Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Avril
The wedding under the archway with rose pedals on the ground and dogwood branches bent at the altar blew my mind. I wiped my eyes to get myself to see. There I was, watching two people who were clearly in love. I could only dream of something like that happening to me
Sitting next to Kir made me wonder if I belonged at his side. I squeezed his hand until we all stood and cheered for the happy couple running down the aisle. Weddings were beautiful. My heart was full. I felt like I was where I belonged.
We filed out of our seats and headed to a white tent set up like a banquet hall, with trees surrounding the backyard and long tables set with white tablecloths that blocked in a cake.
Elon and Clarrisa’s backyard wedding was one that could seriously rival the teenage-vampire-movie wedding, complete with dogwoods everywhere.
Music started to our right on a dance floor next to a small private lake. I hugged Kir’s arm. He asked, “Ready to hit the dance floor, or do you want to just sit and wait for the food?”
I laughed. His preference was clear. I shrugged. “You’re a good dancer.”
“Glad you noticed.” He then led me to the dance floor. Others also went, but once we were all out there, all I saw was Kir and his dark eyes.
“Oh, I noticed everything about you the moment we met,” I said.
“Likewise. I like having you in my life.”
I hugged him and followed his steps to the music. Then a coldness crept down my spine. I said in his ear, “As your fake date.”
He winked at me. “As my date everywhere.”
The music changed. Salads were being served. He pointed with his head toward our chairs. I walked with him to sit next to Kelly and Xerses. I gazed around the dining area, where everyone was wonderfully dressed up. Charlie and Hope were all smiles and joking with each other.
Then I tapped Kir’s hand. “Your mom is coming over.”
Roxanne Norouzi stopped and kissed my cheeks. “Avril, I’ve wanted to come see you and ask how my son is treating you.”
She had no idea how much I liked him. I smiled. “Amazing. You raised a gentleman.”
She took our hands. “Not to throw a wrench in anything, but go and talk to Jeff and your friend Miley. They were just discussing you. You have a few minutes, so please handle whatever it is so we can have a wonderful wedding.”
Kir dropped his napkin. “On our way.”
She quickly left us, and I stood with him. We walked to the end of the table. Miley and Jeff were on their phones.
Kir asked, “What’s going on, Jeff?”
Jeff hung up and said, “Miley and I were discussing the blog that I’m looking into suing, and you both popped up.”
I took out my phone to read.
Kir did the same. “I know it’s all lies.”
As I read, my eyes widened, and my heart almost stopped beating. “You’re joking. I’m an alcoholic now?”
Miley squeezed my hand. “We’re all in the pictures at the club, Avril. It’s bad for my current job if clients or the senior partners ever see the headlines of me with an alcoholic.”
I swayed, though Kir kept me steady. “The article is about me and how Kir has started partying at all hours because of me, and I don’t even stay out that late.”
Kir shrugged. “It’s kind of true. I’m going out in public more, but it’s odd to me that this blog is usually against my brothers, but when it comes to me, it’s hating on Avril, not me.”
Jeff snapped his finger. “Good catch there. Next week, we need to brainstorm about anyone who liked you and hated the rest of us.”
Kir shrugged. “I have no idea who that would be. I’m usually the one lost in the crowd.”
Impossible. But he believed that about himself. I smiled at my friend. “He’s humble. It’s one of his nicer qualities.”
Miley rolled her eyes at me in her sarcastic way. “You’re only saying that because you’ve fallen for him.”
Heat rose to my face. I had fallen for him. My heart raced, and I wasn’t sure when that had happened or what to do about it.
Kir said, “Well, we’ll think about it, but I want to steal Avril away for a minute before Elon and Clarissa come out.”
Jeff said, “Have fun.”
We walked to the trees at the edge of the lawn, where we could talk but get back to our seats if we needed to. I couldn’t ask any of my questions, so I asked, “Is it possible this blogger has a vendetta against me and my friends?”
Kir’s brow furrowed. “Why would you ask that?”
Recent events from before Hawaii replayed in my mind. “A few weeks ago, they weren’t nice about Charlie, and whoever wrote it wasn’t nice about Hope earlier. Now it’s my turn.”
He shrugged. “Brainstorm with Miley. Maybe we have more in common than we knew, but let’s not think about it now.”
My body tingled as I waited. I half wanted to kiss him, but I forced my lips to curve higher and said, “Totally agree. Let get some champagne.”
He nodded. “I want to talk to Xerses and Roman for a moment.”
My mind buzzed. Good thing he’s still thinking straight. I needed to speak to his brothers, too, so I walked in step next to him. “Okay.”
A minute later, we were near Xerses, Roman, and my friends Kelly and Isabel. Kir asked, “So, are you two buying Sodani Tech?”
Roman asked, “Is that a problem?”
Kir shook his head. “No, but Avril works as an analyst there, and since she’s my girlfriend, she’s getting asked a lot of questions.”
My heart lifted.
Roman said, “Don’t worry about anything, Avril. We need good people there.”
I focused on his brothers, who both seemed so different from Kir. “I’m fielding a lot of questions.”
Xerses said, “Well, if you help with a smooth transition, we’d be grateful and want to move you up in the company.”
Kir frowned. “Unless she quits and starts working with me.”
I stood taller as I blinked. “What?”
He waved his hand in the air. “Nothing. It was just a thought, but it’s time to get back to our seats. Elon and Clarissa are coming.”
We waved to them as we went to sit down again. “Did you mean what you said back there?”
He gazed at me. “About what?”
I picked up my fork to eat my salad. “I know you, Hope, and Charlie are starting some airline. Would you really want me to join you one day?”
His eyes softened. “I’d hire you now.”
I cut my lettuce as I asked in a low voice, “Is it the champagne or last night’s sex that put you in an extra-good mood?”
He whispered in my ear, “The sex.”
Heat rose through me. I forgot about everything, including food. “Me too. In fact, I’m wondering if anyone would notice if we left before eating?”
He put his napkin down again. “We’ll probably have an hour.”
Perfect. I had no idea what would happen in the future. We hadn’t discussed anything, so I refused to get my hopes up. All we had was that moment.