“Four amazing men. Manly men. Sexy men. All to myself. Forever.” I rub his jaw and take in his sexy blue-gray eyes. “I love you.”
“Is that the tequila talking?”
I shake my head. “You’re so good to me. All the time. Even when I’m bitchy. You take care of me without making me feel useless and … and I don’t like this. Put me down.”
“Sophia-”
“Too nauseous.” I’ve reached the point where I know I’m drunk and hate it. I grab my stomach as Nick sets me on my feet and close my eyes as I lean against him. He holds me still for a while, then I nod. “Bed, please. I don’t want you to see me throw up.”
“I can handle it, sweetheart.”
“It’s too gross. You’ll change your mind.” I argue.
“Never.” He kisses my cheek, my neck, anywhere he can reach anytime we have to pause. We finally make it to my door and my mom stands there waiting. “Can you handle this, Diana?”
“I was there in the college days.” Mom reminds. “Ready for Gatorade and cookies, honey?”
“Yes!” I nod, but I turn slowly and wrap my arms around Nick. “I love you. Drunk and sober.”
“Not enough to let me hold your hair?”
“No.” I screw my face up. “For your own protection. Breakfast tomorrow?”
“Let’s plan for lunch.” He kisses my nose. “Get some sleep.”
But as soon as the door is closed, I walk very calmly to the bathroom, get on my knees, and vomit up everything in my stomach. I see Bailey in the shower, slowly coming to, and nod. Next time Danny wins something, I’m not taking part. I promise myself before my stomach rolls again.
Mom takes care of us, but I know morning is going to suck the second I lay down. Danny adjusts my leg, so it’s on the floor, promising it will help, then flops over and goes to sleep like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
In the morning, I groan and rub my temple. I’m force-fed some kind of sausage and bacon sandwich, three extra-strength Advil, and more water than I can handle. It takes two hours for me to be able to commit to a shower. Valerie shoves me when she decides it’s her turn and I dry off before pulling on a white top and a flower printed skirt. The theme is white all the way to the wedding.
I look at the time and hit the elevator button three times, determined to meet my guys for lunch. But when the door opens up, it’s not any of my fiancés there, its’ Neal. He looks me over, pushes himself in, and hits all the buttons.
I can’t get my brain to work before the door closes. Neal takes a deep breath. “Sophie, I couldn’t not come.”
“You weren’t invited.”
“I know, but you have to understand that you have options. You have to see how crazy this is. I’m all about respecting choices, and if you were just a sugar baby, fine, but you’re getting married! You can’t marry four men. It’s not legal. It’s insanity.” He says.
I push my fingers into my temple. “Stop shouting.”
“I’m serious. Don’t do this just because they’re rich and you can play housewife. You’re capable of so much more than pushing out babies for those old guys.” We stop on a floor and he says the elevator is taken before jamming the door close button. “Just … have you thought about this at all?”
“I love them.”
“Have you been without themat allsince they started seducing you? You were living with them from the time you arrived until now. I mean, you haven’t even had a chance to see other options.”
“Like you?” I hiss.
He takes a step back. “I mean … not necessarily. I’m just trying to be a nice guy.”
“Funny thing.” I rub my temple in circles. “Guys who have tosaythat they’re nice guys, aren’t normally that nice. I never asked you to step in. I never asked you to fly here.”
“Because you’re brainwashed! They have you so wrapped up that you don’t know what’s what! You’re smarter than this. You have to see how toxic this is.”
I shove him, actually shove him, and get off on whatever floor this is. I’ll take the fucking stairs. But Neal follows. “Just explain it to me, then.”
“Ilovethem.” I whip around to glare at him. “I was put in close proximity sure, but they didn’tforceanything. It’s always been my choice. I don’t know what gave you any other idea. Is it normal, no. But I don’t care! I love them and I want them forever. That’s not hard to understand.”