Weird? If anyone was weird, it was me. I’d learned a long time ago not to judge. “No, I don’t. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m pretty open-minded.”
Her soft laugh was pleased. “Yeah, true.” Her pretty face turned serious and she was hesitant. “And what about Silas? Is he open-minded?”
My blood rushed a little faster at her loaded question. “I’m not exactly sure.”
Was this when she asked if I wanted to fool around? I’d never do that to Silas. Yes, being in command of her had been an eye opening experience and intensely hot, but I was . . . his.
Oh my God, I was so fucking his.
If it was about to get awkward and I was going to hurt her feelings, I’d rather get it over as quickly and painlessly as possible for her.
I took a deep breath. “Why do you ask?”
Her eyes were full of mischief. “I have an idea.”
Cherry blossom centerpieces rose up and branched outward from tabletops, giving the ballroom a hint of Japan. There’d been a pair of chopsticks tucked in the napkin along with our cutlery, and I’d watched with interest as Akira and Yuriko skillfully used them.
It was a strange collection of wedding guests. Payton’s family were lawyers, and I’d overheard her father’s firm had been invited. It was impossible to miss the distance between the bride and her parents. They seemed far more interested in their guests than their own daughter. Like the wedding was an excuse to network.
As the cake was served, Dominic and Payton floated from table to table, mingling and making their way our direction. The Asian woman across from me hid it well, but a spark grew in her eyes as Payton approached. The two women seemed like polar opposites, and yet I understood. Submissive Yuriko responding to Payton’s dominant side.
Mr. Red’s unease also seemed to build as the newlyweds stopped at the table next to us.
“It’s okay,” Claudia whispered to him, although the whole table could hear. “I talked to her. It’s only weird if you let it be weird.”
“Too late,” he muttered.
“Tony.” Her tone was stern. “We had a deal. I went to that God-awful golf outing where I wanted to slit my wrists.”
“It wasn’t all bad.” Mr. Red gave her coy look. “We had fun that night, if I remember.”
Noemi’s eyes glazed over. “Hey, speaking of weird . . . Joseph, remember that time my dad talked about sex in front of me?”
There wasn’t time to let awkwardness stifle the table.
Dominic and Payton bowed respectfully when their Japanese friends stood, and Yuriko hadn’t finished her bow before Payton snatched the delicate woman up in a fierce hug. The foreign language came from Dominic’s mouth, and it was a strange fit on the American man. He turned his shockingly blue-eyed gaze to the translator.
“Can you grab a drink? I’d like to speak in private.”
“Of course,” the translator said, rising from his chair. He gestured to Tara. “Can I grab you anything while I’m over there?”
She smiled and shook her head.
Dominic waited until the translator was out of earshot, and Japanese spilled from his mouth. His hand moved inside his tuxedo jacket, and pulled something colorful from the interior pocket. The envelope was decorative paper of red and gold, and Dominic presented it to Akira with two hands.
Akira bowed and accepted the envelope, also with two hands, looking appreciative.
“What’s happening?” Payton whispered to her husband.
“I’m giving a gift. It’s Japanese cul
ture, a gift for a gift. They flew all the way here for us.”
Akira didn’t open the envelope. He put it in his own suit coat pocket, bowing again.
“What did you give him?” Payton asked, looping a hand around Dominic’s waist.
He smirked. “They’re here until next Sunday, so I opened a tab for them at the club.”