Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
DECLAN
“You look nice.”
Alice walks out of her room wearing a white blouse, black pants, and a pair of low black heels. Her blonde hair, usually piled into a mess on top of her head, hangs around her shoulders with the slightest curl to it.
“Really? Nice enough to introduce my husband to my parents?” She fiddles with the buttons on the cuffs of her sleeves.
“You look like you’re going to teach English at a prep school.”
“Good. That means they will at least approve of what I’m wearing.” That earns me a smile. “Not sure about the rest.”
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve met her parents. One finger, actually. I got a quick introduction one time in college, and I didn’t need much more than that.
It’s a wonder Alice turned out the way she did when she was a checkmark for her parents on a to-do list in life.
“I personally like you better in your overalls, but that’s just me.”
She smiles before grabbing her purse. “C’mon. Let’s get this over with.”
“Want to go out for drinks after?”
Alice nods as we head into the garage. “God, yes. Why can’t my parents be more like yours?”
“Maybe if they were less intense, they’d be easier to get along with.”
She sighs as she settles into the front seat, and I drive toward her parents’ house. It’s a short trip, given they live in this part of Denver.
No surprise they live in the bougiest neighborhood in the city.
“It’s only going to be a few hours and then we’ll be done, and I’ll get you the biggest drink you can handle.”
“And a few shots.” She points a finger at me. “I’ll need it.”
We pull into their neighborhood, which puts mine to shame. At least I have neighbors in mine with kids riding bikes down the street.
Here? If there’s a blade of grass out of place, someone will know.
Pulling into the half-moon circular drive of the last house—if you can call it a house—on the street, I put my Jeep in park.
There’s windows and peaks on the entire front of the house. The gray stone house looks like it should be a ski resort in the mountains. Wood columns flank the front porch, where two chairs sit.
Not that I can picture either of her parents sitting outside enjoying a nice afternoon.
“Please don’t hate me after this,” Alice tells me, worrying her hands in front of her.
“Like I could ever hate you, Froggie.”
“What if I tell you I don’t cheer for the Black Diamonds?”
I feign a knife to the heart. “I’d be gutted and question your loyalty, but I wouldn’t hate you.”
“Good.” Grabbing my hand, she leads us to the front door, where she rings the doorbell and we wait.
“Good evening.” An honest-to-God butler answers the door. “Miss Alice. Your parents are waiting in the lounge for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Since when do your parents have a butler?” I ask, leaning closer to her ear.
“He usually isn’t here when I come for dinner.”
It feels like I’ve stepped into a museum. If I talk too loudly, I’ll get shushed for disturbing the others viewing the ornate art.
Which just so happens to be the entryway of my best friend’s house.
“Mom. Dad.” Alice walks into the room and gives each of them an air kiss. Stilted at best. “Thank you for having us over for dinner.”
“You really should have done something with your hair,” Alice’s mom says by way of greeting. “Let me give you my stylist’s name so you can see her. She’d clean this right up for you.”
“Maybe another time.”
“Wallace. Celeste. It’s nice to see you.” At least I can greet them with the decency they aren’t showing their daughter.
Alice squeezes my hand as I shake theirs.
“We hear you two got married. Alice was a bit abrupt about the whole situation.” Her mom looks like there is a nasty smell under her nose. “Quite the news to drop on your parents and leave.”
“Well—”
“It was a quick decision,” I tell them. “If we’d taken more time to plan, we would have invited everyone.”
Her dad’s lips purse together. “I take it that means you didn’t get a prenup?”
“No,” Alice tells him. She takes a seat on the couch and I sit next to her. Every inch from our thighs to our shoulders touch.
If I can give her even an ounce of support like this, I will. I’ll give her whatever she needs.
“I meant for Declan. Should this marriage not last, you’ll want to make sure you protect your assets.”
Oh for fuck’s sake. He’s more worried about me than his own daughter? He is a piece of work.
Being around her parents makes me appreciate my crazy parents. Sure, my mother is a bit on the overbearing side at times, and is a little wacky in the things she likes, but at least I know she loves me.
Not whatever sad excuse for feelings Alice’s parents claim to have for her.
Draping an arm around her shoulders, I tug her close. She’s as stiff as a board. Whether it’s from the touching or being with her parents, I don’t know, but she’s not comfortable.
“Well, I don’t plan on this marriage ending. Do you, Alice?”
“No.”
“No one intends for a marriage to end in divorce, but you should have a plan to protect yourself,” Wallace reiterates. “I’ll get with my attorneys and see what we can figure out for you.”
“Sounds good, Dad.”
