Page 57 of Breaking Point

“I reserved a private table for lunch. Just upstairs.”

I follow her up the winding staircase that opens to a terrace of spacious tables overlooking the grand ballroom. A large table is tucked away in the corner, already set with drinks and food.

A waiter arrives to take our orders, and I pull out my planner with a fresh page for notes as I clear my throat and look between them. “So, tell me everything! How did you meet? Where are you thinking for a venue? Do you have a date in mind?”

“Well,” Aleks sighs, gazing at her with adoration in his eyes.

“We met at a bar of all places. He was on the way to some corporate gala, and I-“ Sofia begins, smiling. “Well, I just needed a drink. We hit it off, and we’ve been close ever since.”

I’ve heard this same story about a hundred times, but it doesn’t stop my smile from forming.

“We’ve been more than close,” he amends. “She’s had me wrapped around her finger since the moment I met her, and I only recently had the balls to finally ask her. We haven’t made it public, obviously. But we figured we’d confer with you… and see where it goes from here.”

I clear my throat, afraid to voice the question on the tip of my tongue. “Does… Do Skar and Charlotte know?”

“Of course!” Sofia huffs a laugh, and it’s clear that she and Aleks have at least discussed the fact that there might be some tension. “They offered to fund everything actually. Which neither of us was expecting… I think they just approve!”

I nod, jotting down a few notes before I look between them again. “Let’s talk about the wedding date then.”

“Next summer” Aleks says at the same time Sofia says, “As soon as possible.”

They laugh between themselves before Sofia amends. “We haven’t nailed anything down yet.”

“I can plan for late summer, early fall next year?”

Aleks gazes at her again, nodding. “I think I’d like a fall wedding.”

“It’s a popular time of year.”

Sofia glances lovingly at him. “There’s the All Saints chapel. I know it would be hard to do since they rarely host, but I think I’d love to get married beneath the stained glass cathedral.”

“I can work some magic and see if we can make that happen,” I say smiling. “Let’s talk color schemes, dress ideas-“

“Red!” Sofia blurts just as soon as Aleks says “We haven’t talked about anything yet.”

They share another look and Sofia finally sighs. “Sorry. We’ve both been a bit busy. I think we’re both fairly open. But…” she looks to him to see if he agrees before continuing. “We were hoping you might have some ideas?”

It’s not often that my opinion holds much merit in conversation like these. I can’t say I’m all that prepared for the question.

“Red can be good,” I start. “But green has always been one of my favorites.”

Our food arrives, and we spend the next hour or two discussing potential ideas in between food and drink.

Sofia and Aleks bicker a bit, but with the secretive glances and the easy magnetism between them, I know this wedding will be the next talk of the season.

I only hope that with everything that’s happened lately, I’m able to give them the wedding they dream of.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Olivia

Crew is cooking dinner when we get home. Something spiced and savory lingers on the air as he and Taylor exchange shifts for the evening.

I drop my coat against the counter as Taylor waves goodbye, but I’m already stumbling toward the tea cabinet. Crew pauses the music he’d been listening to, shoving his phone in his pocket as he leans against the counter and eats.

Despite not eating much at the hotel, I’m not hungry, and I’m glad that he doesn’t offer any of the extra food like he usually does. Instead, he just prepares a leftover container as my water finishes boiling and I add it to my tea mug.

I stir in a spoonful of honey before cautiously slurping the liquid. Warmth settles in my belly, and I sigh, my limbs relaxing.

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