“Ernest, don't get the wrong idea.”
“Cecily just doesn't want everyone tomorrow making jokes about an empty box.”
“A full, unopened one sitting here actually proves nothing happened between us.”
Proving her innocence again.
They shared one room, to prove her innocence.
Now she wanted me to go buy that, also to prove her innocence.
Cecily saw that I wasn't moving, and her face went cold.
“Ernest, don't make a scene here.”
“Roy is already embarrassed enough.”
Roy said in a low voice,
“Let it go, Cecily.”
“Ernest must think I'm shameless.”
Cecily's eyes snapped to me at once.
“Apologize.”
My fingertips curled tighter, one by one.
“You want me to apologize to him?”
“Yes.”
Her voice held not a trace of warmth.
“He's your brother, and he only agreed to play this game for your sake.”
“Now you humiliate him like this. Shouldn't you apologize?”
I looked at Roy.
His head was down, his fingers gripping the edge of his bathrobe.
But for one instant, the corner of his mouth curved, ever so faintly.
Like a smile.
All at once, the fight drained out of me.
“Fine.”
Cecily's expression softened a little.
She thought I'd finally backed down.
Instead, I turned and walked toward the door.
“I'll go buy it.”
I stepped into the elevator.
The mirrored wall threw back my face. Pale, humiliated, numb.
I didn't go to the vending kiosk.
I went back up to the penthouse.
Marina was still sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window.
When she saw me come back empty-handed, she raised an eyebrow.
I sat down on the sofa, and a bone-deep exhaustion settled over me.
“Marina.”
“You said earlier the Gilberts were willing to put up more than the Hensons. Does that still stand?”
She looked over at me.
“It stands.”
I lifted my head, my voice quiet.
“Good. Then when do we sign the marriage license?”
Ten o'clock the next morning, outside the marriage registry.
Cecily and Roy got out of the car, one after the other.
A few of the friends from last night had come along too.
The moment they saw me standing at the door, they broke into grins.
“Ernest, here so early?”
“Last night you talked tough, said you didn't want to sign. And here you are, showing up like a good boy.”
Roy lightly waved them off.
“Don't talk about Ernest like that.”
“It's perfectly normal for a man to look forward to signing the license.”
He turned to me, his smile gentle.
“Ernest, let last night stay in the past.”
“From now on, you and Cecily should have a good life together.”
“I'll keep my distance, so you won't get the wrong idea.”
It sounded so nice.
If his hand hadn't still been resting on Cecily's wrist,
I might almost have believed him.
Cecily reached out a hand toward me.
“Ernest, let's go. I told you I'd marry you.”
I glanced down at the red booklet in my hand.
“Who said I came here to sign with you?”
Cecily's face changed.
“What are you talking about?”
The next second, a black Cullinan pulled up at the curb.
The door opened.
Marina stepped out and slipped her arm through mine, easy as anything.
Then she raised her hand and held up two marriage certificates right in front of Cecily.
Red, glaring red.
Marina's lips curved.
“Miss Henson.”
“You're too late.”
“Ernest is my husband now.”
