“This is only a problem because you come from a long line of highly repressed WASPs, and they place too much importance on what other people think of them. It’s too bad you’re not Greek or Italian. Then the whole family would have been screaming and yelling and throwing plates right along with you.”
I’d said that last part just to be funny, but he sounded wistful when he muttered, “That would have been so great.”
Chapter 9
When we rounded the corner into the living room, Wes’s grip on my hand tightened. I spotted Warren and Jack right away, dead ahead on the covered patio. They were surrounded by adoring relatives, and Warren was telling some sort of anecdote that had everyone laughing.
They were an absolutely beautiful couple. In fact, the photos I’d seen on social media hadn’t done them justice. Both men were tall and fit, and they’d gotten the linen suit memo so they looked effortlessly elegant. Warren had a square jaw and light brown hair with blond highlights, and Jack was a stunningly handsome Black man with very short hair, flawless skin, and a perfect smile. Ugh. Why did they have to look like a pair of movie stars?
The moment they spotted Wes, both men’s expressions turned grave. Everyone on the patio paused what they were doing to watch us as we approached. Their reactions were more curious than concerned. It seemed like they were waiting for a show, a reason to clutch pearls and gossip for years to come. Wes made a point of disappointing them.
He walked right up to the couple and shook their hands as he said, “Hello, Jack and Warren. You both look well.” His tone was polite, with the perfect undercurrent of indifference.
“So do you,” Jack said. “Who’s your friend?”
I stepped forward and stuck my hand out. “Hi, I’m Ash, Wes’s boyfriend.”
Jack was too well-mannered to actually let his jaw drop, but an incredulous look crossed his features as he shook my hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you.”
Warren shook my hand next and said, “We weren’t aware Wesley was seeing anyone.”
I flashed him an enormous smile. “Well now, he mentioned me to your mama three months ago, but he didn’t offer up any details. He thought it’d be fun to spring me on y’all like a great, big, pastel-colored glitter bomb.” Since I sensed an awkward pause descending, I decided to get Wes out of there. I turned to him and traced his lower lip with my fingertip while I batted my eyelashes. “Can we go get a drink, cuddle bear? Pretty please? I’m just so thirsty.” I stopped short of baby talk, but I played up the cutesy thing, because why not? They weren’t going to take me seriously anyway.
Wes looked amused. He put his arm around my shoulders and said, “Of course we can, sweetness.” Then he led me away from Jack and Warren and called over his shoulder, as if they were an afterthought, “Let’s catch up soon.”
A full bar was set up inside, complete with a uniformed bartender. After we both ordered mimosas, Wes pulled me into his arms and whispered in my ear, “Cuddle bear? Really?”
I laughed and whispered, “I had to think fast. We never discussed nicknames, but I felt one was called for in that moment. You should just be glad I rejected the names that occurred to me first, including honey butt, sweet cheeks, and sugar britches. Basically, I went for the only one that wasn’t ass-related.”
He grinned and said, “Thanks for avoiding a butt-based nickname.”
“It wasn’t easy. You have a truly epic ass, so of course it’s what came to mind.”
“Epic?”
I grinned too and told him, “You heard me.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“Thanks for swimming every damn day and givin’ me some mighty fine eye candy.”
He shook his head. “You say the oddest things sometimes.”
“It’s part of my charm.”
“I know.”
The bartender handed us our drinks, and I thanked him before leading Wes to a club chair in the empty living room. When he sat down, I climbed onto his lap and whispered, “Jack and Warren haven’t taken their eyes off us since we left them standing there.”
“How do you know? You haven’t glanced in their direction.”
“There’s a huge, polished silver vase a few feet away, and I can see their reflection in it. They seem confused. I think everyone was expecting drama, and your total indifference is throwing them off.”
“Nice job on the covert surveillance. You should have been a spy.”
“Right?” I clinked my glass to his and said, “Cheers, sugar britches,” before taking a sip.
That made him groan, but he was smiling at the same time. “I’m so glad you didn’t call me that in front of everyone.”
“There’s still time.”
Wes took a drink, then asked, “Are Jack and Warren still watching us?”
“Yes, and now your mother is speaking to them and watching us, too. Actually, so are several of your relatives.” I drained my champagne flute, then said, “I’m tempted to give you a lap dance. Can you imagine their reaction? I’d be the topic of every family get-together for decades.”