The Suitcase Between Us

I grin into the lapel of his jacket. “Nobody important.”

“Good, then at least no one will miss him when he’s dead.”

One might think Adrian would soften a bit toward me now that I am officially his wife.

Wrong.

The moment Harrison pulls up in the Maybach, Adrian all but throws me in the back seat. I drop into the quilted leather with an oomph, and the material of my dress fans around me like a cloud.

“Would it kill you to be gentle?” I peek up at him.

Adrian ignores me as he shuts the door in my face. I’m almost positive some of my dress hangs outside, caught in the doorjamb.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” I grumble.

His elderly driver nearly trips over his feet to beat Adrian to his door. Poor Harrison is probably afraid to lose his job based on the scary look on Adrian’s face. Not that I blame him.

But what triggered his anger? Adrian doesn’t spare me another glance as he takes a seat, which only adds to the weight pressing against my chest.

“You’re acting like a child.”

Crickets.

“Are you just going to ignore me the whole time?”

The only reply I get is the revving of the engine as Adrian’s driver takes off.

“Fine.” I go to mess around with the dial to play some music, but Adrian shoots me a look that has me pulling my hand back.

After a whole five minutes of silence, my tequila-riddled brain gives in.

“I forgot how fun a wedding could be. It’s been years since I went to one.”

Adrian remains silent as he continues scrolling through his phone.

“It was nice to meet Theo’s girlfriend. She’s sweet.”

His hand holding the phone tightens. Hmm. Interesting.

“I don’t know why you don’t like her. It’s not her fault Theo chose Everland over becoming CFO. You should give her a fair shot at least.”

The tic in his jaw makes another appearance, yet he doesn’t bother looking at me. Come on. Give me something to work with.

“They invited us out to dinner tomorrow night and since we aren’t going on a honeymo—”

Adrian’s head snaps up. “We are not going to dinner with them.”

“But you’ve barely spoken to Theo since he decided to stay in Everland. I think it would be nice to spend some time with them while they’re in town—”

“I don’t pay you to be concerned over family matters.”

I clench a fistful of my dress. “Lucky for you I’m doing this for free.”

His eyes return to the screen of his phone. “Don’t bother. I’m not going to dinner with Theo and his girlfriend.”

“Nia. Her name is Nia.”

“Her name is as irrelevant as her relationship is with my brother.”

I can’t remove the horrific look off my face. “God, your ability to hold a grudge is terrifying.”

“Consider it a lesson to not get on my bad side.”

“Lately it’s starting to feel like every side is your bad side.”

“Who knew having a wife would be this good for my ego?” His voice takes on a sarcastic tone.

“It’s a wife’s job to call you out on your bullshit because the rest of the world sure as hell won’t. Not when they’re too afraid to speak up around you.”

“What part of we’re not a real couple do you find difficult to understand?”

My chest tightens. I thought Adrian and I were falling into a comfortable friendship, but his mood tonight has me questioning if he was only entertaining me so I wouldn’t back out of our arrangement.

His words from the night of our engagement come back to haunt me. There is nothing I won’t do to earn my inheritance. Remember that when you forget this is only a game to me.

Is that what this all was? A game? Now that he got his way, there’s no reason to play anymore. The idea causes a weird ache in my chest, right above my heart.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. There’s no one to blame but myself. Adrian was always clear about his intentions, and I stupidly read into our relationship all wrong.

Why do you care in the first place? This isn’t even real.

Because maybe somewhere along the way, I forgot that all of this was a lie.

I don’t speak to Adrian for the remainder of the drive. If ignoring each other was a sport, we would both be team captains with the way neither one of us speaks.

Once Harrison parks the car, I fight my way past pounds of tulle and lace and exit with as much grace as a newborn horse.

“Amara,” Adrian calls after me.

I don’t turn around. I’m too afraid that all my emotions will be written clear as day across my face. “I’m going to bed.”

“You forgot your purse.”

The urge to stomp my foot hits me but I refrain. “Right.” Stupid purse. I knew I should have gone with the wedding dress that had pockets.

I turn back, avoiding his eyes as I pull open the door and search the empty back seat.

“Here.” His chest presses against my spine as he traps me between the car and his body. I turn, attempting to avoid skin-to-skin contact and fail. The front of his tux brushes against my bodice, sending a ripple of heat through me.

He offers my clutch. The glittery Mrs. Sterling shines underneath the overhead lights, looking just as horrendous as the day the wedding planner gifted me the accessory. Based on the expression on Adrian’s face, he equally dislikes the way his name is flaunted like a show pony. I might not have experienced the same issues as him growing up, but I’m starting to understand him a bit more. Based on the way people treated me at the wedding, becoming a Sterling feels like an open invitation for clout chasers and career climbers to have at me.

I stare down at the clutch, which serves as a reminder of my duty. Of the promise I made to Adrian to stand by him no matter what.

No matter how much he schemes to get his way.

“Do you mind?” I gesture for him to move back.

He steps out of the way. I attempt to make my escape, only to be held back by Adrian gripping onto my elbow. His hold doesn’t hurt, but it speaks a silent request.

Stay.

But why?

“Yes?” I ask.

“Is it that bad?”

I look up at him. “What?”

“The idea of becoming my wife.”

I swear, the rise and fall of his moods tonight is driving me insane.

“And you care about my opinion all of a sudden? I’m not sure you pay me enough for that kind of service.”

His jaw clenches. “Answer the question.”

“No.”

“Must you always be this impossible?”

“I don’t know. Must you always act like an asshole?”

“It’s not an act.”

I rear back, ripping my elbow from his grasp. “Trust me. It might have taken me much longer than others, but I finally understand why everyone calls you that.”

His long blink speaks for itself. “What?”

“The way you treated me tonight—on our wedding night no less—is unacceptable. But I guess you couldn’t care less about how or when you hurt other people’s feelings, as long as you get your way.”

“What I said in the car—”

I hold up my hand. “Don’t worry about it. It’s my fault for setting unrealistic expectations about us in the first place.”

His eyes narrow ever so slightly.

I keep going, wanting to clear the air once and for all. “I never did all of this for love. Obviously.” An awkward laugh forces its way out of me. “I only wanted to help you because I thought we were friends. And yes, before you say you never wanted to be my friend, I’m aware it was probably stupid to think that. I’ve since learned my lesson.”

He opens his mouth, but I cut him off. “I realize I don’t want to be your friend either. Because getting close to you means questioning your motives about everything, and frankly, that’s way too much effort for someone who doesn’t seem to like me in the first place.”