All of Me (Inside Out #5.5)(36)

“I assume you two are staying the night?” Katie asks.

“Yes,” Chris confirms. “I never let go of the rental house we were in before Ava escaped.”

“But we’re headed back tomorrow to be sure the press doesn’t find us here,” I add. “We’d like to keep it peaceful for our wedding.”

A waiter fills our glasses with a wine selection as Mike asks, “Does that mean leaving the city again?”

I pick up my glass and smell the wine, as if I actually know what I’m doing with this tasting stuff.

“No,” Chris says. “We’re staying. We’re going to let them have at us and get it out of their system before we return here next month.”

“What do you think?” Katie asks, giving me an eager look.

“I think that if I drink before I eat something, I’ll end up sick,” I say, remembering the mistake the last time I was here that left me hanging over a toilet. “Perhaps I should stick to tea or water.”

Chris squeezes my leg, and I know he’s remembering the fight we’d had that night, too. It was emotional, but in many ways, it was growth for us. “That sounds like a good plan. We’ve barely eaten today.”

“Of course,” Katie agrees, alerting the waiter. “Should we have the chef whip up a meal?”

“No,” Chris says. “I want to take Sara to dinner at one of the local spots later tonight.”

“You’re welcome to join us,” I add, having talked about this with Chris in the car.

“We won’t interrupt your romantic night.” Katie speaks to the waiter before returning her attention to me. “I was hoping you’d stay in town until the wedding. But I have samples of items I need your opinions on today. Eat a little, and I’ll bring them out and show you. Most importantly, we have the cake flavors, but you haven’t picked a design.”

“Chris and I can’t wait to see the designs,” Mike jokes.

Katie smirks at him. “Just for that, you can go get the sample books.”

“I don’t have to be told twice.” Mike stands and motions to Chris. “Give them some girl time. I have some investments I want to talk to you about.”

Katie catches his arm. “Oh no. You sit. I’ll get someone else to get the samples. Tonight isn’t about investments.”

“This is time-sensitive,” Mike argues, sitting back down but not giving up. He eyes Chris. “A company named Maverick. Do you know them?”

“Yes,” Chris says. “Don’t do it.”

He launches into a conversation with Mike about why Maverick is a bad investment, and it’s a rare look into his business mind that I find intriguing. I’m spellbound, listening as they talk, asking a question here or there as I nibble on cheese and crackers.

At one point I glance up to find Katie staring at me with tenderness in her expression, and understanding. She hasn’t interrupted because she can see how much I’m enjoying watching the exchange, and I think she is, too. She views Chris as the son they never had, and I wonder why they didn’t have kids.

Finally the men’s stock talk wanes and we begin the wedding conversations, reviewing all of Katie’s plans and choosing the cake design. When we come to music, Chris says, “ ‘You and Me,’ by Lifehouse.”

I turn to him, remembering “Broken” by Lifehouse playing the first night we were together. From there to this. “It’s perfect. I love it.”

“Oh,” Katie says. “Changing the subject, before I forget. I don’t have an address for your father, Sara. I assume he’ll walk you down the aisle. I want to talk to him about the wedding plans.”

Still facing Chris, I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting a wave of nausea. I actually feel sick.

Chris runs his hand gently over my hair. “Sara’s father isn’t invited. And having dealt with the man, I can tell you, if I ever see him I’d probably end up in jail.”

“Oh,” Katie repeats, this time sounding shocked. “Well, we can’t have that on your wedding day.”

“Sara,” Mike says softly.

I inhale, and damn it, I have tears in my eyes that Chris gently wipes away. “Yes, Mike,” I say, not ready to turn around.

“I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle.”

Oh, God. Now I’m really going to bawl. I grab a napkin and turn to him, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I’d be honored if you would.”

“Oh, honey,” Katie whispers. “I’m sorry we made you cry.”

“You didn’t. I’m sorry my father can still make me cry.”

“He’s a bastard if he can,” she assures me.

“Oh, he’s a bastard,” Chris assures them. “A very rich, arrogant bastard. But Sara wasn’t willing to be a slave to his money. She left, giving up everything to live a life she believes in. And she’s probably the only woman I’ve ever met who found my money to be a problem.”

“I think I’m falling in love with Sara,” Mike jokes, and I laugh along with everyone else. “And this seems like the time to taste some wines. Make us all merry.”

Chris and I agree, and we fall into light conversation. The first wine comes and our glasses are filled with the chardonnay.