Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Pippa
The cab lurches to a stop outside the restaurant, and I peer out of the window, taking in the subtle glow spilling from the big glass windows onto the sidewalk.
We are meeting Rhett’s friends, and I am so nervous I feel sick.
I don’t know how I am supposed to eat, feeling the way I do, but I am hoping my nerves will settle down a bit when I get inside.
Rhett has told me they are nice and welcoming, but they are his friends, so he’s going to say that.
I remind myself of how nice Maria was. Hopefully, they are all like her.
Rhett holds open the door for me, and I slide past him, close enough to almost touch.
I catch the faint hint of his cologne, the now familiar scent that I’ve kind of fallen in love with.
The restaurant is filled with the hum of conversation and laughter.
Rhett’s group is already gathered in a corner, tables pulled into a semi-circle, making it easy for everyone to see each other.
Maria, practically glowing in a silver top, spots us and waves, holding a flute of champagne like she was born doing that.
“Rhett. Pippa Over here,” she calls.
I am so glad to see her familiar face, I could cry. I wave, and we start to make our way over to the table, but first, Rhett stops in front of a couple. I recognize the man as Elliot, and the woman must be Camile, the bride.
“Elliot, Camile, this is Pippa,” Rhett says. “Pippa, this is Elliot and Camile.”
We exchange hellos, and Maria scoots along to make room for us.
I sit down and Rhett slides in beside me, his hand brushing mine briefly.
I can feel that familiar spark, the one that’s been growing all week, threading through our glances, our little touches.
I smile at him, and he smiles back, but his eyes are veiled, making it impossible for me to know what he is thinking.
A man approaches us. He looks effortlessly cool and tanned and Rhett stands up.
“Pippa, this is Max,” he says.
“Hey, Pippa, good to meet you,” Max says. “I’m Rhett’s best friend, so I already feel your pain at spending so much time with this guy.”
I laugh as Rhett shakes his head. Max is tall, with an easy, charming grin and a mischievous gleam in his eyes. I feel an instant sense of ease with him, like we’re already aligned in some unspoken way. Maybe it’s because in many respects, he seems quite similar to Rhett.
“Hi, Max,” I say, as he slides into a seat opposite us. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, you’re British,” he says. “Best accent ever.”
I laugh and shake my head. “I don’t know about that.”
“It’s well hot,” Max says.
“Umm, maybe get your own date, Max,” Rhett says. He’s laughing, but his hand has landed protectively on my knee. I should probably object to it, but it feels nice, and this is the kind of thing I signed up for.
I glance around the table, and Rhett introduces me to more people. Their names blur in my mind. I’m waiting for the real fireworks to start. Drinks are poured into our glasses. And then it’s showtime.
“Vanessa just walked in,” Rhett says quietly.
I catch her out of the corner of my eye as she comes over and perches on the edge of the group.
“Vanessa, have you met Pippa?” Maria says, nodding in my direction.
Vanessa shakes her head, and then she scans me with a look that could cut glass.
She could definitely teach a masterclass in body checking.
Something tells me she is old money, and maybe, she is a bit style-over-substance.
And she is also exactly how I imagined a spoiled heiress would look.
All perfectly coiffed hair, manicured nails, and designer outfit, but there’s also something about her that reeks of entitlement and judgment.
She sizes me up like I’m an irritating hindrance she needs to demolish with one glance.
I can’t help the sudden thrill that runs through me. I was going to play my role, show her that Rhett has moved on simply because that was the price for him pretending to be my boyfriend to make George jealous, but now, it’s just become personal. If she wants to play, then let’s play.
Challenge accepted.
From the moment she sits down, I make sure to lean slightly into Rhett, laugh at his jokes, and touch his arm lightly in reaction to anything he says.
Every look, every laugh, is exaggerated just enough to make it clear that he’s mine and he is well and truly off the market.
Rhett plays along, lapping up all of the attention I am lavishing on him.
I catch Vanessa’s sharp intake of breath, the barely restrained eye roll, and I feel a delicious surge of satisfaction.
Rhett leans in to whisper in my ear. “Well done, Pippa. You’re putting on a truly Oscar-worthy performance.”
“Isn’t that why I’m here?” I murmur, smiling seductively up at him. “I hate to disappoint.”
His eyes send a thrill down my spine. “I’m not disappointed. Not even close.”
“Come on, let’s hear it. How did you guys meet?” someone called Harrison asks.
I glance at Rhett. He’s grinning like a cat that found a whole jar of cream. The truth of how we met – me, dressed as Jessica Rabbit, asking Rhett out for a forfeit. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it’s still mortifying enough that I decide not to tell that story right now.
