Sarah
I brace myself for his refusal.
"Alright," Matthew says instead, holding his palm out to me.
I blink up at him, certain I misheard him.
"Well?" he asks. "Do you want to dance or not?"
I slide my fingers into his. His grip is firm and warm. I let him lead me onto the dance floor, my heart hammering far harder than it should.
We have done this before—danced together, that is. But tonight, it feels different than it did in the past.
Matthew places a hand on my waist, his touch light. I rest mine on his shoulder, trying not to think about how solid he feels beneath my fingertips.
The music plays around us, slow and soft. We sway together, moving in time with the melody.
I know he doesn't want to be here with me. But he is here, and I will savor this moment.
I let myself sink into the music, into the warmth of his hand against my waist. It's foolish, I know. But for once, I don't care.
Matthew is quiet as we move. His grip is steady, his movements precise.
I glance up at him, studying the sharp angles of his face. The candlelight casts shadows across his jawline, making him look almost… softer. Less like the man who fights me at every turn and more like someone I could—
I stop the thought before it can take root.
"This isn't so bad, is it?" I ask, keeping my voice light.
His gaze flicks down to me, his lips curling slightly. "Depends. Are you going to step on my feet?"
I giggle, surprised at his light tone. "I'm a perfectly good dancer, thank you."
He hums in response, his grip tightening just slightly, guiding me through a slow turn.
The motion startles me, and I grip his shoulder a little harder. When I settle back into place, I find him watching me closely.
"Are you enjoying our last night in paradise?" he asks.
I swallow and say, "Yes." I press against him some more.
Matthew pulls away after the music fades.
"That's enough for tonight," he says, his voice low.
I nod, pretending my chest isn't aching in the strangest way.
"Yeah," I murmur. "Enough for tonight."
We go back to our table. Matthew pulls the chair for me, and I sit back down.
"Let's go get some food now," he suggests, pointing at the buffet table.
I nod, trying to steady myself as I rise again. The warmth of his hand lingers on my waist, but I push the thought aside.
We walk toward the buffet table, the rich aroma of grilled meats and spiced dishes filling the air.
"What do you want?" he asks.
I scan the options, suddenly feeling indecisive. "I don't know. Want me to fill a plate for you?"
"I can do it myself," he says curtly.
Fine then.
I grab a plate and fill it with a little of everything: roasted chicken, stuffed mushrooms, and crispy bread rolls.
We walk back to our table in silence.
I sit down first, watching as Matthew sets his plate in front of him and slumps against the chair. His eyes flick up to me, catching me staring.
"Something on my face?" he asks, his tone neutral, but there's an underlying challenge in his gaze.
I blink, shaking my head. "No."
"You were staring," he presses.
"I am not! I am looking behind you," I argue.
Matthew raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. Behind me, right," he says, his voice dripping with skepticism. He takes a bite of his food, leaning back slightly. "And what exactly are you looking at behind me?"
I quickly glance over his shoulder, pretending to study the room behind him. "Just… the decorations," I say, my voice coming out more defensive than I intended. "They're kind of over the top, don't you think?"
Matthew smirks, clearly not buying my explanation. "They took the romance theme pretty seriously." He takes another bite of his food, but his eyes stay fixed on me.
I try to focus on my plate, picking at the food in front of me, but Matthew's gaze is relentless. I can't seem to shake the feeling that he's enjoying this—teasing me.
"It suits you," he suddenly says.
I look at him questioningly. "What does."
"The hairpin," he says and looks away as if he is now embarrassed about what he just said.
I blink, caught off guard by his words. I absentmindedly touch it, my heart swelling again. This was an unexpected gift from him, and it's something I will cherish forever.
"I thought it would look good on you. I was right." His tone is quiet and grim, as if complimenting me makes him uncomfortable.
"Thank you for giving it to me. It means a lot," I say after a moment, my voice sounding a little breathless. I can feel my cheeks warming.
Matthew's eyes flick to mine briefly before he looks back down at his plate. "You're welcome," he mutters.
The rest of the evening passes in a blur. Matthew and I make small talk, awkward but not unbearable.
"Get some sleep," he says after we go back to our room.
I nod. We have an early flight tomorrow, so we can go home and go back to our normal lives.
Normal lives…the thought terrifies me.
During our honeymoon, we managed to escape some of the tension between us. However, once we return home, Matthew will resume his hurtful behavior towards me at every opportunity. I just know it.
~-~
As Matthew pulls into the driveway, I am greeted by the familiar sight of our home. I breathe a sigh of relief, but I feel a knot in my stomach that I can't shake. I glance at Matthew, who remains quiet as usual, his jaw set in a way that makes me nervous.
I look at the driveway and see an unfamiliar car parked near the garage—a sleek black sedan I don't recognize.
"Who's here?" I ask.
Matthew looks at the car, and I can see the shift in his posture. It's subtle, but I catch it. He looks worried.
"I don't know," he says.
He opens the car door and steps out, and I follow.
My heart leaps into my throat as a familiar figure stands in front of us once Matthew opens the door.
"Josh?" I gasp, my eyes widening in disbelief.
There, standing before me with a huge grin on his face, is my childhood best friend. He looks just like I remember—tall and lean, with tousled brown hair and warm brown eyes that always seem to be laughing.
"Surprise!" Josh exclaims, spreading his arms wide.
I let out a surprised laugh, joy bubbling up inside me. I drop my bags and run to him, throwing my arms around his neck in a tight hug.
"Josh! I can't believe you are here!" I say as I pull back to look at him. "What are you doing at our house? How did you get in?"
Josh's grin widens. "Marishka, let me in. I just moved back here from Paris, and I wanted to welcome you back from your honeymoon. It's been way too long since I've seen you."
I beam at him, my earlier trepidation melting away in the warmth of his presence. "I've missed you so much," I tell him earnestly.
"Ahem."
I hear Matthew clearing his throat, so I spin around to face him. He had been staring at our exchange intently, his blue eyes narrowed.