Chapter Eight #2
Everleigh glances down at the big ass ring on my finger, then shrugs before sucking down half of her glass. “If the ring fits, though, right?”
Groaning, I lean my head against the couch. “I wanted a simple life with a husband and a couple of kids. Though I knew how important Robert’s career was before we got engaged, entertaining people has become a weekly occurrence.”
“He’s definitely driven. But aside from that, when’s the last time you two did it?”
I close my eyes, trying to remember, but it’s been too long.
“Weeks. Fuck, maybe months. He’s been so busy with clients, contracts, golfing—and that doesn’t include my schedule.
By the time we’re alone, we’re both exhausted.
I know it’s stupid to think this, considering he’s the one who’s eager to have me live with him, but sometimes, I don’t feel like a priority to him. ”
The realization has me burning from the inside out. I feel smothered by my thoughts until Everleigh places her hand on mine.
“Gemma. Are you absolutely, without a doubt, positively sure you want to marry him? It’s not too late to change your mind. Everyone would understand.”
I pause, not sure how to respond. No one has really questioned me about our relationship, and everyone has been supportive. Even my dad’s caught in Robert’s web.
“Well…” I swallow hard.
“You’re hesitating.”
“I don’t know.” I lower my eyes, holding back tears. “Things have been off between us, and maybe they have been for a while. He’s pushy about me moving in with him, and since we don’t get to see each other much, he thinks living together will give us more quality time.”
“And what do you think? Will moving in with him change that? Or will he still be too exhausted to make time for you like he claims? Do you see things getting better once you’re married or will you feel stuck?”
I empty my glass, wishing the alcohol would hit my system faster. “I don’t know.”
“Listen, I want you to be happy. You’re my best friend.
I don’t doubt that you love him, but I don’t know if you’re in love with him or just the idea of it.
Maybe you need a vacation because all the stress of the wedding is catching up to you.
It happens!” Everleigh grabs the bottle and pours more into my glass.
But does it? Is this stress or is there an underlying issue?
“I wouldn’t say no to a vacation.” I grin. “Mimosas by the beach, suntanning, and the ocean breeze. Hell, let’s plan a girls’ trip. No boys allowed.”
Especially no ex-lovers.
“Sign me up for that!” Everleigh gives me a high five. “Well, my best guess is that you’re just having wedding day nerves. What do you think?”
“How can it be nerves when it’s so far away?”
I don’t even have much to do since Robert hired a wedding planner.
“It’s still a huge fucking change. And it’s a forever contract. Hell, I’m nervous just thinking about it, and I’m the most eligible bachelorette in Lawton Ridge. I’ll probably be single with four dogs by the time I’m forty.”
Her exaggeration makes me snort. “No, there’s Old Lady Annette and her thirteen cats. Speaking of, where’s Sassy?”
Everleigh’s full-on laughing, the kind that makes her nose scrunch.
“Annette was promiscuous back in the day, though. I heard stories of her breaking three different men’s hearts at once.
Guess she realized she was too good for them.
But if I ever get that many dogs, trust me when I say it’s a cry for help.
” She gulps her wine. “Oh, Sassy’s sleeping on my bed. She was tired and put herself to bed.”
“Well, there’s no denying her name fits.” I chuckle, which feels good, considering the conversation we’re having.
“It sure does.” The room grows quiet except for the sound of Everleigh chewing popcorn.
“Robert met Tyler today.”
I don’t know what possesses me to bring it up, but I need to get it off my chest.
Her eyebrow shoot up. “And?”
“And Robert asked if there had been anything between us in the past.”
“Oh, God. What’d you say?”
I bury my face in my hands. “Well, I cut him off before he could fully ask, but I knew where he was going with it. So I didn’t technically lie, but I didn’t tell the truth either.”
“Why not? Everyone has past relationships. He can’t get mad about that.”
“Because he’d be jealous and insecure about us working together. How fucking stupid is that, though? I mean, come on…” I turn my hand around, showing off my ring.
“That’s hilarious.”
I tilt my head. “No! It was awkward.”
“Well, maybe it’s time to come clean about your previous relationships. It’s not like he didn’t date a decade before you were even legal.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s not that old.”
“At least tell me the sex is mind-blowing. Like if he’s the best you’ve ever had, I’ll forgive his old man traditional values.”
I think about it. Sadly, I barely remember the last time we had sex.
Her mouth falls open when I take too long to respond.
“If it was monumental, you would’ve immediately answered with a fat, cheesy grin.” She frowns. “It’s mediocre at best, isn’t it?”
I hate the pitiful look on her face.
“I seriously can’t get anything past you.”
“We used to exchange diaries, remember? I especially loved your middle school entries about my brother.” She giggles.
“That was your idea!” I remind her, blushing at the memory.
“Yeah, and I learned a lot about you that summer. And you learned a lot about me too.”
I nod as I remember reading about how much she missed having her mother in her life. We connected, and that bond has never been broken.
“Well, I’m not sure what to say, but sorry. You’re too young to be compromising hot as fuck sex. You deserve someone who’s not so vanilla—some hair-pulling, ass-smacking, throat-squeezing sex—Neapolitan would be more your style.”
“Jesus.” I chuckle at her description, but she’s not wrong. That sounds hot as hell. “You’re right. But I’m pretty vanilla too.”
“Maybe you are, but at least you have sprinkles. If a man offered to tie you up or handcuff you to the headboard, you wouldn’t say no. Amiright?”
I smirk. Probably not.
“Regardless, it’s not that I’m some relationship expert or anything because you know how many men are knocking on my door.
” She holds up her hand showing a big fat zero with her fingers.
“But if the work lunches and dinners are too much, you should tell him, along with the other concerns you have. Honesty is the best policy. Unless it’s about dick size. You don’t want to inflate their ego.”
I snort. “You’re right, but I feel guilty telling him I don’t want to go to these client outings. Like I’m not being supportive, especially when he calls me his lucky charm. He gets so excited when he closes a deal with me there.”
Everleigh finishes her wine. “Welp, seems like you’ve got some decisions to make, my friend.” Her words are sincere, and there’s so much truth in them that it nearly slices me to the bone.
“I know.”
For the next hour, we go through the rest of the pictures, and Everleigh’s list to post nearly doubles. But at least we narrowed it down to the top fifty.
“Looks like I have enough for the next couple of months too.” I’m so proud of her for making her dreams come true. When we were teenagers, there were no local clothing stores for women under sixty, so she made it her mission to have a store for women of all ages and sizes.
After my buzz has worn off and the yawning begins, I decide to go home. I’m going to be exhausted at work tomorrow, but it’ll be totally worth it. Tonight was just what I needed.
On the way back to the cottage, I can’t stop thinking about our conversation.
She made so many valid points. Robert and I do need to talk, but where do I even start?
I hate confrontation, and the last thing I want is to hurt his feelings.
Things have always been simple between us, and I thought I was okay with that, but I’m starting to realize I may have just accepted that without considering what I truly want.
I want a person who’s as obsessed with me as I am him.
Someone who craves alone time together.
A man who listens and understands my needs just the way I do for them.
As I walk through the door, I kick off my shoes, strip out of my clothes, and take a quick shower. After I’m clean, I slip on a T-shirt and panties, then climb into bed.
When I close my eyes, I expect to see Robert, but I don’t.
I see a shirtless Tyler and fall asleep with him on my mind.