Page 116 of Temporary Vows

She nibbles on the inside of her lip, unable to find anything more to disprove me. Unless Dorian clears this up, she won’t find anything.

“I think Susan is someone he’s seeing. And I have to accept that.” I sigh and let my hand fall to my lap.

Skylar frowns. “I think that might be the way forward. Even if Susan isn’t someone he’s seeing.”

I glance heavenward, as though the sky can give me answers. Nothing comes. “We’re only just getting started. We’re getting married next Saturday. Once we do, this will be my life for years, and I’m already tapped out.”

“I can see that.” Skylar bites the inside of her lip.

“I don’t feel like myself, Skylar.” I look back at her. “But I don’t know if that’s entirely my fault. I can’t figure him out. Dorian Vale is like Jekyll and Hyde. It feels real when… when he kisses me. And when he helped me with Marcus… we didn’t have a contract then. One minute he’s nice to me, the next he’s Mr. Reserved and all businesslike. I hate it. You can never tell what a person is truly like when they’re so flippant.”

“I think that’s the problem. You’re expecting the nice version of him who saved you to show up, but he’s not. You can only rely on yourself, so either you do this or not.”

“There is noornot. I signed the contract. I’m bound by it now.” Which means I wouldn’t even have the option to repay the debt. And sure, I know I can’t sell the engagement ring; that would make me look even worse.

“Then you accept it, as you have. What’s happening sounds awful, but you…”

“Agreed to it,” I finish for her.

She nods stiffly. “And please don’t hate me, but I think it’s possible that you’re stuck in your old feelings for him. You seem deeply upset.”

God, I truly, truly wish she were wrong. I wish I could tell her I feel nothing of the sort, but I can’t even muster the energy it would take to lie.

Skylar narrows her gaze, assessing me and my hesitation. “Elodie.”

I release a long, frustrated sigh. I’ve told her everything so far, everything except the night of the yacht party when Dorian and I took things too far.

“Has something happened between you two?” Her spine snaps straight, and now she’s glaring at me, her cheeks flushed with surprise.

“Yes and no.” I wince.

“Oh my God. What does yes and no mean? Did you sleep with him?” She leans closer, as if we’re talking about some great secret.

“Almost.”

“Holy shit. When did this happen?” she shrieks. “And why in hell didn’t you tell me?”

My shoulders sag. “I didn’t want to talk about it. It happened the night of the yacht party.”

“Ugh.” She shakes her head. “I knew you’d been acting strange.”

“I’m sorry.” My gaze falls to my lap.

“Don’t be. Do you want to talk about it now?”

I meet her gaze. “It’s best I don’t. I’m already upset.”

“Regardless of the arrangement, I’d be upset, too.”

“I just didn’t expect it to be this way.” I drag a hand over my face. “God, I’m… I’m turning into my mother. Marrying some rich guy to secure a better life, but all that’s waiting for me is misery.”

My mother never made it sound like her marriage to my father was anything like that, but it was obvious to anyone with eyes. She came from a hard life in Oklahoma. My father offered stability, and she fell for him. While I was sure he liked the idea of her, he never loved her.

He didn’t even respect her. She died holding my hand, still believing the lie I told her that my father was on the way to see her, to say goodbye.

He was already done with her from the instant the doctors told him she had days left to live. My father, for as good as he was, was in the Maldives with one of his women when Mom passed.

Skylar reaches forward, takes my hand, and gives my knuckles a reassuring squeeze. “You are not your mother.”