Fifty Shades Freed (Christian & Ana)(101)



Kate gapes at me once more, stunned. I nod proudly, and she lifts her glass to salute me, impressed and beaming.

"Mrs. Anastasia Grey! Way to go!" We clink.

"Does Elliot own a gun?"

"No. He's very antigun." Kate stirs her third drink.

"Christian, too. I think it was Grace and Carrick's influence," I mutter. I'm feeling a little tipsy.

"Carrick's a good man." Kate nods.

"He wanted a prenup," I mutter sadly.

"Oh, Ana." She reaches across and grasps my arm. "He was only looking out for his boy. As we both know, you have gold-digger tattooed on your forehead."

She smiles at me, and I poke my tongue out at her then giggle.

"Mature, Mrs. Grey," she says grinning. She sounds like Christian. "You'll do the same for your son one day."

"My son?" I gape at her. It hadn't even crossed my mind that my kids will be rich. Holy crap. They'll want for nothing. I mean . . . nothing. This needs further thought—but not right now. I glance at Prescott and Sawyer seated nearby, watching us and the evening crowd from a side table while they each nurse a glass of sparkling mineral water.

"Do you think we should eat?" I ask.

"No. We should drink," Kate says.

"Why are you in such a drinking mood?"

"Because I don't see enough of you anymore. I didn't know you'd up and marry the first guy who turned your head." She pouts again. "Honestly, you married so quickly that I thought you were pregnant."

I giggle. "Everyone thought I was pregnant," I mutter. "Let's not rehash that conversation again. Please! And I have to use the restroom."

Prescott accompanies me. She says nothing. She doesn't have to. Disapproval radiates off her like a lethal isotope.

"I haven't been out on my own since I got married," I mutter wordlessly at the closed toilet door. I make a face, knowing that she's standing on the other side of the door, waiting while I pee. What precisely is Hyde going to do in a bar anyway? Christian is just overreacting as usual.

"Kate, it's late. We should go."

It's ten fifteen, and I have downed my fourth strawberry mojito. I am definitely feeling the effects of the alcohol, warm and fuzzy. Christian will be fine.

Eventually.

"Sure, Ana. It's been so good to see you. You just seem so much more, I don't know . . . confident. Marriage obviously agrees with you."

My face warms. Coming from Miss Katherine Kavanagh, this is indeed a compliment.

"It does," I whisper, and because I've probably had too much to drink, tears prick the back of my eyes. Could I be any happier? In spite of all his baggage, his nature, his Fiftyness, I have met and married the man of my dreams. I quickly change the subject to stem my sentimental thoughts, because I know I will cry otherwise.

"I have really enjoyed this evening." I grasp Kate's hand. "Thank you for dragging me out!" We hug. As she releases me, I nod at Sawyer and he hands Prescott the keys to the car.

"I'm sure Miss Goody-Two-Shoes Prescott has told Christian I'm not at home. He'll be mad," I mutter to Kate. And maybe he'll think of some delicious way to punish me . . . hopefully.

"Why are you grinning like a loon, Ana? You like making Christian mad?"

"No. Not really. But it's easily done. He's very controlling sometimes." Most of the time.

"I've noticed," Kate says wryly.



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