Page 72 of Committed to You

“Oh, sorry. Mama, Páppa, this is Chase,” Vivian tells them.

Vivian’s mother frowns. “New York?”

She nods, and I worry again about what she might have told them about me, but Piper’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Oh my gosh, girl, you look amazing.” I never thought I would be so happy to see Piper.

Quinn and Jamison arrive just as Noah is being introduced to Vivian’s parents. Charlotte and Xander arrive next.

“Charlotte! You’re here!” Vivian’s eyes fill with tears, and she goes to hug her.

Charlotte holds up her hands. “No hugs! My shoulder isn’t the best yet.”

“Are you in pain? You don’t need to be here if you are.” Vivian seems worried.

Charlotte smiles. “I’m okay. I wouldn’t miss you getting your award.”

Everyone makes small talk. I try to calm my nerves and think of something to say to Vivian’s parents so they’ll like me, but I’m speechless.

Noah steps next to me. “Chase, come get drinks with me?”

I’m relieved to be doing something. We take everyone’s drink orders, and Xander and Jamison follow us to the bar.

“You need to breathe, man,” Noah tells me.

“Her mother called me Mr. New York. I don’t know what she told them about us.”

Xander pats me on the back. “Relax, Chase. Charlotte said her parents are awesome.”

“I’m sure they are, but what if she told them everything?”

“Don’t go there. Focus on making sure Vivian has a good time, and, if she did, deal with that a different day,” Jamison instructs.

I let out a big breath.He’s right. I need to focus on Vivian.We grab our drinks and return. Vivian is talking to Dawn. I hand her a glass of champagne.

“I have to go see the mayor. Come with me?” she asks.

“Sure.”

“This is Dawn from Sensecare, the nonprofit that oversees the Initiative.”

Dawn and I shake hands like we haven’t met before.

Then I put my hand on the small of Vivian’s back and guide her through the ballroom. It’s getting crowded, and she peers around nervously.

Leaning into her ear, I whisper, “Some of these people aren’t going to look so hot naked.”

She nudges me with her elbow. “Behave.”

At the front of the room is the mayor. Like with Dawn, I act like I haven’t met him, and he follows suit. Several other awards are being handed out, and the other recipients are there as well.

The meet and greet doesn’t take long, and Vivian soon pulls me aside. “Sorry. I know this is boring.”

“I’m not bored. Did I say I was bored?”

She smirks. “You thought that was interesting?”

I wrap her in my arms. “I’m here with the sexiest, smartest, most riveting woman in the room. Does it get more interesting than that?”

“Ha, ha.”

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