Page 31 of Inconvenient Marriage
Adrian returns just as the two servers are clearing up the empty salad plates. He waves away his untouched dish, choosing instead to take a sip from the cooled coffee that his wife ordered for him before he mimics my pose, wrapping an arm around Loni.
I shoot him a look, trying to figure out where he’s been. He gives me an enigmatic smile before using his other hand to reach up, checking to see if the unlit cigarette is where he left it. It’s been almost a year since he’s quit. I know he didn’t sneak out to bum a smoke—not unless he wants to disappoint himselfandLoni—so where was he?
Before I can ask, Polly and her partner come back, serving our main courses. Only after we started making a dent in our meals does Loni nudge her husband with her elbow.
“Hey. Did you know that Annaliese is an event planner?”
She clears her throat. “I used to be.”
Adrian ignores her, all of his attention on his wife… like usual. “Of course I did, princess. So’s her mother.” Adrian glances across the table, nodding at Claudia Crawford. “You threw my mother’s fiftieth bash. A Hawaiian-themed luau about a year ago. It was excellent work.”
Claudia smiles warmly. “I did. Thank you, Adrian. How is she?”
Adrian covers up his snort with a wry grin. “She loved it so much, she’s spent half her time in Hawaii ever since. Dad, too. We saw them at Christmas. They’re alive and happy. That’s about all I know.”
“Alive and happy.” Claudia lifts her glass of red wine, a toast in mine and Annaliese’s direction. “If only that’s something we could all strive for.”
Murmurs of agreement break out through the table. Maman echoes the same sentiment in French before taking Dad’s hand, interlocking her fingers in his, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. For as far back as I can remember, they’ve had a contentious marriage; based on the way it began, and especially how young they were, it’s to be expected. Still, there’s no denying that they love each other.
Fuck. I want a love like that.
That’s what I want. To be sitting with Annaliese, twenty-five years down the line, smiling together and holding hands like newlyweds…
If Annaliese’s mother appearance is any hint to what my wife will look like in twenty-five years, I’m one lucky bastard. Her hair is short, cut to her chin, showing off her delicate features.Her eyes are the same shade as her daughter’s, and her skin is unlined. She’s an Order wife with a front-facing job. She probably is very friendly with the local medspas, but I couldn’t care less. She takes care of herself. Annaliese obviously does, too.
Yeah. I’m super fucking lucky—and I manage to hold onto that thought until we’ve finished our main course, waiting for the dessert Annaliese arranged in lieu of a cake, when Adrian clears his throat and gestures over his shoulder.
He’d been in the middle of talking to Annaliese and Loni about possibly hiring my wife to give Loni and Adrian the big wedding reception they never had. It wouldn’t be too soon. They seem to be thinking that it could be a big bash that celebrates their unionandLoni’s thirtieth birthday. That means it would be next June—not this one, but the one after it—which Annaliese agrees would be plenty of time for her to plan something outrageous.
Adrian controlled the conversation, but as though he was expecting this, he noticed the other man first. I follow the gesture, swallowing a curse when I see a last-minute guest standing anxiously in the doorway.
He’s in a suit. I guess I should be glad that he at least madesomeeffort.
Too bad he’s, like, two hours late.
I tap Annaliese’s shoulder, getting her attention. “Hey. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
“Um. Yeah. Of course.”
I trail my fingers down the sleeve of her dress. “Save me something sweet, would you?”
She flushes, just like I’d hoped she would. Then, regretfully climbing out of my seat, I walk away from her, heading toward our guest instead.
I grab his arm, jerking him to the far corner of the room. This way, I can still see the table behind me, but we have some semblance of privacy in case I need to kill him.
“Sorry. I know I’m late. Adrian called…” Adrian. Of course he did. “He told me to get my ass to Martino’s so I can at least congratulate you guys.” He glances around me, searching for something… or someone. “So, which one is she? Which lucky girl decided to join our fucked-up family?”
Don’t kill Alexandre, I tell myself. Maman and Dad won’t be happy, and I don’t want to ruin Annaliese’s hard work. So no murder, even if he really, really deserves it right now…
Look at him. His eyes are bloodshot. His tie crooked. He reeks of whiskey and smoke.
If he wasn’t my brother and this wasn’t my wedding reception, I’d at least slug him—and he’d deservethat.
Fisting my hands at my side so that I resist the urge to swing, I grit through my teeth, “You got wasted instead of going to my wedding?”
Alexandre was always the golden child. He never did anything wrong. Even when hedid, it somehow was my fault. No wonder I ended up doing everything I could to earn my rep.
But even I wouldn’t show up late to Alex’s wedding like this.
