KING: Las Vegas Bad Boys(46)
“It’s everything I’ve ever wanted,” Mum says, misty-eyed once again. “Both my boys, settled down and happy. The timing couldn’t be better.”
“Why’s that?” I ask.
Geoffrey smirks and takes the champagne Brandon offers him.
“There’s a lot you don’t know, brother.”
“Try me,” I say, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. There is little I hate more than being on the outside.
“Not now, boys,” Dad says. “Let’s toast the happy couple.” He raises his flute of champagne and we all follow suit. “To love.”
“To love,” we all repeat, clinking glasses.
Claire catches my eye, and she gives the slightest of nods, as if warning me to not press any further. She’s right, of course; I need to keep my cool. The last thing I need to do is start ruffling feathers and pissing on everything and losing what I want.
Which is to take this company. Have a legitimate job that will impress Claire. Confess my love. Actually marry her.
I want all of that and I won’t get any of it if I start acting like a prick.
“So when is the wedding?” I ask, wanting to watch Geoffrey squirm about something not business related.
Claire rolls her eyes discreetly and I know even that line of questioning is cutting it close. She looks so delicious in her cream dress, cut tight around her narrow body, her long legs in those high heels. I want to strip her out of all of it later. And I will.
“Soon,” Fiona says. “Very soon.”
“That’s lovely. A spring wedding, then?” Mum asks.
“Sooner, even,” Fiona says. “I’ve waited long enough. I want to get married as soon as possible.”
“Oh, how grand. A winter wedding would be lovely. Does your mother know, Fiona?” Mum asks. “And let’s see the ring.”
“We don’t have the ring yet, and haven’t said anything to her family,” Geoffrey says. “Because we weren’t going to mention the engagement yet, considering everything else going on, but....” He gives Fiona a smirk before adding dryly, “Apparently the excitement overwhelmed us.”
“Oh shush, Geoffrey,” Fiona says, swatting him. “It’s only what I’ve wanted for five years.”
After dinner, Mum and Dad excuse themselves, stating that they are exhausted, leaving Fiona, Geoffrey, Claire, and me to sit awkwardly around the table.
Claire has been putting up with Fiona relatively well all evening, but her patience seems to be wearing thin.
When Fiona tells Claire that her and Geoffrey’s marriage will last forever, since they know one another so well, it is Claire’s last straw.
Claire smiles tightly and says, “So, Fiona, if you’ve been dating so long and are so perfect for one another, what made you decide to go ahead and get engaged now, of all times?” Claire seems to realize her words have caused the happy couple to pause in discomfort, but I smile, realizing it was intentional.
“Well, because we’re in love, and so happy.” Fiona plasters on a smile that’s a bit manic, looking at Geoffrey to help. When he doesn’t, she adds, “You know, we’ve been talking for so long and then you both show up here, all ... smug. It’s quite obnoxious, actually. Don’t think we all didn’t hear you having sex last night. We heard.”
Claire looks down in her lap, and for a second I’m scared she’s going to be upset and run off again. But then I see the slight upturn of her mouth and realize she’s suppressing a smile.
“Don’t laugh at me,” Fiona says to Claire. “You with your blonde hair and skinny legs and perfect eyebrows. You aren’t a real Englishwoman, and you never will be.”
“I don’t intend on being one. I intend on being myself,” Claire says smoothly.
“Oh, no you don’t, we know your game. You and Landon waltzed in here together for one reason and one reason only.”
Claire’s eyes meet mine. Fuck, they’ve found us out. What did they do? Scroll through our text messages or listen at the door to learn of our plan?
“And what’s that?” I ask.
“To get your Mum and Dad to pay for your wedding. And your life. Obviously you need your father to bail you out, now that you’ve committed yourself to a wife and child. Everyone knows you have no prospect of supporting anything, or anyone.”
Geoffrey raises his arms. “Fiona, just calm down a moment. Our marriage has nothing to do with them, you know that. They have nothing to do with our engagement, so let it go. Don’t get so defensive. And why do you care what sort of sex they have? We have plenty of it ourselves.”