Page 64 of Committed to You

Piper sent me a picture of her dress and the designer and color. I can already imagine Vivian in it.

When I get inside, I show the clerk the picture, and they quickly pull a tux that will coordinate. The tailor says he can’t get it fitted for a week, and I plop a thousand dollars cash on the table. “I’m in the doghouse and desperate. Is there any way you can fit me in, and you can keep this as your rush fee?”

He looks at the money. “You must really be in the doghouse.”

“I need to get out of it. Will you help me? Please?”

He picks up the cash and puts it in his pocket then points to the dressing room. “Go put it on.”

After the tailor pins the tux everywhere, he tells me to come back in three hours, so I go over to Charlotte’s. She’s known Vivian the longest, and they are the closest.

She’s still recovering, but it’s been four days, and she’s doing well. As Xander fills me in on Charlotte’s recovery, she comes out of the bedroom.

“Chase. What are you doing here?” She wrinkles her brow.

“I’m surprising Vivian and hopefully taking her to the awards gala tonight.”

Charlotte folds her arms across her chest, scowling at me. “She isn’t going to be one of your girls, Chase.”

“I know. I don’t have any girls anymore. I only want Vivian.”

“If you cheat on her—”

I cut her off. Throwing my hands in the air, I say, “I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a cheater.”

“He’s not,” Xander sticks up for me.

Charlotte looks at him in surprise.

“He’s not,” Xander sternly tells her again.

Slowly, Charlotte faces me. “Okay, good.”

“Can we talk?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. Please.” Charlotte motions to the couch.

I sit down and start tapping my finger on my thigh.

Charlotte sits in an armchair across from me. “What do you want to talk about?”

“You’ve known Vivian the longest, correct?”

“Yes.”

“I’m assuming you know her parents?”

“Of course. I lived with them when I was eighteen.”

What? “You did?”

She nods. “Yes.”

“What are they like?”

“They are like Vivian. Humble. Hard-working. Honest. Kind. Generous. Respectful. Why do you ask?”

“Noah said they are coming to the event tonight, and I wanted to know what I can talk to them about so I don’t screw it up.”

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