"He's protective."
"He sent you two bodyguards when you sprained your ankle last year."
"That was excessive," I admit, but he was worried it had something to do with my father, or someone trying to send a message to my father. In truth, it was just a clumsy moment of mine.
"That was unhinged.” She shakes her head, sipping her latte.
“It happened right after he told my father that he was renouncing his place in the family. My father was irate. Luka thought that maybe my father was taking out his punishment on me to teach Luka a lesson. He was being an overprotective brother… I’ll give you that.”
"And how did Luka take this?”
“Can you guess?”
“Knowing your brother… not well.” She says, breaking a piece of croissant off and plopping it in her mouth.
“Okay, so Luka's got a plan. What does that mean for you?"
"He told me to pack my bags," I say, wrapping my hand around the coffee cup and bringing it to my lips.
"Pack your bags and go where?"
"I don't know. I’m sure if he had an underground bunker, it would be there."
"Kat—"
"I’m kidding, but I really don’t know.” I press my hands to my face, exhausted. "He said he'd call me this morning with details, but he hasn't yet, and I'm—"
My phone buzzes.
We both stare at it.
I pick it up slowly.
Luka:You'll need a wedding dress. Something off the rack you can get today. You're flying to Seattle tomorrow.
I read the message three times, my brain refusing to process the words.
"What?" Irina leans over, reading the screen. Her jaw drops. "A wedding dress? Is he serious?"
I type back with shaking hands.
Me:What are you talking about?
Luka:Trust me. I'll explain everything when you get here. Just buy the dress and pack your things. I'm sending a car to pick you up tomorrow at noon. I’m sending two bodyguards and flying you private. I don’t trust Dad’s reach.
My brother makes enough. His NHL yearly contract guarantee is one of the biggest in Rookie history, but still, this is crazy. I don’t need bodyguards or a private aircraft.
Me:Luka, you're not serious.
Luka:Your safety is my number one priority. I don’t take that lightly.
Me:At least tell me what the wedding dress is for.
Luka:You said you'd do anything. The optics will look bad if they try to marry you off to Maxim when you’re already married to someone else. Grandma won’t let Dad do it. Scottie Easton is our best choice, and Dad doesn’t have the reach to the theater circuit in Seattle.
I stare at the screen, my heart pounding.
Irina's watching me, wide-eyed. "Kat. What's going on?"
