Chapter 5 – Katie
Five
PRESENT DAY
KATIE
A few days later
The second I stepped into her fiancé’s condo, I knew Michelle hadn’t just upgraded her life—she’d skipped about ten levels.
With its exclusive Hoboken address, Manhattan skyline dead ahead, and a setup that looked like it belonged in a magazine spread no one I knew could afford.
This wasn’t a casual brunch setup.
This was a tax bracket I didn’t even know existed.
I walked through the colossal parlor room, resisting the urge to calculate the cost of everything within reach, and headed back toward the kitchen—straight into a blond man with deep brown eyes who had no business being this attractive.
“Well, hello there.” He smiled and reached for my hand. “I’m Grady Spencer—one of the groomsmen, and you are?”
“Katie,” I said. “Katie Elizabeth.”
“Ah,” he said. “The wedding planner Michelle’s been bragging about.”
“That’s me.”
“Are you taken?”
“What?”
“Are you seeing someone?”
“No, but yes, and—Okay… It’s complicated.”
“Well, call me whenever it’s uncomplicated.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he slipped his business card into my front pocket. “I mean it.”
“Okay. I will…”
“Over here, Katie!” A voice I didn’t recognize made me turn around.
It belonged to a woman standing near the tower of champagne glasses.
I walked over and was instantly pulled into a hug with Winter, the maid of honor. Then the other bridesmaids introduced themselves one by one, and I tried to commit their names to my memory.
Mariska. Taylor. Sandy. Myra. Lauren.
“We can’t believe Michelle got you for her wedding!” Winter placed her hand on her chest. “My friends are going to be so jealous that…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, and her cheeks suddenly flushed pink.
For some odd reason, the other bridesmaids were turning away from our circle and blushing, too.
I waved a hand in front of their faces, and none of them blinked.
Confused, I turned around to see what the hell they were staring at.
There was nothing ahead of us but waiters, décor, and—
My jaw hit the floor.
Asher?
Of course it was him—standing there in a perfectly tailored suit, broad shoulders, and those deep green eyes sweeping the room like he owned it—making every other man here look completely forgettable.
It was way too soon for me to see him again, and I didn’t appreciate him appearing in my life uninvited and somehow looking sexier each and every time.
Flashing his perfect smile, he hugged the guests one by one. Then he shook hands with the guy who’d just given me his number.
I squinted, trying to read their lips.
I grabbed two shots off a passing waiter’s tray. Then I treated myself to two champagne flutes.
Okay, three…
“Glad you’re enjoying the champagne.” Michelle was suddenly next to me. “Would you like to try some of our signature wine?”
“Sure.” I took her glass and guzzled it. “Wow. That’s very good.”
“I was going to get you your own glass.” She crossed her arms. “Are you okay?”
“No. Can you please tell me what the hell that man is doing here?”
“Which man?”
“That man.” I narrowed my eyes. “Asher Brooks.”
“It’d be pretty weird if he wasn’t here,” she said. “He’s Chris’s brother. He’s also the best man.”
WHAT?
“He’s… your fiancé’s brother?”
“Yes.”
“And he’s going to be a part of your wedding party?”
“The best man typically is, Katie.”
“Why have you never mentioned this family tie to me?” I asked. “I’ve vented to you several times about Asher Brooks, and you wait until now to reveal he’s a part of your family?”
“Well, for one, you hate him, so I thought—”
“You thought what?”
“That I shouldn’t mention it…” She tilted her head to the side. “Your face is pale. Should I get you some water?”
“No, I, uh—I just remembered something.” I set my glass on the ledge. “I have a funeral to attend during your wedding week, so I won’t be able to make it anymore.”
“You have a funeral date that’s months in advance?”
“Yeah, I get serious premonitions when someone is going to die, so… Bye.”
I started to walk away, but she grabbed my elbow.
“You’re joking, right?” She smiled. “Is this the alcohol talking?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I just can’t be around Asher Brooks for more than a few minutes at a time, and I’m not sorry about it.”
“Okay, be honest. Did you two used to date?”
“Ha! Please.”
“Friends with benefits?”
“We’ve never been friends…”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“I don’t want to be involved in anything he’s in, and between you and me, having him anywhere near a wedding isn’t a good sign, and I feel like you know why.”
She looked like she was seconds away from laughing at me, but I didn’t care.
“His presence is actually the worst thing that can possibly happen to any ceremony that involves vows, so I would disinvite him while you still can.”
“Katie…” She let out a sigh.
