Page 210 of Face Off
A broken laugh escapes against my chest. “You’re impossible.”
“I have supporting documentation.”
Her laugh collapses back into crying, and I finally give in to the instinct I’ve fought since entering the room. I slide one hand around her waist and place the other against the back of her neck. Charm folds into me, arms wrapping tightly around my body while I hold her against the pastel shirt I already hate enough to burn.
“I’m still angry,” she whispers.
“I know.”
“I don’t forgive any of you.”
“You don’t have to tonight.”
“I love them.”
“I know that too.”
She cries until the tension gradually leaves her fingers. My mouth rests against her hair while I stare over her shoulder at the wreckage surrounding the suitcase.
Cade and Bliss gave us the rest of the night off before I came upstairs. There are no more games, schedules, photographs, or best-man responsibilities waiting to drag either of us back downstairs.
I rub my hand slowly along Charm’s spine. “We have the night off.”
She lifts her wet face. “Who approved that?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Mercer.”
“They aren’t married yet.”
“Bliss has been acting legally binding since breakfast.”
“What does a night off mean?”
“It means Cade and Bliss are enjoying the barbeque and dancing tonight before all hell breaks loose the next two days. We are just guests of the bride and groom tonight.”
“You’re the best man.”
“I wore two pastel shirts in one day. My service is complete.”
Charm glances toward the suitcase. “I don’t know if I can go back downstairs.”
“Then we don’t.”
Her eyes return to mine. “What would we do?”
“I have mezcal.”
“That isn’t an activity.”
“It is if you commit.”
The corner of her mouth finally moves.
I wipe beneath one eye with my thumb, smearing away the last black trace of makeup. “Or we go downstairs, eat with our friends, drink, dance, and leave all this shit upstairs for a few hours.”
“They’re all down there.”
“I’ll tell everyone to leave you alone.”
