I look down at my dress before looking at hers. The white fabric falls to the ground. The thick straps rest comfortably on her shoulders as the bodice leaves everything to the imagination. Her single pearl necklace and earrings scream elegance. Her doe eyes and flushed cheeks are left bare as she lets her natural beauty do the work.
“Nothing compared to you.”
She loosely holds my hand. “Oh, please. Doesn’t she look beautiful, Xavier?”
Xavier’s hypnotised eyes don’t move from his wife. “I don’t know.”
She huffs at him. “Look at her and tell her that she’s beautiful.”
“Emery—“ His tone rings with a warning.
“It’s fine! You can tell her. God knows you’re thinking it,” she grumbles at the end.
Uncomfortable is an understatement. I look between the couple, trying to decipher what happened. They were clearly in disagreement before I walked over.
“Behave yourself,” he snaps.
“I’m going to…” I look behind me. “Francesca is waiting for me.” I take a few steps back before I smack into someone.
“Watch where you’re going, sweetheart.” Huxley raises his brow at me, which earns him an eye roll.
“You were the one who could see me. Or are you so deprived of a woman’s touch that you did it intentionally?”
He grimaces at me. “I would hardly call you a woman.”
My hand rests on my hip. “What would you call me?”
His eyes shift to a dark amber as he openly eyes me from head to toe. “A snake.”
His attempt at a dig goes over my head. “Aren’t you a ray of sunshine?” As I say the words, the pun registers, and I laugh. “Ray of sunshine,” I repeat. “How ironic.”
He eyes me once more before focusing on Emery and Xavier. “Happy birthday.”
As she did with me, she hugs Huxley. “Thank you.” When she pulls away, she gives me a playful smile. “Ray. Don’t you think Savannah looks beautiful?”
Oh God. Not this again.
Huxley looks at me while Xavier watches him. We all fall silent as we wait for his answer.
“I didn’t notice.”
Asshole.
Emery scoffs at them. “Blind and stupid. The pair of you. You two look good together.” She points at Huxley and me.
Our snorts of derision come out at the same time.
“Emery. Stop it,” Xavier orders.
She stares him down. I look at Huxley, who is also avoiding looking at them. I dart my eyes to the other side of the garden. He catches my drift, and we walk away without saying another word to the couple having a staring match.
Neither of us says anything. We walk to the drinks table, and I eye all the options. I would be breaking the no alcohol clause in my surrogacy contract, but I need something stronger than apple juice.
“Too slow,” he laughs when he grabs the vodka bottle before me.
“I’ll cut your balls off to get that drink.”
His eyes come alight with pleasure. “Or you could get on your knees and suck them.”
