揕et抯 go, Asher.?
He shrugs. 揝ure. This will be a challenge for us anyway. Let alone a woman.?
I close my eyes and mentally call Asher every name I can think of. My best man just ensured my fianc閑 will be at my bachelor party.
The rock gym is crowded when we arrive. I抦 surprised; the number of people here demonstrates a higher interest in the activity than I expected it to have.
This is exactly not what I thought my bachelor party might be like: climbing fake cliffs with my fianc閑 in tow.
Scarlett heads for the small store attached to the gym, probably to swap out the six-inch stilettos she抯 wearing for shoes with a flat bottom. She says nothing to me before she leaves, keeping the void of silence that抯 hovered between us intact. It stretched the whole drive here, interrupted by polite small talk, mostly between her and Jeremy. I think she抯 lying about remembering him from the class they supposedly shared and I hope that means one of my closest friends doesn抰 know more about my fianc閑 than I do.
揑 can抰 believe you,?I tell Asher, as he pulls out a pair of what are apparently rock-climbing shoes I抦 sure he bought just for this occasion. 揑 told you I didn抰 want to do anything. Then you plan this and invite her??
Asher smirks as he tugs off his sneakers and yanks on the shoes that look like rubber socks. 揙ne, this will be fun. I came with Charles Goldsmith last month and it was a blast. Two, you抮e welcome. Your blushing bride will barely look at you, and it抯 obviously bothering the shit out of you. You like her.?
I scoff. 揥hat are you, ten? I don抰 like her; I抦 stuck with her. My father would permanently disown me if this marriage doesn抰 happen. Doesn抰 last. It has nothing to do with Scarlett. Although厰 I glance at the display of climbing shoes visible through the glass wall separating the store from the gym itself, where Scarlett is talking to a sales associate. 揑t doesn抰 seem like it would kill her to act like it抯 less of an inconvenience.?
揥hat did you expect? You抳e said for years this is just business.?
揑t is. And she抯 making it harder than it needs to be by acting like this is personal, not professional.?Although I started it, I suppose. I抳e never wanted to kiss anyone more than I did in that library.
揗aybe she抯 worried it is.?
I contemplate that for a few seconds. Then dismiss the possibility. 揑 think resigned would be a better adjective. She wants to live separately, for fuck抯 sake.?
揃ut you aren抰。 I had to shove twenty boxes aside to get into your place.?
揘ot by choice. Hers or mine.?I emphasize the final word, because Asher seems to think I抦 excited about this sham of a marriage. The only part I was looking forward to seems to be on a permanent hold. After our encounter in the library, I had my doubts about a traditional wedding night. Following the surprise trip to Paris she just sprung on me, I抦 harboring no hope.
揧ou agreed to move into her place.?
揑t was that or go another round with the lawyers. If she wants to stay in her penthouse so badly, I don抰 really care. It抯 probably just as nice.?
揑t抯 nicer, actually.?Scarlett抯 voice sounds behind me. 揟here抯 a private entrance for the penthouse, and I have my own doorman. I spent five minutes waiting to talk to one of yours before you popped up like some sort of Crew-in-a-box.?
I抦 glad my back is to her. It makes it easier to hide my smile at her made-up phrase. When I do turn around, it抯 to discover Scarlett has made her outfit as rock-climbing friendly as possible. Her long hair is pulled up in a ponytail, exposing the elegant column of her neck and the hollow of her throat. The pink heels are gone, replaced with a similar style to what Asher is wearing, and the sleeves of her white blouse have been rolled up.
揂 whole five minutes??I drawl. 揥hat a devoted fianc閑 you抳e turned into, honey.?
The newfound devotion is expressed with an eye roll.
揙h, there抯 Dave!?Asher exclaims, sounding more excited than I抳e heard him sound about anything that didn抰 involve women, booze, or cars. Apparently, he was serious when he said he抯 come here before.
Dave approaches us, matching Asher抯 enthusiasm. If I passed Dave on the street, I wouldn抰 be the least bit surprised to learn he works as a rock-climbing instructor. His dreadlocks are pulled back by a purple bandana and he抯 wearing an easygoing smile that would look wildly out of place in a boardroom. 揌ey, dude!?Dave greets. 揃ack already??
揧ep. Brought some buddies too. We抮e celebrating this guy抯 wedding.?Asher claps me on the back, and I force a smile I抦 sure comes across as more of a grimace.
揘o way.?Dave looks like the idea of having a bachelor party here has never occurred to him, and I wish Asher could say the same. 揅ongrats, man,?he says to me.