Beautiful Beginning(35)
as well pull double duty and jerk off in the bathroom.” I kissed his chin,
adding, “Again.”
He bent low, inhaling into my neck, before slamming his hand on the wall
beside my head, turning, and storming out of the dressing room. Walking to
the wall, I flipped on the light and studied my reflection in the mirrors
lining the room. I tucked a stray strand of hair back into my little
diamond clip and smiled at myself in the mirror before stepping out into
the hall.
Will walked out of the men’s room just as Bennett shoved past him inside.
Turning to me, he laughed, asking, “What’s with him?”
Shrugging, I said simply, “It’s his own fault.”
He nodded in mock sympathy and then asked, “You ready for tomorrow?”
“Not remotely.”
He put an arm around me. “It’ll be perfect. And even if it’s not
perfect, there will be alcohol.”
“I know,” I said, smiling. “I’m actually not nervous, just—”
“Mommy, that’s the man with the big weenis! I saw him in the bathroom
earlier!”
We both looked down to see the small son of Bennett’s third cousin Kate
pointing at Will.
I slapped a hand over my mouth to hold in a loud burst of laughter. Will’s
hands flew up into the air and a look of horror passed over his face. “I
swear I did not show him—”
“Oh, I know you didn’t,” Kate assured him, eyes wide and apologetic. She
bit her lip, staring maybe a beat too long at Will. A long, uncomfortable
silence passed before she seemed to remember herself and blinked down to
her son. “He’s potty training and my husband told me he was checking you
out earlier.” She did a full-body wince, adding, “Not that my husband was
checking you out. And not that he wouldn’t. Except, he wouldn’t because
he’s married. And not into guys? But he did mention that our son was
walking around and . . . Oh, God.” Without another word, she grabbed her
son’s hand and pulled him into the women’s room.
I blinked up to Will, eyes wide. “What was that?”
He shrugged, laughing a little. “The kid was walking around us at the
urinals while his dad washed his hands. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Why do women lose their ability to speak around you?”
“Do they now?” he asked, grinning flirtatiously at me. “You’re
speaking.”
“That’s because I’m more dragon than woman,” I replied with a wink.
“Touché.” Looking back at me, his eyes grew a little heated, as if he had
a bone to pick with me. “There is something I want to discuss with you,
however.”
“William,” I said, leaning against the wall, “I’m flattered, but if you
’re going to chastise me about something, you won’t know what hit you
when it’s my turn to speak.”
He exhaled, staring me down. “Honestly, Chloe, you’re the one woman I’m
sure would take me over her knee and break my spine. This is about your
husband-to-be.”
“What did he do now?”
Will exhaled slowly, eyes moving over my face. He was a worthy opponent,
for sure. “I think you know what he did.”
Looking over at him, I could see traces of lipstick on his cheeks, claw
prints practically drawn through his hair. Will was the poker-faced,
wisecracking brainiac seduction artist. It was actually a little
fascinating to witness the cracks forming in his shell. “Oh, come on. Judy
and Mary are kittens.”
“Right,” he said through a sharp laugh. “And I know Bennett put them up
to this. I’m telling you, Chloe, that I’ll behave myself for the rest of
the weekend. I’ll play along. But the second we’re back from this
wedding, and you’ve returned from your sexfest in Fiji, it’s on. Do you
understand?”
I gave him a thrilled smile, nodding enthusiastically.
“The psychotic clown I sent for his birthday will feel like a feather
falling on a pillow atop a cloud. The laxative in my lunch? Child’s play.
If you think it was bad when I sent that fake resumé for his open assistant
position and the stripper came for the interview? No. We’re talking Defcon
Five, Vietcong-level mind f*cking, do you hear me, Chloe?”
“Can’t wait, Dr. Sumner.”
He pulled back, studying me. “It’s a little unnerving how excited you
look.”
Straightening up, I pushed off the wall and patted his cheek. “I am
excited. I like seeing that the only thing that will change after this week
is that Bennett will have a ring on his finger and my last name after his
first name. I like knowing that you guys will continue to escalate this big
testicle war. You and Hanna will continue to be adorable and giddy, Max and
Sara will continue to be disgustingly in love. Bennett will continue to