“Will you stay while I give birth? I need you, Josh.”
Shaking my head, I direct my gaze at the ground. “No, this is something I need to experience with my wife the first time. I’ll be out in the hall when you’re done.”
She starts crying, but it’s not enough to pull me toward her. I step outside and pull Joey to me. “This was a mistake.”
“I heard what she said.”
“I told you, Joey. She doesn’t care if we’re married. She’s delusional and can’t accept that I’m not part of her life anymore. Can we leave? Please.” Even though I told Jules I’d be out in the hall, I know that there is no part of me that wants to be here. I can’t be here, not anymore. The doormat I’ve been when it comes to Jules Maxwell has to stop and now seems to be as a good time as any.
“I’m sorry, I thought in her condition she’d want a friend.”
“She wants me and the feelings aren’t mutual. She’s never going to change.”
Joey wipes some tears, and for the life of me I can’t understand why she’s crying. Taking her under my arm, I escort her out of the hospital as fast as I can.
“You’re a good person, Joey, but I need you to develop some thicker skin for this world we’re in. Don’t take everyone at face value and don’t assume they’re not trying to stab you in the back,” I tell her as soon as we get in the car. I’ve been burnt by one too many snakes in this industry and I don’t want to see Joey go through the same thing.
“I just thought—”
“You know,” I say, taking her hand in mine. “With anyone else, they would’ve welcomed us being there for them, but not with her. She has tunnel vision when it comes to what she wants.”
With a sigh, Joey leans back in her seat. “I suppose I ought to watch for her trying to steal my husband,” she says, squeezing my hand.
“Not where I’m concerned.” I bring her hand up and kiss it. “As far as I’m concerned you’re the one for me and the only one I see in my life.”
She turns her head and smiles.
By the time we get home, the sun is almost peaking out over the horizon. “Let’s get some sleep before your dad arrives. Us guys have a busy day.”
“You’re trying on tuxedos.” She points out as she undresses down to nothing and crawls into bed.
“Mhm,” I say, palming my already growing erection. “And drinking, hitting the golf course, and planning my stag party.” I pull the covers back, causing her to giggle. Grabbing a hold of her ankles, I pull her to me before dropping my shorts onto the floor. “Look at that.” I palm my cock, rubbing it against her.
“What? I don’t feel anything.” She’s a little vixen teasing me like this.
“You will in a second, babe.” I plunge into her, making sure she feels every single inch of what I’m about to give to her.
The sweet smell of salt water fills the air. The waves rush to the shore while birds fly above trying to find their breakfast. I’m the only one on the beach, but that will change once the guests at the resort start waking up. The employees will be out, setting up umbrellas for shade, kids will be splashing in the sea, and surfers, boats, and people who plan to swim will be frolicking in the water.
Last night I had to kiss Josh good-bye. I’ve had to do it before, but this time it was different. He’d be going to a suite with Rob while I went to one with my parents. We won’t see each other until later this evening when I walk down the wooden dock that will be laid out for me. I teased him and asked why he didn’t want to stay the night with his mother and step father, or even his father and brand new step mom.
Nina wasted no time informing Josh’s dad about our new house in the hills, the reality show, and our destination wedding. And like her, he showed up, but did one better than her and brought Josh’s shiny new step mom. By shiny I mean very plastic and very young. It took about twenty minutes of her touching his arm before I had enough of her and gave them directions to the nearest hotel. Of course that wasn’t good enough for his father and he demanded one of the rooms be made up for them.
Demanded.
I told him I’d get right on it. The rooms are still bare and as long as his parents are in town they’ll remain that way. What really sucks is that they con Josh out of money. I don’t like it, but it’s not my place to say anything. I know what’s his is mine and all that, but it doesn’t seem right. I’m not the one earning what he’s spending on their hotel rooms. The one thing he did do, which I laughed about for hours, is offer them a suite to share at a fairly nice hotel, or separate rooms at a cheaper one. Shockingly they took the cheaper one.
Behind me, the cameraman is filming. Every now and again he gets up and walks around to get me face on. He’s asking questions, trying to get me to open up about today and how I feel.
“It’s funny,” I tell him. “Josh and I have been married eight months, you would think any nerves I have would be gone.”
“But they’re not?”
“No. I think they’re stronger than ever because now I know what to expect. Before I had no expectations. I thought the man I matched with wouldn’t haven’t anything in common with me or he’d be someone I never thought I’d see myself with.”
“You mean ugly?”
“No, I didn’t say that.” I keep my gaze focused on the ocean. You have to be careful what you say, or how you react around the camera because the smallest things get blown out of proportion. Blaze PR has me on all the social media sites, and while I do have access and can post, I rarely respond to anything. People can be intrusive and because you’re a public persona they feel you have to answer every question they throw at you. Ask me what I ate for breakfast and I’ll tell you. Ask me what Josh wears to bed or how many times we have sex and I’ll ignore you.