Her smile widened, not sweet but dangerous-like she reveled in the chaos she could unleash.
“Promise?” she asked, her voice a sultry whisper.
I chuckled softly, the sound laced with sincerity. “Promise, love.”
Together, we descended the stairs, my hand resting firmly on her lower back. Every eye in the room turned our way, drawn to us like moths to a flame.
Dean froze mid-conversation, his mouth slightly agape as his gaze traveled from the hem of her dress, along the curve of her hips, and finally landing on my possessive grip on her waist. A flash of something ugly twisted his features before he masked it with a smile.
I couldn’t help but smirk, letting my hand slide lower, resting atop her ass, staking my claim.
He caught that, and I relished the moment.
Chloe blinked once, then forced a smile that felt too bright, too wide, too fake.
She wore a sky-blue satin dress that screamed elegance, but next to Savannah? She looked like the safe option, the PG-rated choice. And she knew it.
And she didn’t like it.
“You look… bold,” Chloe remarked, tilting her head slightly, attempting to mask her discomfort.
“Thanks,” Savannah replied sweetly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “You look very… mother-of-the-bride. Very safe.”
Dean coughed, barely suppressing a laugh, while Chloe’s jaw tightened, the tension palpable.
I leaned down, my breath warm against her ear as I whispered, “Play nice.”
A sly smirk danced across her lips. “No promises.”
“Wait! Hold up, you guys!”
Lizzie came barreling down the stairs, practically soaring as she waved her phone in the air like a triumphant flag. Her hair was hastily gathered into a bun, and she was clad in her bright yellow SpongeBob pajamas, a sight that made me chuckle despite the urgency of the moment.
“Lizzie, be careful!” Savannah called out, her voice a mix of concern and annoyance.
Lizzie reached us, her breath coming in quick bursts, hands resting on her knees as she bent over slightly, trying to catch her breath. “I know, I know. I just need a picture from you both!” She raised a finger, her expression earnest. “Just one.”
“Why?” Chloe asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“Oh, it’s not you guys,” Lizzie clarified, waving her hand dismissively towards Dean and Chloe. “I’m talking about them.” She pointed directly at Savannah and me, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Why?” Savannah echoed, her curiosity piqued.
“Well, your pool picture kind of blew up online after I shared it with a killer hashtag. Now, everyone’s buzzing about the hot couple,” Lizzie explained, her tone matter-of-fact as if we were supposed to be completely on board with her plan.
“So you mean we’re what? Internet famous?” Savannah asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
Chloe scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself, sis. You? Famous?” She laughed heartily, glancing at Dean. “Pinch me, Dean. What a wild dream you have.”
Lizzie stepped forward, a hint of seriousness in her demeanor. “Actually, they are. Sort of.”
“Oh please. Let me be the judge of that,” Chloe said, her tone teasing. “Just take the photo and let’s get moving. It’s almost fun time.”
Dean and Chloe exchanged glances, their smiles wicked and conspiratorial. Whatever mischief these two had concocted, I could sense it wouldn’t end well.
“Come on,” I urged Savannah, guiding her toward the spot where Lizzie had indicated-the area beside the fireplace, a cozy nook that felt oddly intimate.
We struck a few poses as directed, Lizzie snapping away with her phone, the weasel and the snake whispering conspiratorially in the corner, plotting who knows what.
“Can I get a kiss?” Lizzie requested, squinting into her phone as if she were a photographer at a fashion shoot.
“Sure,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light.
“What about my lipstick?” she countered, feigning indignation.
“Doesn’t matter,” I shrugged, knowing the moment was more important than any cosmetic mishap.
Savannah nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She turned to me, her practiced smile in place, but I could see the flicker of nerves behind it.
Her breath hitched just before our lips met, a moment that felt charged with unspoken tension. She leaned in, deliberately slow, as if savoring the build-up.
The sound of the camera shutter clicked just as our lips connected, a symphony of digital memories being captured.
She tilted her head, a practiced tease, but the way her lips parted was undeniably inviting. My hand found its way to her waist, fingers brushing against her neck, a move that felt both thrilling and dangerous.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to move my lips against hers, just once, a fleeting moment that felt like it lasted an eternity.
To my surprise, she played along, her smile lingering even as we broke apart.
“Thank you!” Lizzie exclaimed, holding up her phone triumphantly as if she had just discovered buried treasure. She giggled to herself as she dashed back upstairs, her excitement palpable.
“Finally. Can we go now?” Chloe rolled her eyes, her impatience evident as she turned and walked away, leaving us to follow.
We split into different cars-Savannah and I in mine, while the weasel and the snake took Dean’s. There was no way I’d willingly share a ride with them; the toxicity was too much to bear.
The location they had sent me to follow was in a different part of New Hope, a stark contrast to where we had just been. The giant streetlights cast elongated shadows on the ground, illuminating the upscale neighborhoods that gradually gave way to a more urban vibe as we drove past familiar places Savannah once knew.
She adjusted her dress, pulling it down slightly, and I clenched the steering wheel, fighting the urge to glance over. But I failed, my gaze drawn to her, my jaw tightening as heat crept up my neck. My hands gripped the wheel, fists clenching at my sides, desperate to reach out but painfully aware of the label we wore-best friends.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she noted, her voice breaking through my swirling thoughts.
“I’m just trying not to kill your ex for organizing this date,” I retorted, my irritation bubbling to the surface.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.