“Would either of you like something to drink before dinner?”
Her mom walks over to the liquor cabinet—more like a wall—and starts mixing drinks.
“I’ll take a glass of wine,” Alice says.
“Declan?”
“I’ll take a water.”
“I can make you a Manhattan if you’d like. It’s what I’m drinking.”
I shake my head. “No thanks. I’m driving.”
Alice drops her hand on my knee. I don’t know if it’s to reinforce her strength or mine, but I have never met two people like Wallace and Celeste Burke.
Their daughter is the best person I know, and they’re acting like she’s the rug on the ground.
I take the proffered water and do my best to school my expression. No need for them to take their derision out on her.
She hands Alice her drink, and silence settles over the room. Alice sips on her wine as her mother looks around and her father does something on his phone.
Watching paint dry would be more interesting than this whole night.
“Sir. Dinner is ready in the dining room,” the butler states as he comes back into the lounge.
Thank God. I don’t know how much longer I could have sat in silence.
Four plates are sitting around a long, wooden table. Candlesticks line the table with a simple bouquet in the center. I don’t know what kind of flower sits artfully in the vase but I’m sure Alice does.
An artfully arranged bowl of pasta, bread and a green salad await us.
“Our chef made quail tonight. I hope you enjoy.”
“Thank you.” I nod at Celeste, helping Alice with her chair and taking the seat next to hers. I drop my napkin across my lap and cut small pieces of…quail.
I’ve never had something so interesting in my life.
“Alice said you two got married while you were in Vegas?”
“We did.”
I glance at Alice, not knowing what she told them because I was under the impression we were waiting until tonight to tell them. My guess is she thought it’d go easier over the phone. I don’t want to say the wrong thing now and throw her under the bus.
“Your parents weren’t there either?” Wallace tsks. “How can you consider that a real wedding if no loved ones were there? Honestly, Alice. I can’t believe you embarrassed us like that. Our only daughter getting married without us.”
She looks at her plate, pushing the peas around and around.
“They weren’t, no,” I tell him. “But it doesn’t take away from our marriage or that it was, in fact, a real wedding.”
I look him directly in the eye. I don’t want him to treat his daughter like this. I hate seeing my best friend curl into herself.
“Again, Declan, you really need to think about a prenup—or I guess at this point, a postnup to protect your assets.
“With this happening so quickly, this is why you needed to protect your assets.”
“Dad, can you please drop it? We’re fine.”
He tsks at her again, the conversation dropping to silence. The only noise in the room is the clinking of silverware against china.
“Alice, have you given any more thought to the finance position in my office?” Her dad sips his fancy cocktail.
She sighs.
“What’s wrong with the position at Enchanted Petals?” I ask.
“She needs something more stable.”
“Stable? I’ve worked there since I graduated,” she clarifies. “Once Leon retires, I’ll take over.”
“Is it a stable industry? Finance—that’s a good industry,” her dad says once again.
“You know, we really should get going.” I wipe my mouth, dropping the napkin next to the plate. I ate half the meal but that’s it.
“And not stay for dessert?” Her mother looks horrified I would even suggest it.
“Sorry, but a last-minute event came up for the team that one of the guys can’t attend—something about a sick kid—and they need me,” I tell them. I really don’t want to sit here and watch Alice cower to them a minute longer. I fucking hate it.
“Understandable.” Her dad nods in agreement. “Work should always come first.”
“Right.”
“Dinner was lovely,” Alice says, dropping her napkin next to her plate. It looks like she had two bites and was done.
“Thank you, Alice. We’ll see you soon. And I’ll text you my hairdresser’s number. Just in case.” Her mom gives her a hug as her dad says a quick goodbye before heading back to the lounge.
Alice grabs my hand and yanks me out of the house. She doesn’t stop until she’s leaning against the side of my Jeep.
“It feels like they like you more than they like me,” she tells me.
“That’s not true.” I smile at her. “I don’t even think they like themselves.”
She snorts a laugh. “Well, at the very least my dad likes you more than me. He was so worried we’re going to get divorced and that I’ll take you for all your money.”
“Well, we will get divorced, and if you want all my money, I’ll give you whatever you need,” I correct her.
Alice gives me a sad smile. “If all goes to plan, then I won’t need your money.”
“Fingers crossed.”
I open her car door and let her get in. We’ve only been officially married a few weeks, but it feels weird to be talking about severing this tie to her.
I don’t know what it’s going to be like when this thing ends between us, but I only hope that we come out on the other side as friends.
Because if there’s one thing I’m not willing to lose, it’s Alice.