“That’s it. We don’t switch lives. We switch methods. I’ll do things the Anya way. You do things the Ariana way. We both get what we want.”
She blinks. “Just start acting differently?”
“Nothing else has worked. So what have we got to lose?”
“I’m going to talk to Law. We’re adults, right? We should be able to have a calm, rational discussion about what we each need from our relationship.” She looks down at her phone suddenly. “Crap, I have to go.”
“Good luck. And I’m not being shady when I say that. I actually hope it works out for you.”
She hurries away, unaware that she’s just changed my life.
I can’t hurt Vin. It would kill me to do it. He’s been so sweet and supportive. All I can do is the one thing guaranteed to make him leave on his own.
Act like his wife.
Til’ death do us part.
It’s only about ten minutes later when Vin finds me in the bar. He’s unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket and looks tired. He takes a seat next to me but waves the bartender away when he approaches.
“Did Andre and Casey get off all right?”
He smiles. “They rode off into the sunset under a hail of rice and good wishes.”
His description makes it easy to picture. Everything about this wedding was straight from a fairytale. The handsome prince. The small-town girl. Hell, there had even been a villain. I laugh again thinking of the girl in the rogue wedding dress I’d chased off earlier.
Vin looks at my empty glass. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. I am. It’s been a long day.” One I really don’t want to finish alone. “Will you come home with me tonight?”
His eyes search mine. “Is that what you want?”
He’s really asking if I’ve considered what staying means. Whether I’m ready for more. But we’ve reached a point where it’s all about to fall to pieces anyway and I need the memory of our last night together
to be a good one.
“I want you to stay.”
“Then I’ll stay.” He kisses me lightly and then offers his arm. We walk together back to the grand ballroom. It looks like a tornado ran through it.
“I feel bad about missing the bouquet toss.”
He inclines his head. “Do you? Really?”
I can’t help smiling. He always calls me on my bullshit.
“Not really but I feel like I should feel bad. Does that count? Casey should have had all her girls cheering her on.”
“I doubt she noticed. There was a whole herd of squawking women competing to catch that bouquet. I saw some elbows being thrown. It was a brawl.”
“You’re making that up.”
“Someone’s hair extension hit the floor. It looked like a blond rat.”
“You’re definitely making that up.”
“Did it make you feel better?”
“Slightly.”