Mia Like Crazy (13 page)

As the judge began speaking, I tried to will myself to lift my head and look at my groom, but I couldn’t do it. I was afraid. Afraid he’d know this meant so much more than the money to me. Afraid I wouldn’t see the same sentiment reflected in his gaze.

After an eternity, came the time for us to recite our vows. I wasn’t sure if I could speak. The judge directed us to join hands, and when I felt Drew’s warm touch, I looked up into his face. I knew my hands were icy cold and trembling in his, but he managed to appear completely calm.

However, as he began repeating his vows, his expression changed. He seemed to forget about everyone else who’d congregated in Meridith’s garden, and he looked at me with such intensity and sincerity as he spoke, my heart squeezed in my chest. “I, Jonathan Drew Larson take you, Mia Loren Medina to be my lawfully wedded wife…” His hold on my fingers tightened, “to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others ‘til death do us part.”

When it was my turn to repeat the judge’s words, I was delayed a few seconds by the lump forming in my throat. I saw Drew’s eyes widen in alarm, so I cleared my throat and repeated the same vows he had said a few seconds before.

“By the power vested in me…”

For the first time, it hit me that Drew and I would be expected to kiss at the end of the ceremony. If we didn’t, it would certainly raise suspicion. If he couldn’t, it would surely break my heart.

“You may kiss the bride.”

As I watched, Drew took on a determined expression as if he were going into battle. His hands moved to the sides of my face as he lowered his head and placed his slightly open lips on mine.

I had the feeling this was all he’d intended to do, but he lingered and the kiss grew softer, then more intense. When his hand cupped the back of my head and his tongue pressed into my mouth, I felt his hunger so deep inside me, my legs actually grew weak.

He must have sensed it because his other hand moved to my back and pulled my body tightly against his. I was sure his groan wasn’t audible to anyone else, but I felt its vibration in my chest, as if it were my own. And, as my hands traveled up his arms and weaved their way through his hair, there was no doubt in my mind that this was only the beginning of what I needed from Drew Larson.

The music began playing for our exit, and we were forced back to reality. He loosened his hold on me and helped me turn around to face the sea of strangers who had just witnessed the most intimate moment we’d ever shared. I felt his hand on my back as we walked down the aisle and into Meridith’s living room.

The photographer immediately took possession of us and annoyed Drew for several minutes by insisting on all the usual pictures. The biggest challenge came when it was time to take the family photo with Drew, Meridith, Molly, and me—“the three M’s,” as the photographer kept calling us—and Ben. Ben wanted Charlie in the picture, but neither of them could stand still long enough to have it taken.

With the task finally completed, Meridith began introducing me to a series of old friends, board members, and business acquaintances, all of whom were obviously there out of respect for Meridith, in spite of her brother. Everyone was polite, as they told me I looked beautiful, and complimented Meridith on the lovely wedding she had created.

Drew had retreated to a corner to entertain the kids, but glanced up periodically to determine whether or not we had stayed long enough. Finally, Meridith gave the signal, and his ordeal was over. We escaped into the waiting limousine.

“Well, I didn’t think it was possible, but your sister managed to give us quite a wedding.” I adjusted the bottom of my skirt to make sure it wouldn’t get caught in the door as the driver shut it.

“Yeah, it would have been better if she could’ve left the stiffs out of it.”

“It was
a shock walking out into all those strangers, but I guess you’re supposed to have a crowd at a wedding. I kept wondering why Meridith was bothering with all the fancy hair and makeup just for us.”

“You look like three million bucks.”

He sounded as if he was offering a sincere compliment, but I didn’t like being reminded of the practical reason for our wedding. I wanted to feel like a bona fide bride for a while longer.

We arrived at the apartment as the sun was setting.

“Have you seen the sunset from the balcony?” Drew asked so casually I wasn’t sure if it was a romantic gesture, or in the interest of science. He did win the science fair, after all.

“We have a balcony?”

It turned out there were two balconies. He said one was off his bedroom, but the one best suited for sunset viewing was off the room he’d proposed as my office. He brought out two glasses of wine as I marveled at the brilliant colors streaking the sky. I noticed he was even more handsome in this setting than he had been in Meridith’s garden.

“Have I told you, you look extraordinarily handsome today?”

“That’s just the wine talking,” Drew answered without a smile.

He can’t accept a compliment.
“So what do we do for the next six months?” I asked, hoping for some tantalizing suggestions.

“Whatever you want. You didn’t bring a lot of clothes. You could shop. We can set up your office. Whatever you want.”

“Or maybe we’ll think of
other
things to do,” I hinted obviously, as I moved closer to him.

He moved back. “I’m beat. I’m gonna have to turn in.” He stepped quickly off the balcony and through the “office.”

As it sunk in that I’d been ditched by my husband on my wedding night, the rejection and disappointment fell over me like a cold, wet blanket. I didn’t think I’d ever looked better in my life. Although I’d practically thrown myself at him, he hadn’t shown any interest at all.

After retreating to my room, I took down my hair and was going to take off my wedding dress, but soon realized the tiny covered buttons down the back would make that impossible. I needed the help of the only other person in the apartment.

