Bridget
I can’t concentrate.
My brain can’t focus on a goddamn thing that Elias’s brother is saying or what anyone is saying for that matter. The only thing I can focus on is the very large and veiny hand that’s splayed across my left thigh.
The one connected to the man who is currently giving me heart palpitations.
Elias sits beside me, his attention solely on his brother with warmth on his face, but I can’t hear anything other than my heart that sounds like it’s trying to decide if it wants to jump out of my chest or just stop all together.
On the short walk to our table, he told me his brother’s name is Oscar and his fiancée is Isobel and they’re expecting their second child.
Natalie watches the two of us with curiosity, and I know she’s waiting for me to slip up, but like the supportive sister she is, she says nothing as she shoots me a look that tells me we’re about to have a long talk about this on the way home.
Lorna was thrilled to see all of us joining them at the same table, and I noticed the way she struggled to keep her eyes off Elias. Not that I mind—that much, anyway.
Seeing her and Tom together, laughing and fawning over each other, causes my stomach to flip uncontrollably and the only thing that seems to keep me grounded is the stranger sitting beside me.
The way Elias’s index finger is drawing circles on the top of my thigh has my mind doing cartwheels, but at least I’m not thinking too much about the elephant in the room.
Even if his eyes remain on the two of us as Oscar wraps up his speech.
Elias must sense it, too, because as soon as I begin to fidget, he lifts his hand from my leg and drapes it around the back of my chair.
Lorna, the sweet angel, is completely oblivious to the tension around the table, and when her gaze meets mine across the table, she smiles wholeheartedly before leaning into Tom’s shoulder.
Oscar returns to the table and makes his way over to Elias, wrapping an arm around both of our shoulders. He presses a chaste, yet polite, kiss against my cheek and winks down at me.
“I’m so glad you could make it, Bridget,” he says, like we’re old friends. “Isobel was worried she was going to be bored out of her mind without you here.”
Isobel nods from across the table as she sips on her Sprite. “It’s true. I couldn’t handle the thought of having to deal with these two buffoons without you.”
Oscar pats us both on the shoulders then takes his seat in between Elias and Isobel. As soon as he’s seated, a flurry of servers make their way into the room, holding trays with canapés.
Elias leans back in his chair and looks over at me, moving his hand from behind my shoulders to brush my hair over my shoulder.
I haven’t really noticed just how attractive he is until now.
When we were at the club, I only saw him in a dimly lit bar from across the dance floor, and even though he looked incredible, nothing could’ve prepared me for how seeing him up close would be a million times better.
His dark eyes gleam almost mischievously as he looks over at Tom and flashes him a grin so beautiful I feel it deep in my bones.
He’s a sight for sore eyes, that’s for sure, with a thin, straight nose and full lips that look softer than the satin of my dress.
His dark hair is lightly gelled back with a few strands falling forward onto his forehead.
He looks just as decadent as the two pieces of tuna nigiri that is being placed in front of me.
“So,” Lorna starts as she leans forward, “how long have you two been together? Nat said nothing about her sister being engaged.”
Tom raises his brow at the question, his own curiosity getting the better of him.
“About six months,” I reply, looking up at Elias with a smile, to which he gives one in return.
“We wanted our engagement to be an intimate affair, you know? With it happening all so fast, we wanted to just keep it between our closest friends and family.”
My fiancé nods in agreement. “We didn’t feel like it was necessary for the whole world to know.” He looks over at his brother who is watching us intently. “Only close friends and family, like Bids said.”
I look up at him, and realize I enjoy the way my childhood nickname rolls off his lips a little too much for someone who barely knows me.
My grandma was the one who came up with it days after I was born and it stuck.
She rarely ever called me Bridget unless I was in trouble and if she did, it was always followed closely by my middle name.
Bridget Evangeline. Bridget, because my mom adored the name after hearing it once on some British baking show, and Evangeline after my grandma.
Lorna hums and takes a sip of the wine in front of her. “That’s so lovely.” She looks over at Tom. “We should’ve had a small engagement party, rather than the big shindig your mother insisted on having.” Her laugh is airy.
Natalie scoffs into her glass of merlot. “Sounds about right,” she mumbles under her breath, and I shoot her glare as Lorna looks over at her with a confused frown.
Tom isn’t smiling, though. He doesn’t think it’s lovely or sweet, and he doesn’t seem to care that his wife is running her hand up his arm in hopes of a small ounce of attention. He doesn’t even notice when she looks between us with a frown.
He doesn’t notice anything that’s happening because his gaze is laser-focused on Elias and me, like he’s waiting for us to slip up somehow.
And honestly, I’m waiting for it, too. “I really thought your mom would’ve told mine, Bridget,” Tom speaks as he leans back in his chair, and I feel Elias’s hand on my thigh once again as he begins to stroke it calmly.
“Seeing as they’re good friends and all. ”
I shrug as I slip my hand up Elias’s arm and onto his shoulder. “Hmm, I guess she didn’t feel like it was important news to share with your family.” My hand curves around the nape of Elias’s neck and rests there. “It’s not like it’s any of your business, really.”
“Do you know each other?” Lorna asks, her voice a lot quieter than before.
“Vaguely,” Tom tells her, his tone soft and reassuring, but my sister’s bark of laughter does nothing to settle her nerves that are apparent in the way her shoulders hunch ever so slightly. “Okay, maybe more than vaguely.”
“They dated for years, Lorna,” Natalie tells her like it’s nothing.
I sigh. “It was a long time ago,” I tell Lorna, offering her a small smile.
The one she returns is tight, and I can tell that this conversation is going to be spoken about when they get home.
“Thank god it’s over, though.” Oscar laughs awkwardly as Elias curls me into his side. “Otherwise these two lovebirds would never have met, and my brother would be even more insufferable than he already is.”
