VANESSA BELMONT
I did not, in fact, injure anyone while throwing darts at inflated balloons. Neither did I pop any. But I still got a little pink bear as a prize. Grace was really good at the game and won a teddy bear ten times the size of mine.
I was better at ring toss, and Grace sucked at it. Her irritation with sucking was funnier by the second. By the time we hit the shooting ducks game, we were three margaritas in and found everything we did hilarious.
"I've been looking for you all over," said Ollie as he joined us. "Look who's here!" Next to him was Carver Haynes looking particularly delicious in a T-shirt and swim trunks.
"You wanna eat?" asked Carver in a smoky voice. His gaze held an interest that might well make the pants fall off of other females. Mine stayed on firmly, thank you. Still, I blushed. I didn't want to, but I had to admit I was looking at my middle-school crush with drool at the corners of my mouth. Was a 12-pack of abdominal muscles a thing? Because I was pretty sure Carver's was a 12-pack.
Ollie leaned in and said, "By the way, he's here because I invited him specifically. I'm taking bets on whether or not one of Nathan's forehead veins burst from jealous anger."
"I'll take a piece of that," said Grace.
"Me, too," said Carver. "I think a head explosion is imminent."
"You guys are mean." I slapped Ollie on the shoulder. "Put me down for a hundred bucks. He'll stay so cool his forehead freezes."
Carver took the seat next to mine and lifted the toy rifle. "How many ducks have you gotten?"
"Zero," I said. "Grace? Did you shoot any?"
"I'm an animal lover," she said. "I missed them all on purpose."
We giggled.
Carver proceeded to take down every duck he aimed at and asked for two purple giraffes as prizes. He handed one to each of us. "I think you ladies need a non-alcoholic drink."
He led us to a beverage booth and handed us bottles of water.
"I don't want to be sober," complained Grace. "Drunk is more fun."
Ollie grinned. "What if I told you that if you drink this whole bottle, you can run around with water pistols and shoot people?"
Carver laughed. "I'm not missing that."
"I'm in!" I yelled.
"If it's not a duck, I can probably hit it," said Grace. "I'm in, too."
We banged our plastic water bottles together, and then drank.
***|***|***|***|***
VANESSA BELMONT
Two sections of yard had been divvied up for water fights—one for the kids and one for adults. The blasters were huge and held enough water to soak adults to their shoes.
I kicked off my sandals somewhere near a pile of haystacks used for duck-and-cover. My entire person was wet because Grace, Carver, and Ollie were way better at water fights than I was. But now I was creeping up behind Carver, and BLAM! I nailed him the back.
He whirled around and aimed at me, pumping the blaster as he splattered me relentlessly. Ollie appeared out of nowhere and joined Carver's attempt to drown me.
"Grace!" I yelled. "Help!"
"To the rescue," she cried as ran past me and sprayed water across Carver's midsection. He dramatically stumbled backwards, gun flying in the air, as he landed on a haystack and pretended to die.
Grace, Ollie and I had no mercy. We blasted him with the last of the water in our guns before we collapsed next to him.
"You two are cruel," said Carver.
"You mean we're awesome," corrected Grace. "Hey, you wanna go throw ourselves in the pool?"
"Might as well," said Carver. He jumped up and grabbed Grace and I, hauling us upright. Ollie groaned as he rolled onto his knees and staggered to his feet. Carver put an arm around each of us, Ollie wrapped his arm around my waist.
Laughing, we headed out of the danger zone and to the swimming pool.
***|***|***|***|***
NATHAN JANG
While Fiona went to the restroom, I decided to track down Vanessa. I was surprised she hadn't tried to find me. She used to pop up anywhere I was, and stuck to me like she'd been Superglued to my side. That kind of relentlessness had soured me to her presence.
Now, she seemed to be purposely avoiding me. I don't know why I felt so irritated. All I could think about for the last twenty-four hours was Vanessa's sweet mouth on mine. I wanted to peel off that lingerie with my teeth, and worship her body. Had she not felt the way I did that night in the hotel room?
You mean the night you left her alone to go to Fiona, reminded my conscience. Guilt twisted my gut. Contract marriage or not, abandoning my soon-to-be wife had been a bad decision. Vanessa's words echoed in my mind: You're rushing off to take care of another woman. You've made your choice.
I heard a playful scream and followed it to the water-fight field for adults. I watched Vanessa blast Carver Haynes with water. When he turned around and fired back, Ollie popped out from behind a haystack to spray Vanessa.
Then Grace Witherstone jumped into the fray. Both Vanessa and Grace drilled into Carver as he fell onto a pile of haystacks and pretended to die. The ladies dropped their guns and collapsed on either side of him.
They were laughing so hard, and having so much fun, and I couldn't stand it. I clenched my fists, and thought about all the times I'd been dismissive to Vanessa. Cold and polite to the woman I planned to marry. You're an asshole, Jang.
I watched as Carver put his arms around both women and Ollie took Vanessa around the waist. They headed toward the pool area.
A pair of black sandals snagged my attention and I realized they belonged to Vanessa. I ran across the field and picked them up by the back straps.
"Brother Nathan!" Fiona walked toward me, smiling. She grasped my forearm. "Were you waiting for me?"
Not really. I tried to shake off her grip, but she clung to me, her eyes wide with innocence and her smile beatific. Every time you let her grab your arm or take your hand and call you 'brother' is permission. Vanessa's voice echoed in my mind, and I felt guilt squeeze my heart.
"Let go of me," I told Fiona.
Hurt filled her expression as she released my arm. "What's wrong, brother?"
"I'm engaged to Vanessa. People might get the wrong impression if they see you holding onto me."
"You've never said anything before."
"I should have."
Fiona frowned. "It's a contract marriage. You two don't have an emotional foundation. Besides, I know you love me."
"Like a sister," I said, alarmed at her possessive tone. "The reason I'm marrying Vanessa is irrelevant. She will be the mistress of the Jang family. My wife. There won't be any other women."
"I don't want to make trouble for you," she said. She dropped her gaze. "Vanessa's not even paying attention to you. She's hanging out with Carver Haynes. If you're giving her face, why isn't she doing the same?"