Year 28 - J.L. Mac Page 0,23
and out of place more than it normally does.
“I don’t believe that at all.” Sylas looks down at me beside him but I keep my eyes forward, my smile in place, my gait deliberate and smooth.
“Suit yourself,” I say through my teeth, like a ventriloquist.
“You having a good birthday so far, Rae?” I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes at him.
“I’ve had better,” I murmur quietly.
“Never said that to me before,” he chuckles.
“Always so clever aren’t you Sylas?”
“Only when I need to be,” he whispers leaning closer to me, his breath tickling the tiny hairs behind my ear. Goosebumps sprout up along my body and Sylas rubs his free hand down my forearm grinning. It’s an intimate gesture, and it has my stomach flipping over itself.
“Are you cold, Rae,” he teases in response to the goose bumps he instigated. We stop at the altar and turn toward one another before stepping into our places with our eyes locked.
“Artic,” I deadpan without missing a beat.
“Now that, I believe,” he whispers, his smile faltering then fading completely. Everyone else takes their places and I do my job as best I can trying to be perfect for Ellie but my eyes keep finding their way to a dark gaze—a pensive stare that has stayed on me the entire time Reverend James walks us through what the ceremony will consist of tomorrow.
We’ve all had our fill of steak and shrimp and drinks here at The Blue Oyster, the only place in Palmetto Grove that I’d consider high end dining—and that is just by comparison to the other dining options. I push the grilled shrimp around on my plate and allow myself to get lost in thoughts of work. I’ll have a pile of things needing my attention the minute I get back to DC. It’s far better to think about the campaign and my team than it is to linger on the man across from me who has cut his gaze my direction at every opportunity.
Someone clearing their throat rips me from my mental escape and I focus my attention to the head of the table where my future brother-in-law is standing tall and practically glowing with happiness and love, mirroring Ellie at his side. “I just wanna say thank y’all so much for being a part of our big day and for being so supportive. I’d have nothin’ without y’all and Ellie. I’m proud to have each of you here and damn proud to finally make this woman my wife tomorrow,” Doug says holding his beer up for a toast. Everyone whistles and hoots and cheers for them with murmured, “Cheers!”
“We love y’all!” Ellie contributes on a shout and we all drink heartily from our glasses to the happy couple but inside I’m in hives. A group of waiters round the corner into the party dining area Mom reserved for the rehearsal dinner. The one in front is carrying a birthday cake.
Nooo, Anxiety leaps to her feet.
“Happy birthday to you,” they all begin singing with their eyes trained on me. I force a smile and glance at Ellie who is bouncing up and down on her toes grinning and clapping her hands. I nod and look down at the carrot cake that has been placed in front of me, silently thanking god that there are not twenty-eight candles ablaze. I don’t need another reminder of the stupid pact Sylas and I made when we were utterly in love teenagers. I feel his eyes on me and almost as though I have no control, I lift my eyes to find him sitting across the table from me not with an arrogant smirk on his face, as I would have expected, but a gentle smile and a look of sadness in his eyes, which is worse than a smirk. The sight makes my throat clog with unshed tears. A surge of emotion envelops me, remembering the boy I had once loved so completely and the girl I used to be and how it all fell so hopelessly apart.
The people around us finish singing to me and I blow out the single candle on top of the cake. The servers begin plating slices of cake and everyone gets back to their respective chattering. “Excuse me,” I say to no one as I slip away from the room unnoticed… mostly. Anxiety is really kicking up dust for me and some space is essential. I hurry across the restaurant to the hall leading to the