Page 81 of Why Not Forever?
“Morticia Addams,” I tell her. Everyone else had guessed right away. Derek and Spencer had gone so far as to start calling me Tish instead of Vic. I don’t remark on her sexy devil costume. I’ve seen her wear it before. “What are you doing here?” I ask instead.
“Oh, my girlfriend wanted to come. I figured, since it’s long over between us, you wouldn’t mind. You don’t, do you?”
I shake my head, confused. “Why would I mind? It’s an open event. You bought tickets.” I shrug, because I really don’t care.
Emily looks slightly put out, and I wonder if shewantedme to care. A pretty brunette in an ethereal angel costume approaches and slips her arm through Emily’s. “There you are,” she says, smiling up at her. The brunette is around five feet tall while Emily is the same height as I am. “Sorry I didn’t wait. I saw someone and had to say hi.”
Emily smiles with what looks like genuine affection and kisses the other woman lightly. “That’s all right, sweetheart. While I was looking for you, I also found someone and had to say hi. This is Victoria.” She turns to me. “Victoria, this is my girlfriend, Madeline.”
I hold out my hand to shake Madeline’s. “Vic,” I say. “I prefer Vic.”
Madeline shakes my hand. “Oh. Emily told me about you when I said I wanted to come to this party. She said you ran this place.”
“I’m actually one of the owners.” I tuck some hair behind my ear. I remember now why I hate having it down. It’s always getting in my face. “My three friends and I own this location and now a new one in South Surrey, out at Crescent Beach.”
Madeline’s smile widens. “That’s so exciting. How new is it?”
I’m about to tell her that we opened it a few months ago when Emily cuts in.
“Victoria, are you married?”
I glance down at the rings on my hand. While they had felt a little weird when I’d first started wearing them, they’re almost a part of me now. “Yes, I am.”
“Anyone I know?” she asks accusingly.
“As a matter of fact, yes. You have met him.”
She sneers. “Him. I knew it. You married Spencer, didn’t you?”
I huff a laugh and roll my eyes, shaking my head. “No, Emily. I didn’t marry Spencer. He actually got married last year and has a baby on the way. I married—”
But I don’t finish the statement because there he is, striding toward me as though I’d conjured him with just my thoughts. He’s dressed in a black-and-white pin-stripe suit with a white shirt and a bright red bow tie. He’d shaved his beard off and now just has a mustache. He’d said it would be fine since he keeps his beard short. It won’t take him long to grow it back. And Gomez Addams doesn’t have a beard.
He walks directly to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing his lips to mine in a possessive kiss.
“Hello, Mrs. Marcus,” he says. “Sorry I had to be late. How has the party been?”
“Good,” I say, wiping the red lipstick form his lips. “No problems. You’re an hour earlier than you’d thought. How did your work go?”
He grins, his hands sliding along my back. “Excellent. I got everything done so I can focus on you tomorrow for our three-month anniversary.”
He still hasn’t let me go when Emily clears her throat. Tanner shifts, so he’s standing next to me.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I’m interrupting. I’m Tanner.” He holds out a hand to shake.
“Tanner,” I say, “this is—”
“Wait. We’ve met, haven’t we?” he cuts in as Emily begrudgingly shakes his hand. “At a few of the Sterling family dinners. Emma, isn’t it?”
“Emily,” she replies coolly crossing her arms over her chest.
“Of course. I apologize. That’s a beautiful costume.” He turns his attention to Madeline. “Both of you.”
“This guy, Victoria? Really?” She looks him up and down disdainfully.
“Emily!” Madeline protests. Emily doesn’t pay attention.
“You told me you hated him. How could you possiblylikehim, let alone marry him? He’s just like your father.”
