Chapter 11
I didn't take it.
He chuckled.
"Don't worry, it's not poisoned. Just some candy I snagged from the wedding," he said.
I stared at the candy for a couple seconds, then eventually reached out and took it.
"Thanks," I said.
"You're a bridesmaid?" he asked.
I just went, "Yeah."
"You don't look too happy about it," he said.
I closed my hand around the candy.
"Why should a bridesmaid have to be happy?" I replied.
He paused, then let out a laugh.
"Fair enough," he said.
Someone was already calling out to him from a distance.
Someone waved at him and shouted, "Hurry up, all the groomsmen are here."
So he was a groomsman.
He raised his hand in response, then turned to glance at me.
"Go on, eat the candy," he said, a hint of a smirk on his lips.
"Trust me, you might need it later," he added, sounding almost mischievous.
And with that, he walked away.
I stood there, watching his figure disappear behind the trellis. Then I lowered my head, unwrapped the candy, and popped it into my mouth.
It was so sweet.
It was sweet enough to set my teeth on edge.
My phone buzzed as I turned to go back upstairs.
It was Richard.
The message was simple.
Richard: [Where are you]
It was his usual tone, and he hadn't bothered with punctuation.
I looked at them for two seconds and was putting the phone away when footsteps came up behind me.
"Stella," Richard called out.
I turned around.
Richard stood a few steps off in a black tuxedo cut to the millimeter, his shoulders hard, wearing the same look that put him above everyone in the room.
I saw through it anyway.
He looked exhausted.
There was a heaviness across his brow and a faint red webbing in his eyes.
The wedding had probably kept him from sleeping properly all week.
He checked my face before he frowned.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked.
"It's too crowded in there," I replied.
He didn't say anything, but his eyes flicked to the candy wrapper in my hand.
He paused, staring at it for a second.
"Where'd you get that?" he asked.
"Someone handed it to me," I replied.
His face instantly fell.
"Who?" he asked.
I looked at him and suddenly felt like laughing.
He was ready to hand me off to a groomsman, and here he was asking who had given me a piece of candy.
I smiled, eyes crinkling.
"One of your groomsmen.
"What? You told me to pick one out of that group."
Richard stared at me, and whatever he was holding down got heavier.
"Stella," he said.
I just kept smiling, my voice light as ever.
"I haven't forgotten," I said.
"I wouldn't dare forget anything you've arranged, Mr. Stanton," I added.
Richard stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly reached out and pulled me closer.
His grip wasn't rough, but there was no way I could break free.
He lowered his head, his thumb pressing lightly against my wrist, his voice low and commanding.
"Don't make a scene today," he said.
There it was again.
Something in my chest pulled tight while my face stayed where it was, and I looked up at him.
He was way too close.
I could smell him from where I stood.
It was still the cologne I had chosen for him, woody and cold up front, with a thin sweetness underneath at the end.
There was a time when I loved nothing better than breathing it in against his chest.
But now, all it did was leave a heaviness in my chest.
"I'm not making a scene," I said.
Richard stared at me, searching my face for a reaction.
But today, I was being way too obedient.
Today I was so composed, even he couldn't figure me out.
He stayed silent for a few seconds, and only then did he let go of my hand.
"Go inside," he said.
"The ceremony's about to start," he added.
I nodded and followed him inside.
As we reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at me.
"Did you have breakfast?" he asked.