Isla lifted her free hand up for the women to see, wiggling her fingers. “I got my nails painted.”
Cassie made anoohingsound.
“They’re so pretty. I like the pumpkins.” Gemma glanced back at Christian. “Did you get your nails painted too?”
One side of his mouth flicked up in a smirk. “Not this time.”
“Your loss,” she said, then tutted her tongue against her teeth.
His smirk transformed into a grin. Turning to Cassie, he noted how much paler her skin appeared than he’d remembered. Granted, he didn’t know her that well. He hadn’t seen her since she’d married Tyler’s cousin back in May. And that had only been for the few minutes he’d stopped by the reception. “How’re you feeling?”
“Awful,” she groaned, placing a hand on her tiny baby bump,barely detectable through her lightweight sundress. “Ask me again in March. Hopefully, I’ll have a different answer for you.”
His heart went out to her. “Has Brad been taking care of you?”
Mention of Cassie’s husband brought an unexpected twinge of guilt to Christian’s stomach. During their USC days, especially the several months they lived together, he’d considered both Tyler and Brad his best friends.
Unfortunately, his friendship with Brad was just another shattered glass ball in his screwed-up life. His former buddy hadn’t even told him his wife was pregnant. Christian found that out from Hallie.
It was his own fault though. Sure, his friend’s vocal objections to Sabrina had been without tact, but once her true colors came out, he’d realized Brad’s real intentions: to save him from inevitable misery. Christian hadn’t wanted to believe the red flags presented to him. How could he have been so blind?
“He’s great,” Cassie said, distracting him from the pity party thrown by his conscience. A soft smile appeared on her wan face. “I’ve never been so spoiled, actually. He works really hard, and I feel so lazy. How can something the size of an avocado wreak so much havoc on my body?”
Gemma squeezed her hand. “You’ll forget all about that as soon as this baby is born.”
“You keep telling me that, but I don’t know if I believe you.” Cassie grimaced. “You weren’t this sick with Will. At least we’ll get an adorable baby out of it.”
A heavy weight dropped into Christian’s gut. Neither of his daughters would ever know what it felt like to be loved so completely by their mother. Sabrina had spent both pregnancies blaming him for her condition. A time that should’ve bonded them as husband and wife had only driven barbed wedges between them.
Isla didn’t seem to care about the adults’ conversation. An orange-and-black caterpillar inching along the pavement had captured her attention, and she crouched down for a closer look.
He pulled his gaze away from her, landing on the sedan at the farend of the parking lot as Hallie emerged from the driver’s side. His heart stuttered.
Stop it,he commanded the organ. Why did it keep doing that every time she unexpectedly appeared?
“I should give Brad a call,” he said, turning back to Cassie. “To see how he’s doing.”
He didn’t love the idea of approaching his former best friend, despite getting back on speaking terms after reconnecting at Tyler’s wedding two years ago. Every conversation had the potential of bringing up past grievances, and he didn’t need any more grief in his life.
Cassie’s face softened, tempering some of Christian’s guilt. “You should. He’d love to hear from you.”
Did she know the extent of Christian’s strained relationship with her husband? How much had Brad told her? Christian was sure he’d only received an invitation to their wedding as a formality. His appearance had certainly been one. Could he have it wrong in thinking that way, though?
As Hallie and her roommates approached, Cassie gave an audible sigh of relief. “Oh good, you’re here. I need to sit down.”
With a small wave to Isla, she skirted around the group and into the salon. Gemma said goodbye as well, catching the door before it closed and holding it open for Beej.
Christian ignored the pointed look she shot at Hallie and nodded to Kendall as she passed. He almost stopped McKenzie before she stepped into the salon. Isla would love an autograph. But his daughter was still fascinated by the caterpillar, and he didn’t know the gymnast well. She’d seemed nice enough the other day, but he couldn’t predict whether she enjoyed interacting with fans. And he’d do anything to prevent disappointing his little girl.
Besides, his attention had zeroed in on Hallie too intently to give the other women more than a passing nod. “Hey.” He flipped his hand up in a weird half-wave.
“Hey,” she repeated.
Isla stood, and Hallie’s eyes flicked to her, wariness crossing herlovely face. She took a step back, the subtle movement almost imperceptible. Her mouth lifted a tiny bit as she greeted the girl. “Hello.”
His daughter blinked back at her, and Christian held his breath. He gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “Do you have something to say to Hallie?”
Isla turned pleading eyes onto him, and he arched his brows.
