching all this in unblinking silence.
“I’ll be right back.”
Carina calls after me, but I’m already off.
“Hey, are you okay? Look, I’m sorry.”
The glow Marley wore earlier has dimmed, replaced by something distant.
Yeah, I messed up big time.
“Listen, Marley, I know I fucked up. I wasn’t thinking-”
“Oh, I believe that part.” She exhales sharply. “Othello, I’m not here to be a pawn in whatever game you’re playing.”
“I’m not playing any games. At least not with you.”
“Please,” she sighs heavily. “It’s been a long night. I just want to go to sleep now.”
I nod, understanding. The entire day, one of the best I’ve had in a long time, is ruined because of my own need to prove something.
What? I don’t even know. But whatever it was, it wasn’t worth this.
Not the look on Marley’s face that has my insides cowering.
It’s like someone, me, switched off the light of Marley’s hope and happiness.
Damn.
“Can I check on you later?”
“No.” The answer is clipped and harsh. “I’ll be fine.”
“Next,” a woman at the counter calls out. Marley steps up to the front desk, and this time I don’t stop her. I’m left standing there regretting every damn second of the last five minutes.
I hear the heels of Carina and her friends coming up behind me.
“What’s your girlfriend’s problem?” Danielle asks, nodding toward Marley.
“She’s just tired. It’s been a long day. For both of us.”
Danielle gives a sympathetic look as she understands, then says, “I know it took a lot for you to be here. I’m glad you showed up.”
Danielle is tall. Almost six feet with insanely wild curly hair that sits right above her shoulders. I catch a flicker of hope in her hazel eyes before she gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” I tell her. “I’m here for Mimi.”
The words leave my mouth like a disclaimer. Like a reminder to myself and everyone else that my being here has nothing to do with Gavin. That I’m here in good faith.
The women look at me with sympathetic smiles on their heavily made-up faces.
“It’s strange that she’s not here,” Carina admits sadly.
“Yeah, I know this was something she really wanted to witness before she passed.”
“Have you and Gavin had a chance to talk yet?” Danielle asks.
“Uh, no. Not yet.”
The stranger wearing a mesh top that shows starfish nipple covers nudges Carina in the arm with hers.
“Oh, yeah,” Carina pipes up, melancholy expression gone. “Since you missed the meet and greet, you haven’t been formally introduced.” She motions to Starfish. “This is Camila.” And then to the one with whimsical pigtails. “And this is Lety.”
Camila smiles and extends a hand toward me. She’s shorter than the rest of the girls, probably 5’2, with skin as dark as mine. “Pleasure to meet you,” she says.
“Yeah, it’s finally great to put a face to the stories,” Lety adds.
I can only imagine the stories these women were told.
I give a weak smile and tell them, “I’m gonna head back and help Marley with getting checked into our room.”
“She’s a big girl. I’m sure she can handle it. She knows to tell them you’re under the Sterling wedding, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, of course.”
“Come out with us,” says Lety. Her hand is in mine, pulling me before I can leave. “There’s a club about 20 minutes from here.”
“Nah, I’m good. Long flight. Then the drive. I just need some sleep.” I pry my hands from her grip.
“Sleep?” Carina’s brows lift. “Did you not get the memo? We are turning up this entire week for my wedding.”
“Yassss! Team No Sleep!” Camila howls. She bends her knees and starts twerking, her skirt inching up her thighs as her ass moves like a tsunami.
I look away.
“We’re in Maui,” Lety purrs, pressing her palm against my chest. “Let’s have some fun.”
Carina grabs Lety by the shoulder, pulling her back and out of my way. “Get out of the man’s personal space.”
Then Carina’s eyes shoot to me.
“Are you trying to ruin this week for me? First, you miss flying with us on the jet, you barely respond in the group chat, and now you’re backing out on our first night in Maui.”
I don’t even have time to respond before Danielle jumps to my defense. “What part of he’s tired don’t you get, Carina? The man just got here. With his girlfriend. Let them relax.”
Good ole Dani. Hasn’t changed a bit. She’s still the only person, besides myself, who isn’t afraid to stand up to Carina.
“Can we please go before my buzz wears off?” Camila whines.
“Where are Gavin and the others?” I ask Danielle. “Are they going to?”
“The men all called it quits for the night. They’re sleeping,” Danielle says, her tone pointed. She side-eyes Carina, her expression annoyed and over it. “I’ll be in the Hummer.” She turns on her heel, her long skirt flowing behind her as she saunters toward the lobby doors.
Camila wiggles a goodbye with her fingers, then strolls off too, leaving Lety and Carina in front of me.
I shoot Carina a disbelieving look. “And I was supposed to just hang out with you and your bridesmaids all night?”
Lety slides back into my personal space. “And what’s wrong with that?”
I laugh under my breath and shake my head. “Unbelievable. You ladies, have a good night.”
Lety gives up on her advances with a dramatic eye roll before she follows the others out.
Carina doesn’t budge. Our eyes meet, and I can see her dark brown orbs searching mine, probably trying to gauge where my head is at or how I’m feeling for her, or if I’m still stuck on what we had in the past. I hope she can see that anything I felt for her before is gone.
“Cute girlfriend,” she smiles, but I know she’s fucking with me.
“I know.”
Carina rolls her eyes. “I didn’t peg her for your type. She’s a bit of a lush, isn’t she?”
“Not at all. We’re on vacation. We’re having fun.”
Carina looks taken aback. “Oh wow, ok. You know how to have fun now?”
I sigh. I’m over this conversation, but she isn’t done yet.
“I know you’re a mute in the group chat, but you could have said you were bringing someone with you.”
“It was last-minute. But what difference does it make?”
A beat of silence stretches between us before she forces a smile that looks damn near sinister.
“None.”
Then she pats my chest with her hand. “Don’t forget the welcome dinner is tomorrow night at seven. I’ll save your lap and add a chair for your boo.”
Carina studies me one last time before she turns and walks away. And I drop my head, grateful that there is nothing lingering in my heart for her.
Nothing at all.