“Why didn’t you tell me anything?” I asked, annoyed, turning my back to Alex so he could help me zip up my dress. He did so without complaint.
“I forgot. I’m sorry,” he murmured, leaving a kiss on my shoulder.
“How could you forget to tell your girlfriend that your sister invited her to her bachelorette party and that the wedding was moved to the city where you live?” I growled. He made a face as I adjusted my bracelets. “God, she’s going to hate me if I’m late,” I exclaimed, walking into the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror. “And I look disgusting,” I complained.
Alex rolled his eyes and hugged me. “You’re beautiful. You look beautiful, and my sister adores you. Believe me,” he countered. I felt my cheeks flush as my heart raced.
“Besides, it’s only an hour before it starts, and it’s not far from here,” he added with a shrug. I grimaced as Alex cupped my face in his hands and examined it.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he growled. My cheeks turned even redder as Alex kissed me.
His lips moved in sync with mine, and as soon as I let out a small moan at the feel of his cold skin on my bare waist, he slid his tongue into my mouth. I pulled away slowly, gasping.
“I have to finish getting ready,” I sighed.
Alex kissed me again, holding me tightly by the hips. His kisses trailed down from my jaw to my collarbone, and I moaned.
“We have time. You look beautiful the way you are,” he whispered. I smiled and shook my head.
“When we get there, I swear we’ll do whatever you want. Just let me make a good impression,” I whispered.
Alex rolled his eyes but let me go. I gave him a quick kiss on the lips before he walked toward the bathroom.
“I’m serious. My sister adores you,” he said, leaning against the doorframe. I looked at him and raised my eyebrows.
I pulled out my makeup bag and took what I needed.
“My mother thinks you’re a good girl, and… well, I think you already know the situation with my father,” he whispered.
I made a face as I started applying my makeup. I didn’t plan to use much-just concealer to cover my imperfections, blush to add some color to my pale face, a little shimmer for my eyes, mascara to highlight my lashes, and nude lipstick. I didn’t want to overdo it.
“I don’t want you to go,” Alex admitted. I frowned and looked at him, confused.
“Why?” I asked.
Alex snorted. “It’s a bachelorette party. There will probably be a lot of strippers, especially knowing Evelyn’s friends,” he muttered.
I smiled and bit my lower lip, trying not to laugh.
“I don’t want you to see other men. Besides, they’re probably younger, stronger, and more handsome than me,” he pouted. I approached him, running my hands along his neck and looking at his face.
“You’re gorgeous,” I said, shaking my head.
Alex caressed my waist. “You have a great body. My God, you’re a beautiful.”
I laughed, and Alex joined in.
“Are you trying to make me feel good, or do you really love me that much?” he asked.
“Both,” I joked, standing on my tiptoes to brush our noses together.
Alex laughed, and I kissed him. I loved his lips, the way they fit perfectly with mine, the permanent mint flavor sometimes mixed with whiskey, his hair falling over his forehead, his hands touching me so lovingly, his scent, his body, and his feelings. I loved everything about Alex.
“I love you. I love you so much,” I whispered against his lips.
Alex grabbed me tightly by the hips and pulled me closer. A big smile spread across his face.
“I don’t think you love me more than I love you,” he whispered.
“This is a little… very, very cheesy,” I laughed, and Alex laughed with me.
“But yeah, I love you more,” I added.
He rolled his eyes. “You don’t like that I’m cheesy?” he teased, caressing my waist and lowering his face to the hollow of my neck.
“I like you anyway,” I shrugged, and Alex hugged me.
“And I’m the cheesy one,” he joked.
I lightly pushed him away, and he laughed.
“Let me finish getting ready. I’m almost done,” I said. He grunted but obeyed.
I walked back to the bathroom and finished up. I tied the top part of my hair into a small ponytail, making it look a little more polished with the curls I had done.
I clicked my tongue and looked at myself in the mirror one last time. “How do I look?” I asked Alex, who was watching me again from the doorframe.
“You look delicious,” he said. I wrinkled my nose.
“I really want to eat you,” he murmured. Heat rose to my face as I walked out of the bathroom, ignoring Alex’s comment. I put on my heels.
“Are we leaving?” I asked.
Alex snorted. I heard the sound of the keys, and in the next second, Alex intertwined our hands.
“You can tell me you don’t want to go, and we can stay here all night,” he whispered against my ear.
I felt my skin tingle but shook my head. “I really want to do this right, Alex. I want your family to see that we’re serious, that I’m serious, and that I’m not some self-interested teenager,” I admitted.
Alex tensed his jaw and looked down.
“I like you for who you are, not for what you have. I want you to keep that in mind,” I murmured as we walked down the stairs.
At the last step, I turned around and saw Alex staring at the ground with a frown.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked.
He shook his head and looked up at me.
“Yes, I love you too,” he murmured.
I wrinkled my nose as Alex intertwined our hands. I decided to ignore his strange behavior.