Everyone laughs except Lorna and Tom.
Isobel rolls her eyes as she smacks her husbands arm playfully before resting her hand on her swollen belly.
“Leave them alone,” she remarks. “I remember when Elias bought her over for the first time and I just knew they were made for each other.” She looks over at Lorna, directing her next words at her.
“Plus, if Tom and Bridget hadn’t broken up, the two of you wouldn’t be together, so I guess it’s a win for everyone! ”
I graciously look at Oscar and Isobel, and know I’ll need to thank them as soon as we’re alone for being such amazing people. Elias strokes my upper arm with his fingers as I lean into his side. Reaching forward, he grabs my wineglass and hands it to me and brushes his lips against my temple.
“Your brother and Isobel are incredible actors,” I mumble under my breath. “They deserve an award.”
Elias’s chest rumbles as he laughs quietly. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that’s surprised by their commitment to this.”
“Didn’t you guys just get engaged, too?” Natalie asks Oscar, and then looks over at me with a mischievous grin. “Getting engaged this summer seems to be a theme for your family. Did you guys plan out a mood board together?”
Isobel snorts, and I can’t help but laugh along. “These two can’t do anything without each other,” she says.
I look around the table and my eyes settle on Lorna, who is no longer smiling but leaning back into her chair with a sad look on her face.
“I feel bad for Lorna,” I whisper to Elias, my skin erupting in goose bumps as his fingers continue to stroke my shoulder.
“She shouldn’t have to be in the middle of this. ”
He nods then shrugs. “Sucks for her, I guess.”
The two of us fall into silence as we listen to the conversations around the table. There isn’t much else to say. He’s done me a huge favour by stepping in tonight, and I have no idea how I’m going to thank him for all he’s done.
The rest of the night flies by, and Elias and I stay cuddled up to each other. It’s around nine p.m. when Lorna and Tom excuse themselves, saying their goodbyes hastily.
Natalie waits until they’re out of the room before she lets out an exasperated sigh. “What the actual fuck happened there?” she mumbles and reaches across and pinches my arm.
“What the hell?” I yelp, snatching my arm away from her. “What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me? Girl…” my sister shoots back as she reaches across the table and grabs the tumbler of whiskey Elias just ordered and throws it back.
“Please, help yourself,” Elias says sarcastically, removing his arm from around my shoulders, and Natalie glares. “You think you need that more than me right now?”
I lean forward and rest my forehead against the tablecloth and let out a loud groan. “This whole thing is so embarrassing.” I hear a few chuckles, and I groan even louder. “Just leave me here to wallow in my own self-pity.”
Natalie scoffs. “Get over yourself.” I lift my hand and flip her the bird. “I’m serious, how the fuck are you going to wrap this thing up?”
She has a point.
“I’m undecided,” I grumble. “Maybe Elias found someone more his league and decided I’m not the one for him, or maybe I get whisked away by a Danny Ramirez look-a-like?”
“Who the hell is Danny Ramirez?” Oscar asks.
“He’s in Top Gun: Maverick, babe,” Isobel replies, “Maybe there doesn’t need to be a big elaborate breakup? If you ever run into them again, you can just say it didn’t work out and that’s that.”
Elias nods. “Yeah, do what you’ve gotta do.” He looks down at me and flicks the tip of my nose with his index finger. “Just hit me up if you ever require my services again.”
All of us laugh as I jab my elbow into his side. I lift my head from the table and let out a loud yawn. “All this acting has been exhausting,” I mumble as I look over at my sister. “Ready to head out?”
My sister nods and stands from the table. She looks over at Oscar and says, “See you in the morning, boss.”
Oscar smiles up at her and raises his glass in her direction before taking a sip.
Natalie then looks over at Elias and smirks. “It was nice to have a brother-in-law, even if it did only last five hours.”
He laughs and nods. “Short but sweet.” He looks over at me as he pulls his phone from his suit pocket and hands it to me. “Put your number in there, you know, just in case I’m the one who needs rescuing.”
I roll my eyes but take his cell from him and type my number in. “I’m sure you could find a better fake fiancée.”
“Maybe.” Elias smirks. “But I doubt it.”
Natalie and I are quiet in the Uber on the way back to my apartment and the only sound that fills the silence is the sound of Taylor Swift playing on the radio. When we reach my apartment, I get out of the vehicle and my sister follows. She wraps her arms around me and gives me a squeeze.
“While I think you’re stupid for what you told Tom”—she gives me a pointed look—“you could’ve had a much worse fake fiancé, because Elias Cohen sure is something to look at.”
I laugh and gently pinch her side. “Hey, keep your hands away from my man.”
We both laugh softly before it drifts off into a bought of silence. “I’m not kidding, though, that man is a knight-in-shining-armour.”
I nod in agreement and find myself smiling at the way Elias swooped in and saved the day like some Disney hero.
Natalie catches my grin and gently shoves me with her elbow. “Stop grinning like that and go to bed. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I tell her as she gets back in the Uber.
I wait until she’s inside and give her one last wave before I head inside the building.
I can’t stop replaying the evening in my mind as I shower and get myself ready for bed. Nor can I get rid of the feel of Elias’s hand on my thigh.
That feeling is going to be ingrained into my mind for a long, long time.
As I lie in bed, I chuckle at how irritated Tom looked when he saw me with someone else—even if that someone else is just a stranger.
Because that’s all Elias is, really—a stranger.
A stranger with the kindest of eyes and the warmest of smiles.
A stranger who, even though he knew nothing of the situation, dove in head first to help someone he barely knew.
A stranger who sensed when I needed comfort and provided it.
A stranger who maybe isn’t a stranger at all.