She didn’t know he just needed a nap and some video games. That always got him into a worse funk, and then even he couldn’t stand his own self. Then he would go for a huge workout and come back a new man.
I avoided his face. I didn’t know what to say to him. He didn’t believe I went to the Empire State Building. He thought I had used my money and influence to get the sash back.
Screw him.
Daniela fed him a bite. His eyes darted at me before he bit. I rolled my eyes and smiled at Luce, who was telling a story.
We finished breakfast and walked out of the dining room. I was stuffed and ready for a nap, but Luce asked if I wanted to go for a walk and sightsee a little.
I nodded "Let me just get my sweater. I'll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes."
He smiled and I sighed. If I wasn’t so angry with Mike, I would have paid more attention to the fact Luce was hot. He was dark haired and green eyed and beefy, five o'clock-shadow gorgeous. He had that foreigner hotness that Americans just couldn’t do. He wore Armani and smiled with brilliance and confidence. I had a naughty thought as I stepped into the elevator.
Mike climbed in after me.
He pressed his back against the wall and pushed the door close button several times.
"So what's the plan for today?"
I shoved him, "No way. You can't be a dick to me yesterday and today be all ‘hey Jack, what's shaking?’"
He smiled and I sighed again. I shook my head though and muttered, "I hate you."
He grabbed my face and pressed his lips to my forehead. It was seductive and more than a forehead kiss. "I am so sorry I suspected you were here to ruin my chances after I ruined yours."
I pushed him back, "You're getting married. Just stop this. No more kissing." When the elevator stopped on my floor, he got out, walking me to my door. I sighed as I opened the door and looked back at him, "You can't come in." I barred the way with my arms. He grabbed each hand that was clinging to the frame and pushed me into the room. He closed the door with his foot and looked down on me. I felt tiny.
"Just tell me that you love me, again."
I shook my head, "No."
He nodded, "Do it."
"I hate you. You did ruin my life, Mike. You ruined everything and then you disappeared and left me there alone. I had no one. My sister, my friends, no one. My family doesn’t speak to me. My father took my things from Phil's and burned them. I picked you, but you were gone so I was stuck alone. Do you know what that felt like?"
His face was stoic, but I could see the pain in his eyes, "I just assumed you picked him when you didn’t move."
I shoved him back, "You stormed into my wedding and started a huge fight. I was terrified and shocked."
He nodded, "I know. I see that now."
I shook my head, "But now is too late. You didn’t answer one phone call or one email or one message. You didn’t hear the message of me calling from the Empire State Building? You had to have heard the sax in the background on the message I left you."
He winced, "Jack…"
I shook my head again, "No. Don’t Jack me like that. Screw you, Mike." I grabbed my sweater from the bed and walked out, brushing past him.
He grabbed my arm, "Where are you going?"
I jerked my arm free, "To hang with Luce. He wants to be with me." I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I saw a fire lit in his eyes.
I turned and ran for the stairs.
"Jack!"
I hurried down the stairs but his legs were strong, longer, and in considerably-better shape.
He grabbed my arm, spinning me, "Stop calling me Mike. I hate it when you call me that."
I shoved his huge hand from my arm, "I hate when you act like I'm unreasonable. You came and ruined my wedding day and my life, and somehow it's my fault that I never hopped down from the alter quick enough. You fucking started a brawl at my wedding. A brawl. How did you think I was going to react?"
His dark eyes burned down on me, "I thought you'd see the romantic gesture."
I moaned in disbelief, "You came drunk, romance was not