“For what?”
“For . . .” He shrugs. “Putting up with me.”
I smile, feeling a lot better about us, and we kiss again. Our lips linger over each other’s. “You ready to do this?” he asks.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
He takes my hand and leads me into the restaurant. It’s trendy, and every table is full.
“Good evening, Mr. Miles.” The waiter smiles.
“Hello,” Christopher replies.
“This way.” The waiter turns and walks off, and we follow him. I notice a few people turn their heads to watch Christopher walk past.
Does everyone in this godforsaken town know who he is?
We walk through a large archway into a semiprivate area. Still a part of the main restaurant but a little separated. People are sitting around a huge round table, and they see us and all stand. “Hi, everyone.” Christopher smiles. “This is Hayden.”
“Hi,” I squeak as I look around nervously.
“Hey,” they all cheer, excited.
“This is my brother Jameson and his wife, Emily.”
“Hello.” I feel faint. He didn’t tell me his brother is ridiculously hot.
They both kiss me on the cheek. “Hello.” His wife is pregnant.
“And this is my mother and father, Elizabeth and George.”
“Hello.”
His father kisses my cheek, and his mother pulls me in for a hug. “Hello, darling, it’s so good to finally meet you.” She holds my two hands in hers as she studies me.
She’s so well put together that she looks like a queen or something, super attractive for her age.
“Okay, Mom, you’re being creepy now.” Christopher widens his eyes at her as he pulls out my chair. I fall into it beside his brother’s wife, wishing this night was over already.
Emily fills my glass. “Drink,” she whispers.
I giggle. I like her already. “Good idea.”
“Where are the Anderson Mileses?” Christopher asks.
“Oh, they’ll be late as usual, darling,” his mother says as she picks up her wineglass. “Hayden.” She smiles over at me. “Christopher didn’t tell me you were so beautiful.”
“Oh.” I frown, embarrassed.
“She is, isn’t she?” Christopher smiles proudly as he reaches over and takes my hand in my lap.
Emily watches us and then hunches her shoulders in excitement. She looks around the table at the others, and I feel like an amusement in a freak show.
“So . . .” His mother smiles as she looks between us. “Tell us how you two met.”
“Come on, Mom.” Christopher sighs. “We just got here. Can we leave the fifty questions until Hayden is drunk, please?”
Everyone chuckles, and I sip my wine. Not a drill. For real.
A boy comes running through the restaurant. “Grandma,” he yells as he grabs her in a headlock from behind.
She laughs out loud. “Hello, my sweet Patrick.”
He dives to sit beside her, and she wipes the hair back from his forehead as they talk between themselves. I would say he’s around ten years of age.
“Hello, Patrick.” Everyone smiles.
“This is Patrick, my brother Tristan’s son,” Christopher says. He gestures to me. “This is Hayden.”