11. Nick #2
“Um, yeah. Isn’t that Bryant’s ex trophy wife? She was looking at you like you’re the last Birkin bag at the Hermes outlet. And you know what I say to that? I say not today, Satan.”
Vlado made a weird sound behind me. I glanced back and found him with both hands over his mouth and his face bright red from holding in his laughter.
Evan’s throaty chuckle slid into my ear and warmed my insides.
“I’m just saying,” I continued. Please don’t let my face be as red as it feels . “She’d better stick to wrinkly old balls and stay away from yours while I’m around.”
Evan’s eyes glittered with humor. “She was being polite.”
“She was being a twatwaffle.”
“He’s not wrong, Ev.”
“Maryse is harmless.”
“Maybe to you, but bitch better check herself while I’m around because these hands are rated E for Everyone.”
Evan’s laugh was loud and booming. Several people nearby turned to stare at us.
“I’m serious. She can take several seats if she thinks I’m going to stand by and watch her flirt with my man. Hell no. My character would never.”
Vlado clapped me on the shoulder. “Never change, Nicky. Never change,” he managed through peals of laughter.
“And mess with perfection?” I asked haughtily. “Not a chance.”
“Are we interrupting something?”
I whirled around. Evan abruptly stopped laughing.
An attractive couple stood behind me. The man was an older, slightly doughier version of Evan, and the woman reminded me of an old-school Hollywood starlet.
Evan’s parents?
Evan cleared his throat and leaned in to air-kiss the woman’s cheeks. “Mom, Dad. We were just about to come find you.”
“Well, luckily we found you.” His mom looked me up and down with a carefully neutral smile. “You must be Nick.”
“It’s so wonderful to finally meet you, Mrs. Williams.” I gave her my best smile. “Evan has told me so much about you and all the good work you’ve done.”
Her smile shifted to one that looked a little less polite and more genuine. “It’s wonderful to meet you too, Nick. Please, call me Adelaide.” She held out her hand. The ginormous diamond rings decorating her fingers gleamed under the ballroom lights.
Taking her hand in both of mine, I gave a gentle squeeze. “The room looks beautiful. So elegant and understated.”
She beamed brighter.
“And the flowers are perfection. The gloriosa is so underrated but such a bold and powerful choice.”
Adelaide’s smile only grew wider. “I was a bit concerned when my florist suggested them, but they really do make the room, don’t they?”
“They do. The pops of color, the vibrancy of the arrangements, the symbolism. All of it is chef’s kiss.” I mimicked kissing the tips of my fingers and tossing the fake kiss into the air the way cartoon chefs always did.
Now that his mother had been won over, time to tackle his dad. Metaphorically speaking.
“And it’s so wonderful to meet you too, Mr. Williams.”
“Grant.” He stuck out his hand. Now I knew where Evan got his resting bitch face.
I shook it. Unsurprisingly, Grant squeezed my hand way harder than was necessary.
I just smiled placidly and let him. My grip strength came from working a pole twice a week while he spent his time sitting on his ass and bossing people around.
I could have easily crushed his hand if I wanted, but I didn’t play those macho games.
“Nick Sorensen.” I resisted the urge to wipe my hand on my pant leg when he let go. His palms were weirdly damp, but not quite sweaty. Like he used way too much moisturizer.
“So you’re the one who’s made my son realize there’s more to life than playing the field.” Grant’s smile was an exact replica of the one Evan made when he was talking business to people he disliked. Polite, but not polite enough to hide his obvious disapproval.
I didn’t like being on the receiving end of that smile.
“I suppose I am.” I laughed, making sure to use my inside laugh. “But I could say the same for Evan. He’s opened my eyes to what’s important in life.”
“And what would that be?” Grant asked dryly.
“Friendship, and companionship.” I smiled at Evan adoringly. He returned it and tucked me against his side. “Before Evan, I never knew what a true connection with someone was. I didn’t understand how life is just…better, when you’re with your best friend.”
“That’s a lovely sentiment.” Adelaide looked between us. “As a mother, it’s wonderful to hear someone speak so highly of your son.”
“You did an incredible job raising him. He’s…” I cut myself off with a shy laugh. “I could gush for hours about how amazing he is.” I looked at Evan and turned up the moon eyes. “I’m so lucky to have found him.”
“I’m the lucky one, darling.” Evan pressed a soft kiss against the side of my mouth.
The greedy bitch in me wanted to grab his head and give him a real kiss so Maryse and any other wannabe gold diggers knew I didn’t come to play.
