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He shakes his head and raises my chin up to look into his eyes as he continues to hold me in his arms. “He’s not the one for you.” He rubs my back in an attempt to comfort me. “Just calm down. I’ll take care of you.”
I pull away and scrunch my face in confusion. “What? No.” I can’t believe I kissed a man I just met, no less while at a wedding reception with my fiancé in the next room. Pushing away from him, I pick up my clutch from the floor and point it at his chest. “We are going to pretend this never happened.” Turning and bolting in the opposite direction, I weave my way through a group of bridesmaids laughing at the other end of the hallway.
I take a deep breath and walk back into the ballroom, where I see Chloe chatting with a friend in the bar line while Nick and Colin sit alone at our table. For once, I’m relieved to see Colin is on his phone.
“Jesus, Colin. Do you ever put that fucking phone down?” Nick says with an edge to his voice when Colin doesn’t acknowledge my arrival. He would never say it to me, but Nick doesn’t like Colin. They just never really hit it off. Chloe would never say anything bad about Colin as long as she thinks I’m happy.
“Sorry, babe, but you know how it is,” Colin says, laying his phone on the table. “I’ve always got to be visible if I’m going to be successful. You know I’m doing this for our future. It’s all for you.” Twenty-eight and already a successful attorney here in Boulder, Colorado, Colin has his eye on politics, following in his father’s path. He leans in, puts his arm around me, and kisses me. My stomach turns.
As we pull away, I look across the table to see Ethan studying us as he stands beside Nick’s chair. Colin glances up but is once again too absorbed in his phone to care. My face flushes, and all I can think about is how hot Ethan is right now.
“What are you doing?” Nick says with a nervous laugh, looking at Ethan. “Have a seat.” Ethan nods and sits, crossing his impressive forearms across his chest and turning his eyes on me.
This could not possibly be more awkward.
“Here you go.” Chloe sets a fresh glass of wine in front of me as she sits down. “I thought you could use a refill,” she says with a smile, clinking her glass to mine.
“God, yes. Please.” I pick up the glass and proceed to drink half of it in one gulp.
Chloe laughs and takes a drink. “What did I miss? Is everything okay?”
“Nothing…just thirsty,” I say with a tight smile. I glance at Ethan, who is still solely focused on me, not paying a bit of attention to the one-sided conversation Nick is attempting to have with him.
“Summer is such a beautiful bride,” Chloe says. “And this hotel is stunning. You guys should consider having your reception here.”
The guilt sinks to the pit of my stomach. What is wrong with me? I’ve been attracted to other men before, but I’ve never even considered acting on it. This, though—I don’t even know what this is, but I can never let it happen again.
“Yeah, it’s stunning.” My voice shakes, and I feel tears stinging my eyes, the enormity of what I’ve done sinking in.
“Olivia, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Chloe asks, leaning in.
“You know, I’m not feeling well,” I say, barely above a whisper, as I try to keep the tears at bay. “I think I need to get out of here soon.”
“What’s wrong, babe?” Colin asks, overhearing my conversation with Chloe as he ends a phone call.
I look down at my lap to avoid eye contact with Ethan. “I need to go. I don’t feel well.”
“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, but the timing actually works out. That was my dad on the phone. He needs me to meet him and some donors for drinks at the club. Shall we head out together? I can drop you off at your place first.” I nod, and we both stand.
“What’s going on?” Nick asks.
“Sorry, guys. We need to leave. Colin has to go meet his dad, and I’m not feeling well. I need to go home.”
“Okay.” Chloe stands to hug me. “I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well. Call me if you need to talk,” she whispers before pulling away. Chloe knows me too well. I know she isn’t buying it.
I meet Nick halfway around the table, and he gives me a big bear hug as Ethan comes to stand next to him. “See you tomorrow, Liv,” Nick says.
Before I can escape to Colin’s side, Ethan grabs my hand, pulls me to him, and wraps his arm around my waist. My mouth falls open, and I brace myself with my hands on his hard biceps. He leans in, whispering in my ear, “Don’t be afraid of what’s happening between us. Give in and allow yourself to feel this with me.” I close my eyes and hold my breath as he places a warm kiss on my cheek that lingers too long to look innocent. When I open my eyes, Chloe is frowning at us, and Nick shares her look of confusion.
“Whoa. What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Colin wedges between us and forcefully pulls me from Ethan’s grip. “She’s my fiancée. Have a little respect,” he says, wrapping his arm around me tighter than usual.
Ethan smirks and shakes his head, taking a step closer. “Should I tell him, Olivia?”
My heart races in my chest, and my hands are suddenly sweaty. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, glaring at Ethan.
“Pfft. Get a fucking grip, man,” Colin says, pulling me further away. “Liv, time to go. Nick, Chloe…good to see you both.” The last thing I see is Ethan’s angry stare as Colin guides me away from the table and out of the ballroom.
“I just need to use the restroom really quickly,” I say as Colin calls for our Uber in the hotel lobby. What I really need is a minute to catch my breath and get my story straight. After using the bathroom and washing my hands, I walk to the door, and his amazing scent invades my senses before I even see him. I take a deep breath and shake my head as I open the door to see Ethan standing in the middle of the hallway with his arms crossed.
