Page 68 of On the Rocks

“This was always our plan, Dad,” Anthony said. “She’s perfect.”

A pause.

“I know,” Anthony said. “The way I see it, Ruby Grace will be more than happy to take on the community projects. It’ll be a good look for the campaign. And, hey.” He lowered his voice even more. “Having her tied up in all of that will leave me plenty of free time for a little fun on the side… know what I mean?”

He full-on laughed at that, and even from where I stood in the hallway, I could hear the gusto laugh of his father.

His father, who had kissed the back of my hand when we met and told me how beautiful I was, how smart I was, how lucky Anthony was to have me.

And it was all a show.

It was all a lie.

They need us to play our part, and we need Ruby Grace to play hers.

A sob broke through my throat before I felt it coming, and I clamped my hand over my mouth, squeezing my eyes shut to force the tears back in.

“I gotta go, Dad, I think she’s downstairs.” A chuckle. “Okay, I’ll call you later to discuss the speech.”

I needed to move. I needed to get away from Dad’s office, from Anthony, from this house and this entire town. But I couldn’t move. The hardwood floor was quicksand, sucking me in, making it impossible to take even one step.

Anthony rounded out of the office on a sigh, running one hand back through his hair before he paused, eyes lighting up at the sight of me. “Ah, there’s my beautiful wife-to-be. I was just coming to check on you.” He smiled, pulling the shell-shocked board of my body into him and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Need help with anything?”

I couldn’t speak.

I just stared at him, at his hazel eyes — the ones I’d lost myself in for hours over the last year — at his perfect blond hair, his perfectly sculpted body, his perfect Superman chin.

And here I was, his perfect little abiding bride-to-be.

Anthony frowned, searching my face. “Baby? Are you okay?”

My stomach rolled violently at the nickname, and I blinked several times, awareness flooding back. “I’m fine. I just almost fell trying to get the boxes with the centerpiece stuff downstairs. Could you help me with them?”

Anthony smiled, thumbing my chin before he kissed my nose. “Of course, my little do-it-all-by-herself. You should have just asked me in the first place.”

I faked the best smile I could, snaking my way out of his hold. “One of them is on the stairs. There are three more in my room. Can you load them into the car for me? I’m feeling a little lightheaded, think I need some water.”

Anthony swept my hair away from my face, still wearing that stupid, sympathetic smile. “Of course. You go hydrate and rest. I’ll be back.”

He walked me to the kitchen, pouring me a glass of water before he disappeared up the stairs to retrieve the first box. As soon as he was gone, I took my first inhale, gulping down the entire glass of water before refilling it.

My mind was spinning, heart racing, rib cage closing in on my lungs. Every second that passed, my hands shook more, and the tears I’d managed to hold back flooded my eyes over and over before I’d blink and clear them away.

“All set,” Anthony said, bounding back into the kitchen.

I didn’t realize how much time had passed. Everything felt like a dream.

“Want me to come help? I can take a break from work. It is Saturday, after all.”

“No,” I said quickly.

Anthony frowned.

I swallowed, shaking my head and forcing another smile as I placed my hands on his chest. I wanted to beat my fists on it, scream at him, cry and kick him out and throw the ring on my finger in his face.

But even in my frantic state, I knew that wasn’t the right thing to do.

I needed time. I needed space. I needed to think, to process, to figure out what to do.