Nick offers that Ferro charm, “Sophie, I hardly think that’s necessary.”
His charm slips off of Sophie like a drop of water. “No, I really think it is.” She glances at him for a moment and then looks back at me. “You two are cut from the same cloth. You’re just too stubborn to see it. If you did…” Her voice trails off and she laughs, practically blushing. Her innuendo makes me step away from Nick. I can’t believe she did that. “Well, it’d be a sight to see.”
Red requests our gear. If I’m going to superglue his camera, I’ll have to get to the chapel first. Sophie watches me for a moment before turning on her heel and closing the door behind her. Nick and I stare at each other.
After a moment, he asks, “What was that about?”
CHAPTER 27
“I don’t know,” I lie, folding my arms over my chest and staring at them. I can’t look him in the eye, not after I do this to him. I wonder how he can look at me as if he’s done nothing wrong. I’m not that person. Sophie knows I’m not, but I have to win. I have to. What am I willing to do to ensure it, especially when Nick is cheating? My gaze flicks up to his. “Sophie doesn’t like us squabbling, I guess.”
He hesitates and offers, “She seems like a good friend.”
“She is, she’s the best. Sophie’s the kind of person I strive to be, but I fall short. She’s like Snow White, Mother Teresa, and Tinker Bell all in one body.” The thought makes me smile. “I honestly didn’t know she had that in her. I’ve never heard her say anything like that before, like ever.”
Nick’s brow furrows and his arms fold. He stares blankly at the place where Sophie stood, then looks back at me. “Do you think it’s bridal jitters? It doesn’t seem like it to me. She’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, to tell you the truth. Steven is a lucky guy.”
I look up at him. “Yeah, he is.” Our eyes lock and we look at each other way too long. Suddenly, I’m very aware of my heart and it kills me that Nick isn’t who I want him to be.
My phone chirps and breaks the moment. I glance down. It’s a text from Deegan.
SORRY I DIDN’T CHECK ON YOU LAST NIGHT. MY ANKLE NEEDED A LITTLE ATTENTION AFTER ALL THAT. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT MEETING ME BEHIND THE CHAPEL TONIGHT?
I smile at the phone. Nick notices and walks over. Before I can hide the message, he sees it. “You know he’s using you, right? You seem a little bit too nice for him.” I turn and stare at Nick. I don’t know what to say, so I just continue looking at him. The action makes him squirm. He looks away from me, and glances back every few seconds, searching for the words to explain. “There are guys that prey on girls like you, that’s all I’m saying. Be careful, okay?”
I don’t blink. I gape at him as my arms fall to my sides. My eyebrows lift up into my bangs and disappear. “Are you bipolar or something? Why bother acting like you give a rat’s ass about me, when you don’t? Deegan’s not like that. He’s a better man than you’ll ever be.” A little harsh, yeah, but I’m not taking pointers from Nick Ferro. Screw that. My body tenses and somehow I’m in his face.
Those blue eyes remain locked on mine. He doesn’t flinch or deny anything. “I know you hate me. I didn’t expect you to listen. I just hoped you would.” He turns away and sucks in air like it’s his dying breath. “Come on. We better get down there.”
I follow Nick to the door, absolutely livid. It takes every ounce of restraint not to fight with him, but the wedding is in an hour and he’s right. We need to get over there. There are shots that Sophie will want and I don’t want to miss them.
Nick grabs the handle and twists. I see him pull the door and his shoulder jerk. “What the…?” Nick repeats the action, but the door won’t open.
At first I think he’s messing around, trying to make me smile or something, but he’s not. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s stuck.”
“I see that.” Shoving him out of the way, I try. The door doesn’t give. I glance at Nick and we both dart for the only other way out—the window.
The building has older windows, the kind with the metal lock that swivels between the top and bottom panes, holding them together when it’s locked. He tries to unlock it, but the metal doesn’t move either. Nick glances at me with fury in his eyes. “Did you do this?” He practically yells in my face.
Tilting my head to the side I give him a look that says his question is stupid. “Yes, I locked the window and the door so we’d be stuck in the room together. Are you mental?” I snap. “Of course I didn’t do it! Move, let me try.”