The Wedding Contract(35)
My mouth is hanging open when he stops talking. I storm into the bathroom, slam the door and crank on the water. When I stand in front of the mirror, I grab the porcelain sink firmly with both hands and look at myself. I’m not weak. Is he serious? Is that why he was able to crush me so easily? I don’t want to be that kind of person, the type who cuts off her competition’s head based on speculation. He still thinks I’m a snob because I tossed him out the first day we met. I can see it on his face. Why is he holding onto that? Is that why he’s doing this to me?
My eyes glance down to the sink. As I reach for my toothbrush, I see a silver coin. I lift it and look at one side. Tails. Then I flip it over and slap it down on my palm. Heart racing, I peer under my hand. I don’t want to look. Please tell me that he’s not that kind of man. My gut is screaming that he isn’t, but his actions don’t mesh. At the same time, everything he does is inconsistent. Nick Ferro is a walking, talking enigma. He seems kind, but cheating with something like this is wrong. This means he doesn’t care about me at all, that he’s been playing me the entire time—kiss by kiss—until I’m so distracted he can blindside me. If this is a double-sided coin, I cringe, not wanting to bear the thought. It means I can’t trust myself, that I was totally wrong about him and his character. I already know he’s playing hardball, but there’s a difference between playing for keeps and cheating. Please, let it be a normal coin. Slowly, I lift my hand away and stare at the shiny object.
Tails.
My jaw quivers and my heart falls into my shoes. It’s just like Deegan said. Part of me wants to go out there and throw the coin at his face, but I remain in the steamy little room devising a better idea.
After today, Nick Ferro is going to wish he never met me.
CHAPTER 26
When I get out of the shower, I expect Nick to be gone, but he’s still there sitting on the bed like a saint. I hate him, but I hide it well enough. I have to crack the door to let the steam out or my hair won’t dry right. I’ll look like I licked an electrical outlet. As it is, the humidity has it misbehaving. I’m surprised no one’s mentioned the massive frizz bomb I inherited from my father. Since his hair is always cut short, no one notices. My hair usually hangs long down my back, but on days like this—when it feels like a cloud is sitting on the ground—my hair transforms into Medusa locks.
Amy. I smile to myself. She’s running the studio for me while I’m out here. I’d originally planned on staying the entire week. After the wedding tonight, Sophie and Steven will take off for the airport. They encouraged the guests to stay a few extra days and hired entertainment and wonderful meals, but I’m darting home as soon as Sophie’s foot lands on the limo floor.
That will take place after she chooses the winning picture. Nick and I will have an hour to process our favorite shots and then someone will mix them into a slideshow. That’s when I’ll see which picture my best friend and her husband choose, and who is better at shooting weddings—me or Nick the rat bastard.
When I crack the bathroom door, Nick says, “Sophie said she wanted to talk to us and not to leave until she comes by.”
I stick my head out the door. It’s still wrapped in a towel. “Yeah, right.”
“Do you really think I would have waited for you? You’ve been in there forever.” Nick looks at his watch. Brat.
“I’m leaving when I’m dressed.”
Nick shakes his head. “Guess again.” He tosses me my cell phone, which was next to my blankets on the floor. There’s a text message flashing.
It’s from Sophie: I NEED TO TALK TO YOU AND NICK; STAY IN YOUR ROOM UNTIL I GET THERE.
I glance up at Nick, wondering if he can send a fake text.
“What?” he asks, like he’s done nothing wrong.
My plan to screw him over is already in action. When Sophie comes by, I’ll get something from her but I wish she’d let him leave the room. That wasn’t part of the plan. I’d talked to her earlier and asked her for a few things that I know she has in her emergency bride kit. Sophie over-prepares; she packs everything and anything. This time, all that extra crap will come in handy. I mean, what kind of bride needs superglue? I smirk, thinking about drizzling it all over Nick’s lens, so it can’t focus. He won’t realize it until it’s too late and the man didn’t bring any back up equipment. If he’s cheating, I have to ditch the rules, too. I can’t lose this bet with Sophie’s hideous cousin or Nick.
“Nothing,” I say like he doesn’t have any effect on me at all. “When did she say she’d come by?”