Take Three (The Jilted Bride #2)(49)

“How did he die?”

“He had a heart attack when I was fifteen. I don’t think it hit me until I was nineteen though.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I really hate that he never got to see me make it, you know? He always told me that if I did, I should never change…I clearly did the exact opposite.”

“I’m sure he’s still very proud of you, Selena.”

“You think so?” I turned on my side.

“I do. He probably thinks that fake pregnancy was a genius idea.”

“It was genius! Do you know how much time went into planning that? I had to watch hours and hours of videos to research how pregnant women walked, how they sat, everything! I played the hell out of that part! I wish I could’ve let the public in on it; I would’ve definitely gotten an Oscar!”

Ethan shook his head and laughed.

“Do you think that makes me a horrible person though? That I was willing to do all that just to get my name in the papers? What about the fake wedding and all those lies I told?”

“You’re not a bad person at all Selena…You didn’t have your friends or family to talk to, so you used the only thing you did have and you got a bit carried away.”

He’s not judging me?

“Well, I’m trying to change that now. Anyway, I feel like I’ve been talking nonstop, Ethan. It’s your turn!”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything…”

He told me he’d spent most of his life in Boston and was in town to do some research for his company—an expanding beverage venture. He said he loved being outdoors and had a zest for international traveling. He even told me about the closest he came to having his heart broken, when a woman named Darcy dumped him out of the blue, after a year of serious dating.

We cuddled underneath a fluffy yellow blanket and continued to watch the sun set, tickling each other whenever things became too quiet.

When I noticed that the fire pit was dying and the sky was fading to black, I tapped his shoulder. “It’s getting late. Shouldn’t we head back now?”

“Not unless you want to miss the best part.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see.”

“I don’t see anything! You’re not trying to seduce me out here are you?” I could sense him smiling.

“No, Selena. I’m not trying to do that…”

“Well, let’s go. I can watch a pitch dark sky from the windows of my hotel room. I don’t need to—”

There was a sudden shrieking sound and a pop from high above. I looked up and saw a bright white sparkler dancing across the sky.

Fireworks…

I lay back in his arms and watched in awe as hundreds of colorful blossoms flashed across the dark night: There were huge heart shaped ones, ones that resembled dancing spiders, ones that crackled softly and fell in sheets of glittering rain, and several ones that spelled out my name in vibrant glitzy colors.

As another array of purple streamers strutted across the sky, I sat up and faced him. “Thank you so much. This was the best date I’ve ever had. Words can’t even describe…”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“I’m not sure if I mentioned this to you today or not, but there was an article about me in The New York Post this morning…Joan thought I didn’t see it but I did. They’re still talking about the affair and making me out to be the aggressor. They think that—”

“Shhh,” he pulled me back into his arms. “I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks about you.”

Chapter 20

Ethan

This was unfamiliar territory. This was dangerous.

I was no longer in control and I didn’t like it. At all.

All my thoughts were about Selena and my checklist didn’t have a viable explanation for that. I’d accounted for the psycho dates who thought about me all the time—the ones who left crazy voicemails and called me at all hours of the night just to say “Hello,” but I never considered what it would mean if I thought about someone all the time.

Besides, Selena was the exact opposite of almost every point on my checklist. Sure, she was sexually attractive and completely adorable, but she was also quite frustrating.

She was the most confrontational woman I’d ever met, she pouted when she didn’t get her way, and she was the one setting the pace of our relationship, not me.

Worst of all, she made me watch romantic comedies—lots of them. I didn’t understand why I needed to watch Matt Sterling and Matthew McConaughey take their shirts off eighty different ways, why every couple had to share a dramatic kiss in the rain, or why the characters professed their love for one another after a mere two weeks.

Each and every one of those movies was terrible, but I was willing to do anything to spend time with Selena.

She and I met for dinner every evening. We talked on the phone for hours and hours every night, and we spent every free moment relaxing at the hidden beach.

I looked forward to the sound of her laughter, the sight of her smile. I anticipated each second we spent together and fell asleep dreaming about our next encounter. I didn’t even realize how much time had passed by.

“Are you there Ethan?” Selena waved her hand in front of my face.