Page 45 of The Great Dating Fake Off
“You coming to the bachelor party?”
Sebastian’s brows lift as he pours wine in Alessia’s glass, his glass, and then slides it wordlessly toward me. “If you planned one, I will be there.”
“It’s in the works. Leave tomorrow night open. If I can’t find a club, I’ll work something else out.” He drapes an arm over Enzo’s shoulder. “This town is small but I’m sure there’s plenty of ways to give our boy a memorable night.”
Gia shoots Sergio a lethal look. “Not that memorable. He’s about to be a married man.”
“He is.” Sergio lifts his glass. “On Sunday. And it’s my job to ensure he enjoys himself beforehand, isn’t it? We’ll have fun.”
Sergio’s chuckle fades as he clocks all the murderous glances aimed his way. “I’m kidding! Tough crowd. We’ll probably just hit downtown. The bride has nothing to worry about.”
Ro has a death grip on her drink. “I wasn’t worried. Enzo can do what he wants. I want him to have a good time.”
“Wait.” Sergio pulls out his phone. “So, you are okay with a strip club?”
“No.” Benji twirls his short butter knife between his fingers. “My sister doesn’t want her fiancé at a strip club. And this isn’t really dinner table conversation, so let’s move on.”
Benji can always be counted on to shut down a conversation, and I’ve never loved him more for it. A smile touches Ro’s lips.
Gia grins at me and Alessia. “You two should come by my room tomorrow after dinner to get ready. I’ve got matching tops we can wear if you’re game.”
Alessia is busy texting on her phone, so I jump in to match Gia’s enthusiasm. “I cannot wait. I’m game for anything.”
Ro’s smile is sly. “Don’t tell Gia that. My party girl will corrupt you.”
“Oh, who are we corrupting? I can help with that.” Sergio’s head turns as though he’s a floodlight turned on by the words party girl and corrupt. His gaze lands on me. “Remind me your name, sweetheart—”
“She’s a taken woman, Serge,” Sebastian says evenly. “Don’t call her sweetheart.”
The table goes quiet.
Something pulls tight behind my belly button as my skin flushes hot. Sebastian is not the one I’m taken by, but my body didn’t get the memo.
“Uh, yeah.” Benji crosses his arms. He can look menacing when he wants to, even in a ridiculous costume. “What he said.”
Get the guy an Oscar, honestly.
Sergio shrugs. “Cool, happy for you two. No disrespect intended.”
Dinner service begins, and not a moment too soon.
Since there’s no ordering involved, we’re free to sit here as the food is brought out by a team of three servers in Foxfire Lodge uniforms. As the table gets distracted chatting about other things, Sebastian leans over. “You okay?”
I do my best not to let my gaze linger on his face. “Sure. Never better!”
“Okay. You just seem a little off, is all.”
Maybe I am. Maybe I’m too aware of him at my side, just like I was too aware of him in the lake, and on the pickleball court, and in the steam room.
And I’m starting to feel really crappy about that, given what I’m doing here.
Working his way clockwise around the table, a server drops off Sebastian’s dish. The tangy smell of seafood hits me full force.
“Thank you, sir.” Sebastian moves his napkin to his lap.
My own dish appears seconds later, ceramic clinking against the table as the server sets it down.
I thank him as the smell overpowers me.
