Jilted

by Vi Keeland

Elijah pushed up from his seat and leaned over the bar to watch Will walk away. “Are you sure he’s not gay?” “He screwed half my female friends in high school, married his college sweetheart, and has a daughter.”

Elijah stepped behind it and took out two glasses. “Ma’am? What can I get for you? Just so you know, we’ll be serving orange-stained bridesmaids for an appetizer and pickled bride for dinner. So you might want to order accordingly.”

“You’ll get your day. And it’ll be with someone who deserves you next time. Josh was too boring and ordinary anyway.” I smiled sadly. “Thank you for saying that.” “And he won’t have a needle dick. You deserve an ankle spanker.”

“What is that stuck to the back of your arm? A nicotine patch?” She held up both hands, shaking them. “That needs to come off.” “It’s an insulin pump. I’m diabetic.” “Oh. I guess it has to stay, then?” “Why yes, it does. I’m funny about keeping upright and not passing out.”

Wilder leaned over and whispered, “Your friend approves.” I spoke through a sugary smile. “Bite me.” He chuckled. “Later for that, love.”

“Have a good day. Maybe I’ll see you around later.” The kid snort-laughed. “That means you’re definitely gonna see him. I think he’s in love.”

Halfway down the hall, I felt eyes on my back. “Stop checking out my ass!” “Only if you stop walking away from me, Cupcake.”

“I cannot believe you changed your flight to come with me to sell my wedding dress.” He shrugged. “I figured Lucas could use some sleep. He was up chewing my ear off about Olivia for an hour once we got back to the hotel.” I smiled. “Oh God. Olivia did the same. I think we might have a problem.” Wilder turned the key to start the car. “Yeah, if my ball-busting little brother gets a Carrick for a girlfriend before I do, I’m never gonna hear the end of it.”

“Now that’s a keeper.” I chuckled. “I’m practically naked.” “I know. It’s freaking great.”

Sloane: I have you beat. 251 days. The little circles started to bounce around, then stopped before starting again. Wilder: Wasn’t your wedding date six months ago—a hundred and eighty days from when we met last month? That would be 220. Sloane: Yes. But we didn’t have sex for a month before the wedding. I was trying to make our wedding night special. Those dots started moving again, then stopped. Thirty seconds later, my phone rang. Wilder spoke before I could even say hello. “We are not doing that shit before our wedding.”

“Hi. Andrew?” The tall, lanky, clean-cut guy flashed a boyish smile. “I’m guessing you’re Sloane?” “I am. How did you know?” “Wilder described you, right before he threatened my life about keeping my eyes to myself.”

He looked around the back of the stretch limousine. “And does this thing have champagne or what?” The uniformed driver looked in the rearview mirror. “There are two bottles in the cooler on the left side. Glasses are on the right. Would you like me to wait so you can pour before I start driving?” “Pour?” Elijah waved him off. “What’s there to pour? You said two bottles and there’s two of us. Do you have straws?” The very British driver looked appalled. Elijah couldn’t have cared less. He waved goodbye to the man as he pushed the button to raise the privacy screen. I shook my head. “You are so rude.” “Me? He’s the one butting into our conversation.”

“Let me try a different approach. What about having fun? No expectations, just get back on the horse and ride, girl, ride.” I smiled. “Now that is tempting…” “So do it. Listen to Nike and just fucking do it.” “I don’t think Nike said it exactly like that.” “They should have.”

“I thought you said my self-help books were dumb.” “That was before I found this one…” He riffled around inside the duffle. “Here we go. This is the one that changed my mind.” He turned the cover to face me. Forty New Positions for Forty Weeks of Pregnancy: The Couple’s Guide to Orgasming Through Full Term.

“I haven’t been hungry lately.” Wilder ran his nose up and down my neck. “I’m starving.” I got the feeling we’d just changed subjects.

“I don’t think I ever asked you, what did you weigh when you were born?” He met my eyes. “You don’t want to know.” “Oh Jesus. You were big?” He bent and kissed my belly. “Your mother scares easily, so we’re going to keep that info to ourselves.”