Satin Princess(71)

“Me, too. England was a rollercoaster. And guess who we ran into when we touched down in the States?”

“Beats me. Tom Cruise?”

“Dane and Salma.”

His eyes widen and he leans forward. It reminds me of far too many gossip sessions we've had in the past. For a moment, it's like old times. “No fucking way.”

I nod. “It was crazy to see them both again. Dane looked good, maybe even a little more Ken doll than usual. And Salma was showing off her belly ring.”

Chris rolls his eyes. “God, the woman is always crying out for attention.”

“That’s true. I used to think it was confidence.”

“Please,” Chris scoffs. “It was narcissism."

“Yeah, I already know I’m a terrible judge of character. You don’t need to remind me.”

“Did you speak to them or run in the other direction?”

“I was about to run when Salma spotted me,” I explain. “She’s the one who chose to come up to me and start a conversation.”

“Girl has always been thick-skinned. By which I mean stupid.”

“Apparently.”

“And Dane?” Chris asks, spitting his name out like a bad word. “He could actually look you in the eye?”

I nod. “He asked me how I was doing and everything.”

“Good Lord. The two of them deserve each other.”

“That’s what I said!"

“Verbatim?”

I laugh. “Exact same words. I wanted to make sure they both got the message loud and clear. Then again, it was hard not to with Anton standing right next to me.”

The smile twists on Chris’s face, curdling into something not as warm. “He was with you?”

“Yeah. It was in the airport. We flew back together." I can’t exactly contain my amusement as I relive the little encounter in my head. “God, Salma was beside herself. She couldn’t stop looking at Anton.”

“She can’t stop looking at most guys.”

I frown. “Anton is a lot of things, but he sure as hell isn’t ‘most guys.’”

“True. Most guys aren't murderers."

I stop short and glare at my best friend. “Come on.”

“It’s the truth.”

“It was uncalled for.”

“Why? Because you’ve decided to forgive his sins and look the other way?” he asks. “Is he really that damn good-looking?”

“You’ve seen him,” I snap. “You tell me.”

Apparently, three minutes is as long as we can go without fighting these days. Chris is tense, his shoulders tight and lifted around his shoulders like a wall.

He wants me to see things his way, and I want him to see them mine. Every time we fail to break through to the other, the tension grows.

“Have you ordered yet?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“I had a coffee just before you came,” he says. “But I’ve lost my appetite.”

I throw my menu down. “That makes two of us.”

I lean back and place my hand over my stomach. I don’t have much of a bump yet, but it’s become a habit.

Of course, Chris notices right away. “How’s the baby?”

“Fine. I had a scare while I was in London, but everything is okay. Thanks to Anton.”

“Is that a fact?” Chris asks, sounding extremely unimpressed.

“I thought I was losing the baby, Chris. I was terrified.”

He looks sorry for a moment before the expression is replaced with something else.

“What?” I press. “What are you not saying?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter,” I retort. “You’re my best friend. Your opinion matters to me.”

“You’re not gonna like my opinion,” he says frankly. “So I’m trying not to say it.”

“Chris…”

“Do you really want to be tied to him for the rest of your life, Jessa?” he blurts out. “Because having his child is a life sentence.”

“Meaning what?” I demand, anger flooding my body. I can’t quite believe what I’m hearing. “You think it would have been a blessing in disguise had I lost the baby?”

“He’s a fucking Bratva don,” he hisses. “As I keep reminding you.”

“And you’re supposed to be on my side!”

“I am on your side. Why do you think I want him out of your life so bad? Jess, you’re not going to have a life if you stay with him.” He gestures to the men sitting two tables away. “Look at them over there. Four fucking bodyguards following you and your child through life. Is that really what you want?”

“It’s temporary.”

“You really think so?” he snorts.

“I know so,” I spit at him. “This is because Marina is still out there and she’s not likely to give up easily. After she’s not a problem anymore, then—”

“Do you even hear yourself?”

I stop short. “What do you mean?”

“‘After she’s not a problem anymore,’” he repeats. “That’s what you just said.”