Page 94 of Heartless
She shook her head. “I’m working, I don’t have time for this. Go interrogate your best friend.”
Then she rounded me and disappeared into the garden, leaving me with the fucking rose still in my hand.
I entered the villa and found Ryan sitting at the table next to someone very drunk. His reaction to my presence was similar to Madison’s.
“What?” I snapped.
“Nothing,” Ryan pointed at the empty seat across from him. “I’m just surprised that you’re here. When there’s a wedding out there.”
I sat down and tilted my head towards the man sitting next to Ryan. “Who’s that?”
“That’s Tim. He got drunk, caused a scene and our pretty wedding planner put me on babysitting duty. I’m waiting for my next instructions.”
A smile played on his lips. It was obvious to me that he knew something happened between me and Madison, but he wasn’t going to pressure me for information. I threw the rose on the table and took one of the water bottles that were no doubt there to help our guest sober up.
“Is that for Madison?” Ryan pointed at the rose.
“Yes.”
“Are you two dating?”
“Depends on who you’re asking.”
“You’re the only one here.”
“She wants it casual,” I avoided answering.
“You’re not the type for a casual relationship.” When I kept silent, he continued. “Mom and I want you to be happy, Parker. We don’t want you suffering for the rest of your life. Now why don’t you go find her and finish what you came out for? This,” he pointed at the man again, “could take a while.”
I nodded and took the rose from the table. “I want to tell Jess myself, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, man.”
Five minutes later I was safely plastered to a palm tree trunk, looking at the people having fun, when I felt her presence behind me.
“Why are you here?”
Turning to face her, I lied. “I got bored.”
The single arched brow showed that she didn't believe me, but before she could say something that would ruin the moment, I lifted the rose up between us, offering it to her.
“Is this from the flower arrangements?” She asked, her tone flat.
“I'm not in the mood for getting chopped up into little pieces tonight. It's from the bushes in the garden.”
She took the rose, her eyes clinging to mine. “What mood are you in then?”
“Hopeful.”
She dropped her gaze to her feet but before I could ask what she was thinking, she said. “I have to go. They’ll cut the cake soon.”
Her tone sounded apologetic and gentle. She worried it would be hard on me being here alone. I leaned in and kissed her nose. “Go. I’ll wait.”
She looked at me for a moment, then down at the rose in her hands. “Can you keep that for me for a while?”
“Sure.” I took it from her, leaned back on the tree trunk and watched the people have fun. I could avert my gaze and ignore everything that happened afterwards, but I owed it to myself to try to watch at least. Much to my dismay, looking at the happy couple feeding each other overpriced cake didn’t make me feel like dying on the inside. It made me want to have what they had. A new beginning.
That thought occupied my head until Madison returned and offered me a piece of cake.
