“Well, that’s a good sign,” Chris commented. “Maybe she’ll warm up since she seems to be having a good time over there.”
“Yeah, maybe. What’s up with Michael? He’s over there lurking.”
That was the perfect description. He was lurking on the sidelines. Once again, he considered what might be going through Michael’s head.
“Long story.” He excused himself to go talk to him. When he approached, Michael barely spared him a glance before returning his attention to the women across the room.
“You good?”
Michael grunted in response to his question.
“You should talk to her,” he suggested. “She’s been so nervous about this night, but the fact that she’s here is a good start.”
“Did you really walk over here to give me advice about my sister?” he asked, pinning Chris with a lethal glare.
Chris wasn’t going to back down. “I came over here because I could see you struggling. I gave you advice because I care about her and want to see her happy. You need to get over yourself.”
“Get over myself?” Michael echoed, his voice rising. “I’m trying to give her space, not that it’s your business.”
“But it is my business. How many years of space do you plan to give her? How many has it been? Five? She’s here. Don’t waste it.”
Michael didn’t look impressed. Before he could pursue the conversation, the hostess stepped into the room and announced dinner. The small group filed into the dining room. A large wooden farm table took up the majority of the space. Chairs lined one side of the table, with bench seating on the other side. Chris tried not to laugh when Alyssa took the end seat, leaving Michael with no choice but to sit at Mallory’s other side.
Chris had known Michael long enough to know the move wasn’t going to go over well, but he watched in surprise as he sat down without any argument. Keeping his hands off Mallory was nearly impossible. He had to settle for a subtle touch here and there, but they both began to relax as the dinner went on.
Unfortunately, it seemed to be the opposite going on with Brian and Kerry. Kerry spoke to everyone except Brian, and Brian didn’t speak at all. Somehow the tension between Brian and his new bride seemed much worse than the tension between Michael and Mallory. The siblings were at least politely ignoring each other and not actively freezing each other out.
Chris was a professional at tuning out uncomfortable situations, but just as he was reaching his limit, the hostess returned and announced that the wedding cake and dessert were ready to be served back in the parlor. He didn’t think the situation could get worse, but he’d somehow forgotten about cutting the wedding cake.
“I really need to get some sleep,” Chris began working on his exit. “I’ve either been working, or at the hospital with my mom for more days than I can count. Will you be offended if we head to our rooms?”
“Alyssa was telling me about your mom. Get some rest. We’ll see you at breakfast,” Kerry said.
“I couldn’t take one more minute of that,” he explained quietly once they were out of earshot of the others. “Are we sleeping in your room or mine?”
Chapter 13
MALLORY
Mallory awakened to Christian trailing kisses along her neck. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she rolled to her side so she could look at him. His hair was a mess, and it was obvious that he had also just woken up.
“Morning,” he greeted.
She smiled up at him in response. Once they had gotten back to the room, Christian took a shower and Mallory was asleep before he got out. All of the stress and emotions over the past several days must have taken their toll. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out.
“You stayed.”
“Of course I stayed. Where else would I go?” Christian asked, pulling her close.
“To your own room. Although Michael didn’t have much to say to me, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”
Thoughts of the night before threatened to dampen her good mood. After five years of silence, Michael didn’t seem to havemuch to say; not that she’d want a heart to heart in the middle of a wedding reception anyway. But still.
“I’m not worried about it; I just don’t want to cause a scene. But we should be fine. We’re next to the Bridal Suite, and I know Brian and Kerry don’t care. They have their own shit they’re dealing with,” Christian said. “You taking a shower? Breakfast is in a little over an hour.”
“Hopefully mimosas will be involved. I’m going to need one or three if everything is as awkward as it was last night.” She stood up and made her way to the shower.
A shower would wash away some of the stress from the night before. A believer in fresh starts, she planned to go to breakfast with an open mind. Breakfast was less of a formal event, and she was determined to try again. After having some time to process everything, she already felt more comfortable with the idea of approaching him.
