Page 66 of The Score

Chapter 22

Bear

The old farmhouse is painted white wood on the outside, porch and all. Inside, the hardwood floor is a dark honey. All the walls are white, and thick door frames, the staircase, pillars, and other architectural details are dark wood. Parts of it are closed off to visitors, as they're admin and party prep offices, but we don't miss it. We're guided up to the second floor, until we reach a large bedroom suite. More white and old, burnished wood meet us. In this room, some small corners are also decorated with dark, flowery wallpaper.

"Very pretty," Pen says.

We thank the staff member. They point out that our phones and personal items, as well as a change of clothes, were provided by our family and friends but, otherwise, everything else is a gift from the venue. Including the handmade bathroom products and the candles littered all around the room.

They take their leave. I stare at the door as it closes, leaving Pen and I alone.

My… wife… turns in a circle, paying closer attention to the space.

"Oh my God." She strides to the large four-poster bed. "Did you see this?!"

I reach her in a few rushed steps.

She points at the white duvet with an accusatory finger. Rose petals take the shape of a heart.

She picks up petal by petal. "Howembarrassing."

I surround the bed. Something else caught my eye on a side table. "Why embarrassing?"

"Newsflash, Leon. Everyone thinks we're fucking each others' brains out right now."

I can't help it. I laugh. "That's not how I would go about it."

"Not… what?"

"The wedding night. It requiresseduction, or it's not special. So I would—"

It's only then that I stop myself. Many words too late.

"Nevermind." I shake my head. "Embarrassing, you said?"

"It's weird!" she insists, though I hear the mounting humor in her tone. "There are lots of people still working on the first floor. That's right below us! Not to say anything about the people still at the party! I wasn't prepared for any of this."

"Wait until you see what I just found." I take one glass, long bottle in one hand, and a small dark jar in the other.

"Feathers?!" Pen's eyes go wide.

I shake the small jar. "And chocolate body paint."

"Oh em geeeeee." She starts laughing.

I read the small script on the label. "Sugar free. No irritants. Safe for all body parts."

"Well, now I know what else to add to my sexy bucket list." She snorts, but goes back to laughing right away.

I go quiet. Without comment, I put both things right back where I found them.

Seems Pen also has one ofthosebucket lists, and I don't know what to do with the knowledge.

"Right." She clears her throat. "Oops. Anyway. I found the champagne. Want some?"

She strides to a bucket with ice and a bottle in the corner.

I shake my head. "I'm good."