Page 47 of My Fiancé's Brother
Without looking at either them, I picked up my $6 plant in my $4000 bowl and walked away from both of them.
CHAPTER 15
I stoodin the laundry room and stared at the plant that sat on the washer. Why was Julie so obsessed with how much money I had? Why did she have to bring it up every single chance she got? And why did it feel like everything was spinning out of control? I just wanted this party to end and everyone to go home.
I took a deep breath. I just needed to get through tonight. I could process everything later.
I moved back to the living room. Matt was knee deep in the party, joking and laughing uproariously. Katherine stuck to his side like glue.
Swallowing hard, I made my way to his side, and when he saw me, his eyes lit up. “Em, can you please top us up?”
Shame washed over me. Followed immediately by retribution. I had kissed Jackson. Jackson’s mouth had been on mine, and I had moaned into his lips. I had wantonly drunk in his kiss like the starved virgin I was. Matt deserved more from me. Now he was entertaining someone from his work, and I was not going to be the insecure fiancé who clung to him.
“Sure,” I said with a cheerfulness I did not feel.
The party raged on.People drank more. The music got louder. The laughter became overwhelming. The energy was more intense. I collected dirty glasses. I called cabs for people who were no longer in any condition to drive. I sorted out coats and bags and hugged and kissed everyone on their way out. And the entire time, I drank. I don’t know how many glasses of wine I consumed, but the moment my glass was empty, I filled it up again.
I was in the kitchen, trying without success to tie off a bag of garbage but my hands fumbled and struggled with the simple task. Matt appeared in the kitchen.
“Do we have any more of that pinot?”
I stood up and blinked at him. It dawned on me that I would have to come clean about the kiss. The sooner, the better. He was avoiding my gaze.
“Matt,” I said carefully. “Can we talk? I have to tell you something.”
“Not right now.”
“Matt, I have a confession.”
Matt’s critical gaze roamed over me. Then he looked over his shoulder, his bloodshot eyes narrowed. I followed his gaze to see Jackson towering on the other side of the island. He wore a scowl, and he looked formidable.
Matt looked towards Jackson. “Why do you look so pissed? You’re getting lucky tonight, as usual.”
“What?” I blinked in confusion. Green eyes shifted to my face and then back to Matt again.
Matt snorted. “Jackson here likes to stroll into any situation, find the hottest chick and then the rest of us get his leftovers.”
My mouth dropped open at Matt’s crude comment. “Matt!”
“The worst part about it is that it won’t mean anything to him.”
I now had to tell Matt I had kissed Jackson. I shut my eyesmomentarily, and the entire room went off kilter. I grabbed the counter to find my balance.
“You’re hammered.” Matt looked at me with something close to disgust.
I just needed to get this over with.
“Matt, we need to talk.”
He stepped back. “Em, why do you always pick the most inappropriate times to want to talk? You have the worst timing of any person I know.”
My mouth dropped open at the barely concealed venom in his tone. Why was he so angry at me? Did he somehow already know that I had kissed Jackson?
Against my will, my hands reached out to grab his arm. He shook me off. My eyes followed him as he walked back into the living room to take his place beside Katherine.
Jackson looked down at me. His expression was unreadable.
“He’s mad,” my voice sounded sorrowful. “And I haven’t even told him yet.”
