I push the door, holding it open so that Bradley can step outside and I follow behind him. Somehow, I’m confident tonight is going to be a night to remember.
Chapter 14
Jefferson
Bradley’skillingitsofar tonight. Three and a half hours into the event, and he’s charming the pants off everyone.
The night has been flawless. From the cocktail hour, to the speeches and presentations. Dinner was delicious. Steak, steamed vegetables, with garlic and Asiago potatoes. We can’t forget my favorite, the bread. Every morsel was mouthwatering. The meat was cooked to perfection, just close enough to well done that it wasn’t bleeding but also not tough as a piece of bark.
Bradley opted for the cajun grilled salmon.
“Is it as good as it smells?” I lean into him, whispering.
He spears a bite, holds it to my lips. “Try it.”
“Aren’t they cute?” I hear the older woman sitting across from us at the table whisper to her husband. He nods, turning his eyes to her and smiles. I can feel the love they feel for each other radiating around them.
“Shh, Annabelle. They’ll hear you,” he tries to whisper, but it comes out louder. Maybe due to the hearing aid I see in his ear.One day, I hope to be a part of a couple that’s just as cute as they are.
“Oh pish posh,” she scolds him, tapping him lightly on his hand, before turning her attention to me. “The two of you are so cute together. How did the two of you meet?”
I don’t even get a chance to answer before Bradley’s speaking up. “We met on a dating site. I kept sliding into his messages, and he kept turning me down.”
“Now, why would he do that? You’re such a good-looking man.” She shoots me an evil side eye and Bradley speaks up again, gaining her attention.
“He said I was too young for him. What he didn’t know is that I have an old soul. But I eventually wore him down and he said yes. The rest is history.”
“That’s so sweet.” She clasps her hands together, bringing them to her chin as her eyes glisten. “Now he just needs to pop the question.” She shoots that comment to me, looking down the length of her nose, telling me she means business.
“Oh, I asked him and he turned me down. Said I had to prove to him that I love him.” I can’t help but feel smug being just as clever as Bradley in his responses.
“Yep. Told him I needed to be treated like a queen. I want a house with a white picket fence, and I still need to finish college. I had to un-enroll to take care of my ailing Nana. She took care of me most of life, and there wasn’t any way I wasn’t doing the same for her.”
The smile slips from my face before I can stop it. It’s subtle, but the tone in his voice changes—less teasing, more personal. This isn’t part of the bit. I lean in, brushing my lips against his ear, my words meant for him alone. “Is that true?”
He doesn’t answer, just nods.Shit.That must have been so hard, I think, for a minute. Giving up all you're trying to achieve to care for someone else. But it’s not a hard choice. I would dothe same for my family. For Malcolm. Even now with us not together, if he needed me I’d be there in a heartbeat, no matter how badly being close to him and not being with him would kill me.
“You, my boy, were raised right.” She raises her napkin, gently dabbing at her eyes, before glaring at me. “You better hold on to this one.” Then, to drive the nail in deeper to make her point, she adds, “It's not like you're getting any younger.”
“Yes ma’am, I'll make sure I do. There's nothing I'd hate more than losing my sweet Bradley.” Laying it on thick for the woman, I even slip my arm around his back, gripping his shoulder, pulling him closer to me as I press my lips to his temple, kissing him.
“Promises, promises,” Bradley chastises jokingly as he wiggles his finger back and forth.
The older couple smiles and before the woman can say anything more, her husband speaks up. “Let them be, Annabelle. I'm sure they can navigate their relationship without your meddling.” She pouts, giving us a wink before resuming eating.
“Guess we should start planning our wedding and future together.”
“I want a destination wedding. Maybe somewhere like Greece.” Bradley’s eyes fade out, as if he's looking at something just out of his sight. “Greece has always been on my bucket list.”
“Noted,” I state poignantly. “You should go. I've been there a couple of times. It's breathtaking.” I don't add that one of those times Malcolm lied to his family and said he was on a work trip. Even then, unless we were in the safety of our room, he showed no affection or love to me. Every interaction was purely platonic.
That last visit was three months ago. I should have seen it for what it was, an omen for the future.
The vibrations of the microphone echo through the room as the organizer for the evening taps on it.
“Wasn't that a delicious dinner?” he asks, getting a round of applause and ‘yes’ from the crowd.
My eyes glance to the side, catching Bradley’s movement, lifting his wineglass to his lips.
