Page 10 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

Our eyes meet for half a second. His smile falters.

“Katrina!” Fiona’s voice pulls me back. She pats the empty chair beside her. “You’ve finally joined us.”

I move toward the chair. “Yes. I’m so sorry I’m late, everybody. I, uh…” I sit down, heat creeping up my neck. “I overslept.”

“Damn,” Hayden says, leaning back in his chair. “And here I thought Marla’s party was gonna be the lame one.”

“My bachelor party wasnotlame,” Jonah fires back, shooting his older brother a glare.

“The girls are hungover.We’renot. I’d say that’s pretty lame, bro.”

Laughter rolls across the table, and I use the distraction to settle in, reaching for my napkin.

Fiona pats my hand. “Happy to see you,” she says warmly.

“Thanks.” I exhale, finally catching my breath as I unfold it. “You, too.”

“I ordered you an egg white omelet. Your favorite, right? Should be here any second now.”

“Oh.” I smile, touched as always by her thoughtfulness. Ever since I escaped my family, Mama Botsford has looked out for me in ways my own mother never did. “Thank you so much.”

She squeezes my hand before sweeping a matronly gaze over the table, making sure everyone has what they need before letting the conversation pull her in again. The Botsford boys are already onto another lively debate, their voices overlapping as they argue over something ridiculous, I bet.

But beside me, Addison is staring.

“Where were you?” she asks.

“Nowhere,” I say quickly.

“Nowhere?”

“My room. I was in my room.”

“No, you weren’t,” she says flatly. “Harvey and I banged on your door. You didn’t answer.”

“I was in the shower.”

“An hour ago?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes flick to my still-damp bun. “Why is your hair still wet?”

My mouth opens, but before I can stammer out some brittle excuse, Jonah rises to his feet. He taps his spoon against his flute of bright orange mimosa, clearing his throat.

“Everyone,” he says, his voice cutting through the chatter. Conversations fall silent. Heads turn. “Now that we’re all here, there’s something I want to say.”

“Oh, here we go,” Oliver quips.

“I know,” Jonah says, waving a hand as the others chuckle. “It’s gonna be a day full of toasts and speeches, but I promise we’ll get through it. Also, it’s my wedding day, and you all have to do what I want, so shut up.”

Knox raises his glass toward Kingston and Fiona. “Open bar will help,” he jokes.

Laughter ripples around the table as we all grab our drinks and lift them in silent agreement.

Jonah exhales, settling into his words. “I wanted to have this breakfast with all of you today because I consider every one of you family… and Hayden.”

“Wha—?” Hayden starts, but the rest of the table is already laughing at his expense.

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