Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Romeo
Sitting with my family, my girl at my side, I watch my cousin marry the love of her life.
The wedding is so over the fucking top, but that is how Mia is.
The hotel went overboard with the decorations for the wedding and Valentine’s Day theme; it looks like Cupid had a fucking party and everyone puked up red and pink hearts all over the place.
Nell has been super sweet and attentive all day, and if I am being honest, it is freaking me out. From her slight aloofness yesterday, and then her comments about me playing a game with her, it is like she woke up a different person.
Her hand clutches the little purse she brought with her, as she watches my cousin and her now husband smile and kiss each other.
When I woke up this morning, Nell had already woken up, showered, and gone, leaving a note saying she had some things to do. Then she came back hours later, and we got ready for the wedding.
She looks beautiful in her navy dress, with thin straps and the low front giving me a good view of her breasts. The dress stops mid-thigh with a little slit on the side.
She is a knockout, a perfect wet dream.
Yet, I cannot help but get the feeling that something bad is about to happen.
Mia and her husband walk down the aisle, everyone clapping and cheering for them.
“Photos with the immediate family first, then just the happy couple,” the photographer calls out.
“I need to use the restroom, excuse me?” Nell says.
“Hey, are you okay?”
With a bright smile, she looks at me and nods. “I am fine.”
I turn my head and watch her leave through the doors. Catching Asher’s attention, he frowns, and I shrug my shoulders.
“Nell okay?”
“She says she is fine, but I can’t shake that something is off.”
“Maybe she is hungover.”
I nod. “Maybe.”
“Romeo, Asher, come and have photos.”
We go to my mother and auntie, who are bossing people around, making sure that the photos are perfect for Mia to look back on. I keep looking around for Nell, but she is nowhere to be found.
“Romeo, where is Nell?”
“She went to the restroom,” I answer my mother.
My mother gets called away so her search for Nell is all but forgotten. We are ushered into a big grand hall that again makes me wince seeing all the pink hearts and flowers everywhere.
We are seated and have to wait for the bride and groom to finish up. While seated, Nell arrives.
Leaning in, I whisper in her ear, “You missed the photos.”
“Sorry,” is all she says, then sips from the glass of water in front of her.
“Want to tell me what the fuck is wrong?”
I get the ice glare that is quickly masked by a sugary sweet Nell and fuck me, my gut tightens but my cock hardens at the same time.
She says nothing for a few seconds, just looking me dead in the eyes.
“Why would you think anything is wrong, Romeo?”
“You were gone this morning when I woke up, then came back and got ready for the wedding. You have barely spoken to me and fuck me, it kind of gives me the feeling that you are pissed at me.”
“Should I have a reason to be pissed at you?” She arches a brow at me.
“You are not answering my questions, but throwing your own back at me.” I sigh. “Fuck, this is why—” I stop myself from saying something that will most certainly cause a fucking fight between us.
“This is why you what?” she asks, but my parents arrive at our table so I shake my head.
Nell’s mask falls into place, a sweet smile on her face, playing the part in front of my parents. I can feel her slipping away, and I have no fucking idea why this is happening.
I rest my arm on the back of her chair, my thumb touching the base of her spine, but she inches forward. If you were not looking close enough, you would not see the movement.
My blood starts to simmer, hating not knowing why she is acting like this with me.
We eat the food that is served, Nell giving my parents and everyone at the table her full attention. While I get fucking scraps of conversations that a family member drags me into.
I should be grateful that she fits so well with my family but not at the expense of me being fucking ignored.
The table is cleared, and I reach for her hand under the table. She tenses, letting me take her hand in mine and setting it on my thigh, giving the illusion that we are okay, but only for a second.
Nell pulls her hand back, reaching for her wine, and I grit my teeth, staring a hole into the side of her head.
“If you will excuse me, I need the ladies room.” She pushes her chair back, collects her purse, then leaves, not once looking at me.
“Man, you must have fucked up. She is like a viper ready to strike, but will not make a scene.”
“She has not told me anything; fuck, she has barely spoken to me.”
I have played over our time here, time and time again, and nothing is popping up that would make her behave like this.
Keeping a watch on the door that leads to the restrooms, I wait for her to come back. Something in my gut is telling me that something clearly upset her, but what?
I need her to talk to me.
We cannot go on like this for the next two days; it will drive me crazy and I know that I will say something fucking stupid to hurt her.
Being here with her has made me see that I want something more with her. Last night, talking with Daniella made me see that Nell is worth the risk of getting my heart broken again.
I sit up straighter when she walks back into the room, smiling at my family, hugging Mia and her new husband. Jealousy rears its head that she is touching another man, albeit a newly married man, but she will not let me hold her hand.
People are dancing, laughing, chatting, and drinking in celebration. The happy couple dance in the middle of the room, love clear on their faces as they are surrounded by family.
Italian people know how to party and drink. There have been many times where the cops were called, but I am hoping that it does not get that out of hand this time.
“Dance with me,” I say, standing when Nell comes back to the table.
“I am not good at dancing; I think I will go to the bar for another drink, though.”
“Damn it, Nell. Fucking talk to me,” I whisper-yell, inching closer.
Her eyes meet mine and I see a mixture of pain, and anger, catching me off guard.
“I do not dance. Maybe ask some other woman in the room. I am sure there are plenty of single women here for you to choose from.” Her tone is pissing me off.
“You will fucking dance with me as my girlfriend. How would it look if I dance with another woman while my girlfriend is sitting here alone?”
She shrugs, but keeps a smile on her face to not draw the wrong attention to us.
“If it is your image that you are concerned about, then I am sure that your mother would like to dance with her son.”
I step into her space, my arm slipping around her waist, and I pull her to me.
“I want my woman pressed against me, only her hands touching me.” Dropping my lips to her ear, she shivers at the slightest of touches. “I think you want my hands on you.”
“Romeo, not…”
“Come.” I lead her to the dance floor, where a slow song is being played.
Keeping her in my arms, we gently rock from one foot to the other.
With her hands on my biceps, her fingers gripping on for dear life, but I let it go.
As much as I want to push her to find out what the hell is wrong, I do not want her to leave.
I want to keep her with me, making sure that every fucker here knows that she is mine.
She lays her head on my chest, and my arms tighten around her. She fits my body perfectly, like she was made just for me.
Kissing the top of her head, she sighs, and I swear I hear her sniffle, but I don’t make a thing of making sure she is not crying; my mother would pitch a fit if I made Nell cry.
The song plays on, and soon leads into another one, but we stay as we are. People dance around us, but nothing breaks us apart, and no one bothers us. It is like they know that we are having a moment, so they let us be.
I pull my head back, hooking my finger under her chin to make her look at me. Her eyes are glassy, but I see no tears.
“I do not know why you feel this hostility toward me, but I would like to put it aside for now and enjoy the wedding. Can we do that?”
I am fighting everything in me to force her to tell me what I did wrong, but I keep my mouth shut and go for the best solution. Not ruin the rest of the night; we can enjoy this and then deal with whatever is happening between us tomorrow.
I just hope there is a tomorrow.