“Sorry to bore you, but we met in a bar,” I say, letting my hand suggestively brush Rhett’s arm.
“Yeah, that is boring. You should make up something more dramatic for next time someone asks,” Max says with a laugh.
“Let me try again,” I say, pretending to think. “Ok. I lost a Truth Game with my two best friends. The forfeit was that I had to dress up as Mrs. Jessica Rabbit and ask a stranger in a bar out on a date. The stranger turned out to be Rhett. And the rest, as they say, is history.”
The whole group whoops with laughter and bangs on the table.
“Fucking hell. I said, make it dramatic, not unbelievable.” Max crows.
“I like this girl,” a guy called Tarquin says. He looks at me and winks. “If you ever get bored with Rhett, call me.”
I can feel the warmth of pride creeping into my chest at his words. There’s a thrill in this, making it all look effortless, like Rhett and I are crazy in love.
I turn to Rhett, and his eyes are dark with something that looks like, God, surely not … pure, molten, sexual desire. He wants to fuck me. I turn away quickly in confusion.
Vanessa, of course, isn’t impressed. She leans back, her arms crossed, giving me that not so subtle up and down scan again that makes me laugh inwardly. Perfect. It only tells me she’s insecure and jealous. Result.
Vanessa’s eyes flicker briefly, a flash of irritation crossing her features.
Keep staring, sweetheart, I think. Camile smiles shyly at me, and I catch her sending a small approving glance in Rhett’s direction, almost as if she’s silently cheering us on.
I smile at her and let my attention swing back to Rhett, and laugh at something he says.
Suddenly, he lifts my hand and brushes his lips lightly against my knuckles.
Startled, my gaze jumps up to his face. He is staring at me with an expression of unmistakable lust. There is a sudden tightening in my stomach, and I feel myself get wet.
Rhett picks up a small piece of arancini and pops it into my mouth.
“Oh darling, you’re spoiling me,” I murmur into his ear, but loud enough for it to carry to Vanessa’s ears.
“Spoiling you is my pleasure,” Rhett replies gallantly.
I chew slowly and swallow. Suddenly, I know exactly what to say to really piss Vanessa off. “Mmm … that was so good. It reminds me of the risotto I had at lunch with Rhett’s parents.”
It has the desired effect. Vanessa looks like she wants to punch me or explode in anger, and I have to hide my mouth for a moment so she can’t see me laughing.
Maria starts teasing Elliot and Camile about the upcoming wedding, and how it’s not too late for Camile to run.
The drinks flow, the laughter builds up, and the banter grows more intimate, more playful.
I can feel the tension between Vanessa and me dissolve into mere background noise, replaced by the magnetic pull of the man next to me, and although I continue to play my role, it’s as much for my own enjoyment as it is to send Vanessa a message.
At some point, Maria announces that Vanessa is gone.
She’s made a subtle exit, but it doesn’t go unnoticed by the group.
I sigh with relief. Now I can allow myself to relax.
Vanessa isn’t here anymore, so really, I should stop with the flirting, but I don’t want to.
I’m enjoying the intimacy and attention too much.
“They all believe it,” Rhett murmurs, his voice pouring into my ear like melted honey. “Everyone. Even Vanessa. Hell, even Max believes it, and he knows me so well that if anyone was going to see through this, it would have been him. You were perfect.”
“I mean, that’s good, but we’re quite happily lying through our teeth to your best friends. Doesn’t it feel weird to you?”
One corner of Rhett’s mouth twitches. “They say all is fair in love and war …”
“Well, if you’re sure …”
The evening winds down with more laughter, small stories shared, more jokes at Rhett’s expense, which he takes with his usual good humor, and slowly, the group begins to filter out. Hugs are exchanged, goodbyes whispered, and before I know it, it’s just him and me stepping back into the night air.
The city lights are brilliant, the streets alive, and the cab ride back to Rhett’s place is charged with a strange energy. At a red light, his hand brushes mine, just lightly, but deliberately, and I let my fingers linger. A small smile tugs at his lips.
“You know,” he murmurs, leaning closer to me. “This fake relationship of ours is starting to feel less and less fake. It’s almost time to get naked, Pippa.”
“Don’t go getting any ideas,” I shoot back immediately, my cheeks burning in the dark.
But do I mean it? Is George really my soulmate, or am I just clinging to the idea because he’s all I know? Am I clinging to the safe option because the idea of uprooting my life to move here and be with Rhett is too precarious?
I push my thoughts away.
There are questions to be answered another time by another me. I don’t want to ruin this night by overthinking anything.