“Because we never had sex. Don’t you think that’s odd?”
“We were waiting. If you don’t think that I’ve thought about the gift you’ve saved for me, you’re wrong.”
I swallowed. “Skylar, I don’t wish you unhappiness. I just don’t wish for my unhappiness by spending my eternity with you.”
His head moved from side to side. “Where is this coming from?”
A scoff escaped my throat. “You have a child coming.”
“I don’t believe her. Hell, that kid could belong to any one of five guys.”
“And you’re one of them.” It was my gut reaction. My second was to defend my friend. Beth wasn’t the slut Skylar was making her out to be. Nevertheless, I kept any defense suppressed. It wasn’t my role to fight for Beth’s relationship with my ex-fiancé.
“Julia, you’re being ridiculous. You’ve known for years that I had a sex life. Once we’re married, it will be only you.”
“When you and Beth touch, do you feel a sensation like lightning through your body? When you see her, does your heart race? When you kiss does the world around you disappear?”
He shook his head. “No, you’re talking like some stupid movie on Lifetime. That shit isn’t real.”
It was real.
I never knew it before, but now I did.
“Have you ever heard of red sin?”
The bartender appeared at our table. “What can I get you two?”
Before I could answer, Skylar spoke, “A glass of white moscato for the lady and two fingers of Angel’s Envy, neat, for me.”
“I don’t—”
Skylar nodded and the man walked away.
Has Skylar always dismissed my choices and I never noticed?
Instead of belaboring that thought, I asked again, “Red sin?”
“No. I’ve never heard of it.” He lowered his voice. “Let me help you get your things. We’ll return the rental and if we get on the road, we can be back to Chicago by one.”
“And you’ll return me to my parents like the good fiancé?” I recalled Van’s assessment of any man who would know me for my entire life and not want more.
“Yes, and after our wedding, we’ll fly across the ocean and spend two weeks doing what I’ve dreamt about.”
I smirked. “You’ve dreamt about making love to me? Was this before or after you fucked Beth and all the others?”
“Julia, I screwed up. I admit it. I don’t love Beth. I’m not sure if the kid she’s carrying is even mine. If it is, I’ll do the right thing and pay for her abortion.”
My eyes opened wide. “The right thing?”
“I’m not sorry. The only children I want are ours.”
Our drinks arrived.
I closed my fingers around the stem of the glass, contemplating my next move. As I swirled the light-colored liquid, tossing the contents in Skylar’s face was moving higher on my list of possibilities.
“Julia, I want you to know that I’m committed to making our marriage work.”
Taking a deep breath, I leveraged the table’s edge as I pushed my chair back. “I’m not.”