Chapter 55 Family Observations
Isabella’s POV
Twenty minutes later, the front door opened.
James walked in.
And for a moment the entire room went quiet.
He looked… different tonight.
Usually he carried himself with relaxed confidence, but tonight he looked like he’d actually made an effort.
Dark tailored suit.
White shirt slightly open at the collar.
Hair styled instead of casually pushed back.
Even I had to admit he looked good.
Very good.
Next to me, Alexander leaned closer and murmured quietly in my ear.
“Watch him closely tonight.”
I glanced at him.
“What do you mean?”
Alexander nodded subtly toward James, who had just walked into the dining room and greeted his mother.
“By the end of this dinner,” Alexander said calmly, “he’ll have her in the bathroom.”
I turned toward him immediately.
“What?”
Alexander didn’t even blink.
“I’m serious.”
“Whatever,” I said, shaking my head. “Sarah is wild, but she is not that crazy. She’s not going to let him drag her into a bathroom in a stranger’s house.”
Alexander smirked.
“You underestimate James.”
“And you underestimate Sarah.”
“We’ll see.”
Dinner started shortly after.
Everyone sat around the large dining table while Alexander’s mother served the first course.
Conversation flowed easily.
Ava sat beside me, while Sarah and James were across the table.
And just like Alexander predicted…
James was talking.
A lot.
Leaning closer.
Making Sarah laugh.
Asking questions.
Too many questions.
I glanced at Alexander.
He gave me a told you so look.
Before I could respond, Ava leaned closer and whispered quietly.
“Thank you.”
I looked at her.
“For what?”
“For giving my brother a real chance.”
Her voice softened slightly.
“After everything he did to you.”
I shifted slightly in my chair.
“He’s trying,” I said carefully.
“Yes,” Ava nodded. “He is.”
She paused, studying Alexander across the table.
“And I promise you something.”
“What?”
“He will never hurt you again.”
I blinked.
“He would never cut you again. Or do anything like that.”
Her voice lowered.
“My brother is deeply in love with you.”
My fork froze halfway to my mouth.
“He’s not in love with me.”
Ava just smiled.
“Trust me.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“I know my brother.”
She squeezed my arm gently.
“He’s completely gone for you.”
Dinner continued easily after that.
Laughter.
Stories.
Alexander’s mother looked happier than I had ever seen her.
James and Sarah were still talking.
Flirting.
A lot.
Alexander’s mom noticed too and laughed quietly.
“I like her,” she said, glancing toward Sarah.
“He’s trouble,” Alexander replied calmly.
His mother smiled.
“So are you.”
By the time dinner finished, everyone was completely full.
No one had touched dessert yet.
“I think we should wait,” Ava said, leaning back in her chair.
Everyone agreed immediately.
So we moved into the living room.
The fireplace was already burning, filling the room with warm light.
Everyone settled onto the large couches with glasses of wine.
I ended up sitting beside Alexander.
Or more accurately…
half sitting on him.
My legs rested across his lap while he gently massaged my calves.
“Comfortable?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
His hands moved slowly, easing the tension from my legs.
Across the room, everyone continued talking and laughing.
James and Sarah were now sitting closer together.
Still talking.
Still flirting.
Alexander leaned toward me slightly.
“They’re going to disappear soon.”
“You’re impossible.”
“Just watch.”
And, unfortunately for my pride, he was right.
I was so relaxed from the slow massage he was giving my legs that I didn’t even notice when Sarah and James quietly disappeared from the living room.
It wasn’t until a few minutes later that I looked up and realized they were gone.
Then suddenly they reappeared.
They walked back into the room trying to look casual.
But it wasn’t very convincing.
Sarah’s hair was slightly messy.
James’s shirt looked a little rumpled.
And they both had that suspiciously satisfied look on their faces.
Alexander glanced at them once, then slowly turned his head toward me with a smug expression.
“I told you.”
I stared at him.
Then I looked at Sarah.
She avoided my eyes and suddenly seemed very interested in the wine glass in her hand.
Alexander’s mother stood up from her chair, completely unaware.
“Come on, Ava,” she said cheerfully. “Help me bring the dessert.”
“Coming,” Ava said, jumping up.
The moment they disappeared into the kitchen, I leaned forward and lowered my voice.
“You guys didn’t…”
I gestured vaguely between them.
“…did you?”
James and Sarah exchanged a look.
Then they both smirked.
My eyes widened.
“Sarah!”
She shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Well… look at him,” she said, nodding toward James.
James lifted his hands innocently.
“What did I do?”
I stared at her in disbelief.
“I cannot believe you.”
She leaned back against the couch.
“You know I get a little wild on Fridays.”
My jaw dropped.
“Sarah!”
“What?”
“You cannot say that out loud!”
James looked extremely pleased with himself.
Alexander, on the other hand, leaned back beside me, completely satisfied.
“I predicted it,” he said calmly.
I covered my face with my hands.
“You’re both terrible.”
Alexander kissed the top of my head.
“Accurate,” he corrected.