Page 23 of My Big Fat Vampire Wedding

“S orry about this,” Pandora whispered to Victor as she rushed ahead of Elias, her best friend, and their endless bickering. “My mum invited Elias along, then Lucy volunteered to come so it wouldn’t be so awkward.”

Victor glanced over Pandora’s shoulder before suddenly sliding his arms around her, pulling her flush against him.

His hand rose, his fingers warm against her chilled cheek, before his lips softly landed on hers.

Logically, she knew it was just for show, that he wanted them to greet each other the way any happy, engaged couple might.

Either way, it wasn’t personal .

But the second his lips pressed against hers, she forgot all about that.

It certainly felt real, the way all the stress from the last few days fell immediately away, the way his arm slid around her lower back, pulling her more tightly against his body, the way his fingers slid from her cheek to cradling her jaw just under her ear.

It definitely felt real when he didn’t immediately break away, instead deepening the kiss until she felt her insides turn to mush as her arms went up to twine around his neck, holding him close as his lips pressed deeper and deeper.

Just when she felt like she was floating, his lips pulled away and his forehead rested against hers for a moment.

“I hope they were watching,” he said, voice raspy, making Pandora’s heart plummet.

It was an arrangement, for goodness’ sake, nothing more. She needed to stop projecting her feelings for Victor onto the situation at hand.

Speaking of hands, he slipped his in hers before turning to look at the others.

“Lucy. Elias,” he said, his tone a bit sharper as he greeted the other man.

“Hope you didn’t mind some company,” Elias said.

“Doesn’t seem like it would have mattered even if I did,” Victor said.

“Ophelia doesn’t seem to get the concept of third wheels,” Lucy said, shrugging apologetically.

“There are four of us,” Elias said.

“Because someone needed to tag along to keep an eye on you.” Lucy rolled her eyes at him as the four of them walked toward the restaurant.

It was a cozy little exposed-brick-wall establishment with warm, golden lighting and a menu offering a mix of British and American fare.

When Victor ordered a burger and chips, Pandora, not really caring what she ate, chose the same. While Elias analyzed the menu as if it was of the utmost importance that he pick the right meal. Despite not caring for food any more than Pandora did.

“For God’s sake. Just get him the same as me,” Lucy said, snatching the menu out of his hand and handing it to the server before Elias could object.

“What if I don’t like steak?” Elias asked.

Lucy shot back, “Everyone likes steak.”

There was a moment of awkward silence before Lucy – bless her – started talking about the dresses at the shop.

“Why didn’t you go to a different place if the shopkeeper was rude?” Victor asked, his arm casually draped across the back of Pandora’s chair. She was just barely managing not to lean back, to feel his arm against her.

“Oh, um …” Pandora’s mind went blank.

Lucy looked similarly blank.

It was Elias who managed to save the moment.

“Old family friend,” he said. “They’ve been going to that shop for lifetimes.”

If Victor thought that was a weird way to phrase it, he said nothing.

Though Pandora could tell something was bothering him, given the way his jaw had gone tight, a little muscle ticking there occasionally as Elias started talking about the dresses as well.

Then segued into the invitations, the possible menu.

“Let’s go powder our noses,” Lucy said, popping up out of her chair in the middle of Elias speaking, not caring how rude she was being.

She grabbed Pandora’s arm and dragged her along until they were in the bathroom. Lucy looked around, making sure they were alone, before letting out a loud growl.

“I can’t even think straight thanks to Lieutenant Lip Flap and his war on silence.”

Despite herself, Pandora couldn’t help but laugh, finding it loosened some of the tension she was holding on to.

“I think he’s doing it to goad Victor,” Pandora said. “To show how involved he is, while Victor … hasn’t been around.”

“You need to get some alone time with Victor again. Give him some reassurances,” Lucy said, digging in her handbag for her eyeliner. She leaned over the sink to get closer to the mirror as she lined her gorgeous golden eyes. Pandora decided not to ask her why she was putting in the effort.

“It’s a fake relationship,” Pandora said.

“Sure. Yeah. That kiss looked real fake.”

“He said afterward that he hoped you guys were watching.”

Lucy’s gaze slid across the mirror to Pandora’s reflection – since modern mirrors no longer had silver backings, vampires did reflect – watching her for a second, then letting out a sigh.