“I’ll still plan your wedding and make sure it’s perfection at a level like you’ve always dreamed, but I’m not going to be in it. Okay?”
“No, it’s not okay at all.” She shook her head. “We have seven groomsmen, and with you, it’s seven bridesmaids. You’ve always said that symmetry is key.”
“I’ll hire someone to take my place,” I said. “You’ll hardly even notice.”
“Allow me to get you some soda and carbs so you can sober up,” she said. “You’re being ridiculous.”
She walked away before I could make my case, but I wasn’t sticking around to plead it out.
Keeping my head down, I weaved through the guests and made my way toward the exit.
I retrieved my jacket from the closet and headed for the front door.
“Um, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Michelle’s voice stopped me dead in my tracks.
“Just driving home,” I said. “I need to lie down.”
“You’re not sober enough to drive,” she said, snatching my keys. “Chris will have valet drop off your car around midnight.”
“I’m good enough to get myself home.” I looked at Michelle. “Really. I appreciate your concern, though.”
“Can you help her, Asher?” She waved a hand. “Please?”
“Hmmm.” He looked at me. “Sure.”
“Thank you so much.” She hugged him. “Don’t forget to grab a gift bag on the way out.”
Michelle moved next to me, whispering into my ear.
“He’s not a bad person. Trust me.”
I snorted and walked forward.
Grabbing a robin’s-egg-blue gift bag, I made my way onto the landing.
Asher held out his hand to help me down the steps, but I refused.
I clung to the railing and took my time until my heels hit the pavement.
Why is the sidewalk moving?
“So, you’re single again?” His question made me look up at him. “Or are you still in the on-and-off-again thing from years ago with that Bryan guy?”
“His name is Brad, and it’s none of your business,” I said. “You don’t need to take me home. I’m getting an Uber.”
“There’s a Mets game tonight, so the ride prices are going to be ridiculous.”
“You can’t put a price on riding in peace,” I said. “Better yet, can you go in and ask Grady to give me a ride home?”
“No. But I did go ahead and tell him that he shouldn’t bother waiting on you to call him.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because you’re never going to call,” he said. “You never make the first move because you don’t know how to. You’re welcome.”
“Well, you’re wrong this time. I was planning to call him tomorrow in hopes of having hours of hot and sweaty sex.”
“It’ll take longer than a night for you to clean all the dust and neglect out of your pussy.” He smirked. “Maybe try him six months from now.”
“After I call him, I’ll happily send you our sex tape.”
“I don’t watch amateur porn.” He looked me up and down. “I’d be shocked if you knew where all your best spots were…”
“I’d be equally shocked if you knew how to keep your mouth shut for more than five seconds.”
He held up his right hand and silently counted down from five. “Is this when you tell me where you think your spots are?”
“No.” I pulled out my phone. “But you can stand there and watch me order an Uber if you like.”
“That’s fair.” He glanced at his watch. “Saves me from making you face all the damage your team did to my McLaren.”
“They didn’t mention egging your McLaren at all,” I said. “Just the two Audis, the sports cars, and the—” I stopped myself. “I mean, I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I wasn’t involved.”
“Right…”
I tapped my screen, and the icons floated onto the sidewalk.
Oh my god… I’m definitely drunk.
I steadied myself, tracking down the black-and-white “Uber” logo and pressed it.
“Pick up from current address,” I muttered, reading the screen aloud. “Accept surge fee of—Seventy dollars?”
“I told you there’s a game tonight,” Asher said. “My car’s halfway down the block.”
“I don’t want you knowing where I live.”
“560 Seventh Avenue. Condo number seventeen.”
“You’ve been stalking me?”
“No, but I’m sure you could recite my address as well.”
432 Park Avenue. Penthouse suite… “Not at all. The less I know about you, the better.”
I glanced at my screen, and the seventy dollars had disappeared.
Now, the fee was ninety-six dollars, and the wait time was forty minutes.
“Okay, I would like to take you up on the ride home, but only if you can promise that you won’t talk to me.”
“Deal.”
He walked forward, gesturing for me to walk at his side, but the sidewalk was moving again.
Shaking his head, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against his side.
I tried to resist the urge to inhale his cologne as we walked, but it was no use. It was woodsy, spicy, and intoxicating all at once, and it belonged on a much better human than him.
The lights on his McLaren flashed as we approached, and he helped me into the passenger seat.
“Do you want the heated seat on?” He slid behind the wheel.
“Yes, please.”
He hit a button, and warm air instantly kissed my thighs.
Pulling onto the street, he coasted through a series of green lights.
