Page 204 of Champagne Nights

“Good. I guess.”

“You guess?” His brow raised.

“Kirsten is mostly handling everything.”

“How are things between the two of you?”

“Fine. Why?”

“It just seemed like the last couple of times the two of you were over, you seemed distant. You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

All I wanted to do was tell him that I didn’t love her and that marrying her would be the biggest mistake of my life, but I couldn’t.

“No. Why would you ask that?”

He shrugged. “I’m just making sure. She’s a good woman, and she comes from a good family. A well-respected family.

“I know, Dad.”

He got up from his chair and headed towards the door.

“Your sister is coming home Friday from college for the summer, and your mother is having a barbeque on Saturday with a few friends. I expect you and Kirsten will be there.”

“I will be. Kirsten is going out of town with her mom for the weekend.”

“I see. I’ll talk to you later, son.”

I sighed as I leaned back in my chair and placed my hands behind my head. As I was pondering my thoughts, my phone chimed with a text message from Christian, letting me know he was downstairs. A smile crossed my lips as I got up from my seat, grabbed my suitcoat, and headed down to the lobby. When I climbed into the back of the car, Ellie smiled at me.

“Hi,” I signed as the corners of my mouth curved upward.

“Hi.” Her grin widened, making her even more beautiful than she already was.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out some cash.

“Thank you again,” she signed with one hand.

I took the cash from her, folded it up, and placed it back in her hand, closing her fingers around it.

“I don’t want you to pay me back. It was my gift to you. Having lunch with me is repayment enough,” I spoke.

She shook her head as she tried to give me the money back.

“Keep it, Ellie. I don’t want your money.”

She cocked her head and then placed the money back in her purse.

“At least let me buy lunch for you,” she signed.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” I signed back.

“You’re a very stubborn man, Henry.”

I let out a chuckle. “I know I am.”

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