Instead, I said to Adelaide, “I love your dress. Is that Chanel? I recognize it from the new collection.”
“It is.” She beamed and smoothed her hand down the skirt of her gold and red gown. “You have quite the eye for fashion.”
“Did someone say fashion?” Emily appeared at Evan’s side.
“You’ve been summoned,” Vlado teased.
“How about we step aside and let the ladies have a chat about dresses and flowers.” Grant gave Evan a pointed look.
Evan stiffened beside me.
“I’ll be right here when you’re done,” I told him, hoping to defuse the rising tension.
Evan nodded and pecked a quick kiss against my lips. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time.” My cheeks flamed hot with a blush that wasn’t fake. “You know how much I love fashion talk.”
If Grant had an issue with me not being manly enough for his son, then I was going to lean into it and be the most extra bitch I could get away with. I didn’t have to get Grant to like me if Adelaide and Emily were team Nick.
Evan gave me another kiss, then traded a look with Vlado.
“You don’t need to go stand in my brother’s shadow?” Emily asked Vlado when Grant and Evan had stepped out of earshot.
“You know me, I can’t resist a good conversation about fashion.”
Emily laughed as Adelaide smiled. Interesting.
Vlado had said that his mom was Emily and Evan’s nanny, and that was how they’d become friends. I’d assumed Evan’s parents would look down on Vlado for being the help, and the kid of the help, but Adelaide’s smile was filled with warmth and affection.
“Can I just say that this”—Emily waved her hand at me—“is what I call a look . The cut, the contrast, I’m here for all of it.”
I smiled, a very real one. “Thanks. I was a bit hesitant to wear something so nontraditional, but this shirt”—I plucked at the neckline—“was calling my name and I couldn’t resist.”
Emily gently smoothed her fingertips over the material of the shirt where it peeked out from under my lapel. “Exquisite. Imagine it with a pair of slim-fit black trousers, and maybe some utilitarian calf boots.”
“With buckles, not laces,” I said. “And a chunky heel.”
“Exactly!” She nodded enthusiastically. “But it needs something else. Something that just brings everything together.” She tapped her lips with her finger.
“I have the most gorgeous vintage steampunk vest that would do just that.” I waved my hands like I was setting a stage. “Picture this—a nineteen-twenties waistcoat-style front with a leather corseted back.”
“What color?” she asked.
“Front is dark gray with black leather trim. Back is black.”
“Does the vest have a built-in harness with the clip straps?”
“It does. Matte black leather and brushed silver accents and buckles.”
“Is the corset held together with ribbon, or leather ties?”
“Black ribbon.”
“Perfection.” She clapped. “We’re definitely keeping you.”
The warmth in her tone and smile did weird things to my belly.
“You must come to my tasting.” Emily looked at her mother. “He can take your place.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Adelaide said.
“Tasting?”
“For the wedding. I still have to finalize the menu. I’ve rescheduled the tasting four times already, and I’m down to the wire.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Everyone was available a week ago when I picked the new date, but now Evan is the only one who can make it.”
“And me,” Vlado piped up. “If there’s food, I’m there.”
“When is it?” I asked.
“Tomorrow at two. Please say you can come.”
“I’m free then. And I’ll also never say no to food.”
“Well well well.” Lemon face came up beside Emily and put his hand on the small of her back.
The move was polite and familiar, but it irked me. It looked possessive, but not in the ‘you’re mine and I claim you’ way. It screamed ‘this is my shiny toy, look at it and admire me for having it.’
“If it isn’t Evan’s new beau.” His smile was as fake as the ID I’d used to go clubbing in high school.
“Hello, Malcolm,” I said, making sure to keep my animosity out of my voice. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Lovely to see you too.” His face twisted up in a barely concealed sneer. “Are you telling everyone what a neglectful fiancé I am?” he asked Emily.
She giggled. “Of course not. I was just inviting Nick to the tasting tomorrow now that both you and Mom can’t come.”
“I thought you were bringing Imogen?”
She made a face. “I know she’s your best friend, but we have nothing in common.”
“Please try to make more of an effort with her. She’s important to me. She should be important to you.”
“I know she is. I invited her, but she declined. If you want her there so bad then you talk to her.”
“She probably declined because you don’t make her feel welcome.”
I glanced at Adelaide to see her reaction to this conversation. She was smiling at Malcolm and nodding like she agreed with him.
Was I the only one who was getting the ick from this? I understood wanting your fiancée and your bestie to get along, but the way he was saying it was giving off major red-flag energy.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Adelaide cut in, her attention on something behind me. “I need to speak with Cecelia.”