“I hope you’re not planning to ruin your brother’s wedding,” I said.
“I could’ve sworn we agreed not to talk to each other.”
“I’m just uttering random sentences aloud.” I shrugged. “They’re not directed at you.”
“Okay, Katie.” He rolled his eyes. “No, I’m not planning to ruin my brother’s wedding. I do, however, think it’s ridiculous to have a week-long destination party for it, though.”
“I can’t believe they’re paying for everyone to have a first-class flight and five-star hotel accommodations,” I said. “Your brother must do very well for himself.”
“He’s five years away from becoming a billionaire.” He glanced over at me. “Very well is an understatement.”
“Maybe you should ask him to hire you for a real job so you can quit the worthless one you have now.”
He slammed his foot on the brakes, and my body jerked forward.
“Seriously?” I placed my hand on my chest. “What the hell did you do that for?”
“To make it clear that I still can’t stand you.”
“I feel the same, Asher.” I glared at him. “No need to send me flying out the windshield to get that point across.”
“There’s also no need for you to keep making slights at me either.” He clenched his jaw. “Between you and me, whenever you do that, I start picturing all the ways you could put your lips to much better use…”
I swallowed.
“So, if you don’t want me to think about grabbing a fistful of your hair while you’re on all fours gagging on my cock, I suggest you cut the sarcasm for the rest of the night…”
I sucked my lips into my mouth, and he drove forward.
We didn’t speak for the rest of the drive, and when he pulled in front of my condo, I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt.
I tugged on the door handle, but it wouldn’t give.
“The child safety lock is on,” Asher said, putting the car in park. “Thanks for reminding me exactly why I set it that way.”
He stepped out of the car and walked to my side, opening the door.
Ever the gentleman, he reached for my hand.
I took it, and a familiar rush of warmth rushed through my veins; I pretended not to notice it like always.
“Welcome back, Miss Elizabeth,” the building’s host said. “Are you all packed for the Tuscany wedding next week?”
“Almost.”
“Good.” She opened the door. “Let me know if I need to do anything.” Then she looked at Asher. “Sir, would you like me to move your car to our garage for the night?”
“He’s not staying here for longer than five minutes,” I answered for him. “He can afford it if you decide to have it towed.”
“Such a smart-ass mouth…” He whispered under his breath before clearing his throat. “Thanks for the offer. No need for ‘sir,’ though. It’s just Asher.”
Her eyes widened. “As in Asher Brooks?”
“Yes…”
She tilted her head to the side. “Katie, this is the guy you’re always—”
“Gotta go get sober, we’ll catch up later!” I cut her off and stepped inside the building before she could give him an ego boost about how often I complained about him.
Even during months when I hadn’t seen him in a while.
I walked to the elevator with Asher at my heels and hit the “up” button.
“I’ve got it from here,” I said. “Thank you for the ride.”
“I need to make sure you get all the way inside your place,” he said. “You know that.”
The elevator doors sprang open, and I bit my lip to prevent another slight from slipping out.
He waited for me to step on first, and then he hit the button for my floor.
Through the mirrored glass, I stared at him against my will—hating how effortlessly perfect he was.
When the car stopped on my floor, I stepped off and walked to the left where only two doors stood.
My “Weddings are Happily Ever Afters in Real Life” wreath twinkled amidst fresh white lilacs and peach roses. At its center, in an etched glass heart, my name was etched in cursive.
“You’re not welcome to come any further,” I said to Asher. “I made it.”
“You’ll make it when you’re on the other side of the door.” He leaned against the wall. “There’s no need to say anything else to me. Just go inside.”
I slipped the key into the lock, but I couldn’t bring myself to let him slip away without getting one thing off my mind.
I let out a breath and turned around.
“You know the one thing I hate most about you?”
“There’s only one?”
“You live your life completely unaffected by all the damage you cause,” I said.
“For you, a wedding is just something as simple as someone calling in sick to work or deciding to cancel a flight hours before takeoff… You never see the pain on the other side, and what’s worse, you don’t seem to care. ”
“Katie,” he said, pointing at my door. “We’ve had this conversation in several different ways since I’ve known you. We don’t need another addition on our list.”
“Don’t you have a passion you can pursue?” I asked. “Or maybe consider taking some time off to date so you can actually feel what it’s like to love someone enough to want to marry her?”
He blinked.
Then he strolled forward and took the key from me, unlocking the door himself.
He pushed it open, and then pushed me inside.
“Goodbye, Katie. Until I see you again.”
“Hopefully it won’t be until your brother’s wedding.”
“Let’s hope so…”