“What?” Pandora asked.

“I think you’re both dense,” she said, clipping the cap back on her eyeliner and tossing it into her bag with a flourish.

“What?” Pandora asked. “How so?”

“Because you are both very clearly into each other, but you keep insisting on the charade.”

“Well, the charade is worth a lot of money.”

“You two can still be into each other while pretending you’ve been into each other for a lot longer to sell the whole marriage thing,” Lucy said.

“I’m not going to lie. I really wish that was the case, Luce. But there’s been no sign of him genuinely having feelings for me. Guys who are into you don’t go no--contact for days. Hell, guys who want to acquire tons of pounds to get out of debt don’t avoid you for days.”

“Well, did you ask him what he was up to?” Lucy asked.

She had.

But he’d called before she could read his message.

Pandora reached for her mobile, swiping it open, then reading the text.

I was visiting my parents to tell them about the engagement.

“Oh,” she said, scrunching up her face as she turned the mobile for Lucy to read.

“See? Perfectly good reason.”

“But it would have been better to know that before, so I could tell my family. I’m sure everyone is wondering where he’s been.”

“Especially your awful cousin. Did you see the way she narrowed her eyes when you said you were going out with Victor after the fitting?”

“No,” Pandora said. “But I’ve been trying not to look at her.”

“I don’t trust her. I’d make sure she’s not slinking around eavesdropping at your door or stuff like that.”

“Yeah.” Pandora tried to flatten her hair. Having no luck, she turned away from the mirror and headed to the door. “We probably shouldn’t leave those two alone together for any longer than absolutely necessary.”

When they got back to the table, though, Elias was missing.

“Where’d he go?” Lucy asked, glancing around.

“Dunno. He was looking at something out the window, then just excused himself and left.”

“Love when the trash takes itself out. Maybe I can get the server to make my meal to go, so you two can get some time alone. Ugh,” she grumbled as Elias came striding back into the restaurant.

His hair was windswept and there was a hardness around his mouth that hadn’t been there a few minutes before.

“Thought we lost you,” Lucy said. “I was about to order a round of drinks to celebrate.”

To that, Elias gave Lucy a small smile as he sat back down.

“Saw someone I knew,” he said as Pandora took a sniff, wanting to see if she scented blood on him.

But there was nothing but his posh cologne.

“But we should order drinks regardless,” he said, flagging down the server and ordering a bottle of wine that certainly sounded expensive.

“My treat,” Elias said, as if sensing that everyone else at the table were on extremely tight budgets.

“I’m fine, thanks,” Victor said, trying to put his hand over his glass.

“I insist,” Elias said, grabbing the stem of the glass and pulling it away so he could fill it.

“So,” Lucy broke in, her voice loud. “How was your visit with your family, Victor?” Victor visibly relaxed, his arm sliding behind Pandora’s seat again. But this time, his fingers brushed her back.

“It went well. They’re excited to meet you,” he said, giving Pandora a smile. “And your family. They were very worried about our parents not having met yet, despite us being engaged.”

“Yes, strange, that,” Elias said, getting a hard elbow to the ribs from Lucy.

“Oops,” Lucy said, not sounding apologetic at all as she raised her glass to take a long swig.

“Well, we can get that arranged,” Pandora said, nodding. “My parents have nothing going on.”

They batted around dates until they found a few when neither had uni or work, and decided to speak to their parents about a meet-up.

All the while, whether he realized it or not, Victor’s fingers were toying with the ends of Pandora’s hair, making that warm sensation course through her once again.

The mood had lightened considerably. Until the bill came.

“Elias is paying,” Lucy said, cutting through the tension.

“It’s his penance for making us all endure his company.

” She gave him a sickly-sweet smile as he reached for his wallet and tossed far too much money into the bill folder before rising from his seat.

“And now, he’s going to get out of your hair by walking me to the Tube,” she said as Elias pulled her chair out for her.

“It is a huge sacrifice on my part to suffer his company for another minute. But that’s how much I love you two,” she said, giving them a wiggly finger-wave before turning and all but shoving Elias toward the door.

“Am I the only one picking up on something … strange between the two of them?” Victor asked as he rose and then waited for Pandora to do the same.

“No. There’s definitely something weird going on there. They’re annoyed by breathing the same air, it seems,” Pandora told him as they moved outside.