Putting aside the humiliation of a few minutes before, I walked down the hall to Drew’s room. I was surprised to see the door wasn’t completely closed, since it normally stayed closed all the time. I nudged it with my fingertips and it moved noiselessly until I could see through a one-inch crack.

The difference between this room and the rest of the house was startling. There were none of Meridith’s warm colors or cozy fabrics, only black and white. It was perfect, in a way, orderly, symmetrical, and extremely clean, but I was sure most hospital rooms would be more inviting. In fact, it crossed my mind that if a decorator was given the assignment to design a room which would evoke no emotion whatsoever, this would be the result.

When I saw him, I noted he was still dressed as he had been all day, except his bowtie was now undone and hanging loose around his neck. Matching perfectly with the rest of the room, he was lying on the black comforter with his hands clasped behind his head in a position that, for other people, would be relaxing. Yet, somehow, he didn’t seem relaxed. My eyes traveled down his body and I discovered he hadn’t even removed his shoes. Then it dawned on me that I’d been sleeping in this apartment for nearly a week, and had never seen Drew out of his suit.

I couldn’t resist the temptation to try to startle him. I pushed the door open and said, “Don’t you own a pair of pajamas?”

“Yeah, there are some in the top drawer. Why? Do you want to borrow them?” He didn’t seem ruffled in the least by my surprise entrance. He hadn’t moved a muscle when I pushed the
doo
r open and when he answered me
,
it was as if we were already in the middle of a conversation.

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea, but it’s not why I came. I’m trapped.”

“Gee, and we just got married a few hours ago,” he said dryly.

“I mean, in this dress. I have buttons running all the way down my back.” He didn’t move, so I tried again. “It’s too tight to spend the night in. Could you help me out?”

He sat up on the bed as I walked toward him, feeling insulted, since he didn’t look too pleased about the task I was giving him. I sat down and turned my back to him. Nothing happened for several seconds. I closed my eyes in anticipation of his touch. Finally, I felt him sweep my hair gently off my back and onto my shoulder. My breath caught as his fingers brushed the hairs at the nape of my neck.

One by one, the buttons were released. He worked slowly and meticulously, first at my neck, then, my upper back. I was glad Meridith had insisted I buy some “absolutely exquisite” lingerie to wear under my dress, not that it was likely to impress Drew.

He was only a man, though. He wasn’t made of stone. I decided to see if I could get any reaction at all out of him.

“This could take a while,” I said. “Mind if I lie down while you finish?”

I didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, I stretched myself out on my stomach and wrapped my arms around his pillow, turning my face so I was looking back at him over my shoulder.

His expression revealed nothing. Silently, he returned to his task. He got more excited over cooking than he did over a woman getting naked on his bed. I wondered if he would prefer me on the kitchen counter.

“Okay, you’re out of bondage,” he said without a hint of humor in his voice. “I’ll get you those pajamas.”

“Great.”

I’d used the long wait to formulate a plan. While his back was turned, I stood up and wiggled out of the dress, so I was clad only in my lacy bra and panties. But Drew conducted his maneuver with equal skill. Before I knew it, he straightened, turned only slightly in my direction and tossed the pajamas to me like I was a teammate in a locker room. They hit me squarely in the face and, when they fell away, he was gone.

I couldn’t believe what had happened. Never in my life had I gone to such lengths to get a man’s attention. Come to think of it, I’d never had to go to any lengths at all. Men were always interested. Typically, the question had been whether I was interested in
them
.

What a lesson in humility. I slipped into the pajama top he had hurled at me and nearly ran back to my own room. I closed and locked my door, as if it would block out the hurt and embarrassment.

As I lay in bed, I replayed the last week in my mind. Had I imagined Drew’s interest in me? Had he been pretending in order to get me to agree to marry him? If he had been faking it, why would he stop now when he still needed me for six more months? Even assuming he didn’t have any real feelings for me, what man would ignore a woman practically naked in his room?

Throughout the night, I felt alternately angry, frustrated, and lonely. At midnight, I got up and unlocked my door, in case he had second thoughts. I climbed back in bed and thought about how ridiculous I was acting over this man. Why him? Why now?

I finally dozed off around three, dreaming of a handsome man in a tuxedo kissing me on the balcony.

Chapter Nine

I awoke at 8:00 a.m. and couldn’t go back to sleep, even though I was physically and emotionally exhausted. I got into the shower out of habit, but when I was drying my hair, the thought hit me that, for the first time since I could remember, I had nothing to get ready for. I had no job or classes to attend, the wedding was over, and my new husband had no interest in me. What was I going to do with myself?

After donning a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, I wandered downstairs. Drew stuck his head out of the kitchen door. “Oh, good, you’re up. Breakfast is almost ready,” he said nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t completely rejected me the night before.

“Great,” I replied unenthusiastically.

I didn’t bother to go in and try to help this time. I plopped down in one of the dining chairs, placed my elbows on the table and covered my face with my hands. Wondering if I would feel any less dejected this morning if I’d gotten more sleep, I squeezed my eyes tightly shut and opened them again. For some unknown reason, I repeated the movement several more times. I didn’t ever remember going through this ritual before, and wondered if it was something people started doing when they were losing their minds.