Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Alexei
Feelings weren’t something I was used to so when I watched Audrey tuck tail and run with her phone clutched between her hands, I frowned. My chest was tight with a new feeling and I wasn’t exactly sure what it was. It started with wanting to crush her cell phone and cut all communication with the man who changed her. But then the feeling morphed into something else and I found myself grinning.
“I’m so happy you and your friend could come to New York,” The good boy act was almost too easy. I slid into Audrey’s vacant chair and patted Carina’s hand. Ace watched me from the corner of the table. He didn’t look jealous or worried, merely curious. Hell, he wasn’t the only one. I had no idea what I was doing and I was sure my older brother could see right through it.
Carina narrowed her eyes at me, she was smarter than she looked, even though she was a little tipsy. “Is that so?”
For the first time in my life, I was nervous. Another new feeling I wasn’t used to or knew what to do with. “Yes, as you know I’m the Best Man and honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing. I haven’t ever been in a wedding.” I leaned back in Audrey’s chair and my frown only deepened. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a wedding.”
A napkin soared across the table and hit me square in the chest. “You’re such a liar,” My mother laughed but I could see the tension in her eyes. If this didn’t go perfectly she would lose her one chance at an ally. “You went to Mildred’s wedding last year.”
To keep myself from rolling my eyes, I gritted my teeth until it was almost too painful to bear. “I was so drunk I didn’t know which way was left or which way was right. You don’t remember me swinging from the chandelier? I’m surprised I remember it. The only thing that jogged my memory of it was that my tie was left up there.”
“How could I forget?” She muttered before she took another gulp of wine. Ace was back to his conversation with our father and Audrey still wasn’t back from her phone call.
Carina must have realized this at the same time I did as her eyes went wide and she glanced back toward the front of the restaurant. I needed to wrap this up. “Anyway, I’m hoping Audrey and I will be able to spend a lot of time together so she can help me get the hang of all of this.”
Carina leaned forward, no longer a giggling idiot. Her light blue eyes were as serious as my brother’s got when he was pissed. “I’m not stupid. I don’t like Brian, okay?” Of course that was the fucker’s name. Her voice lowered and I swore I could feel a chill in the air. “But I also know you’re not going to try to get in her pants either, she’s my best friend and if you ruin this time off for her, I will kill you. You’re also not going to fuck up my wedding. I’ve found happiness where no one said I would. I found happiness despite everything I’ve been through and I will not let you take that from me. I will not let anyone take this from me, do you understand?”
I swallowed thickly before I nodded. I was at a loss for words, which didn’t happen often. I was impressed. I didn’t expect much from Ace’s bride-to-be, this was completely different from what I pictured— from what Ace had even described. There was nothing timid about this woman. Did he actually believe her to be or did he want her to show off her own personality?
“I didn’t mean to be gone for so long,” Audrey said from behind us. Even though I really wanted to pick apart Carina’s layers, I knew it would have to wait. I slid out of the chair and back into my own. Audrey swiped at something on her cheeks and Carina’s eyes darkened. “I didn’t realize he would have so much to say.”
Carina’s hand found Audrey’s under the table and I watched them communicate silently. Had Brian done something to hurt Audrey?