“I thought the bride’s family pays,” Blade said casually as he made himself some coffee.
What the fuck?
There wasno waymy family was paying. I had assumed Blade was paying. He turned back toward me, blinking and drinking his stupid cup of coffee.
“Bride’s family pays for the wedding, groom pays for the rehearsal dinner, right?”
Right. Of course he wasn’t paying. I had completely forgot he was a total asshole billionaire.
“Uh, I forgot I have to go send an email,” I said, smoothie roiling in my stomach. Blade stared at me blankly. Eyes firmly on the floor, I pushed off the kitchen stool and went to the bedroom. I slumped on the bed and typed furiously on my phone.
Avery:OMG I can’t believe I ever thought I was falling for him!
Shirley:Who, Blade? The fake fiancé that you swore up and down you weren’t going to sleep with and definitely weren’t going to fall in love with?
Avery:Yes, that jackass. He just sprung on me that he’s not paying for the wedding.
Edward:WTF? Shirley should have just kept the car then, instead of bringing it all the way back to his garage.
Edward:We could have claimed someone stole it then sold it to a chop shop for parts.
Shirley:What are you going to do? How much is the wedding going to cost?
Avery:I don’t even know.
Avery:He kept saying he wanted to elope. Maybe that was his subtle hint he wasn’t paying.
Avery:I’m so close. I just have to get through this wedding.
Shirley:We need a solution!
Edward:Rob a bank. Start a GoFundMe.
The painkiller was making me feel a little loopy. What I really wanted to do was go to sleep and wake up after the wedding was over.
Avery:I think I need to beg my dad for money.
* * *
My father was sittingin a bar near the Holbrook Enterprises office tower. He glared at me when he saw me. Throwing back my shoulders, I tried to make myself appear strong and professional. I had snuck out of the house after Blade had left to go meet with his brothers. I knew I should have just talked to him like an adult. That was what people in relationships did—they had meaningful conversations with their significant others. Of course, Blade and I were not in a relationship.
He had complained that he didn’t like gold diggers. Maybe he felt I was using him to have a big fancy wedding. After all, he didn’t need to get married to win his contract, he just needed to be in a committed relationship. I was the one who needed the big public spectacle. Was Blade resentful about my assuming he was paying for it? If only I could come to him with some contribution of money, then he might be more willing to put in the rest.
My father sat hunched in his seat, sour expression on his face. “Look who actually wanted to see her father.”
“Hi, Dad,” I said, trying to sound polite. I needed to restrain myself from burning this bridge before I asked him for a favor. Chad drank another sip of his whiskey.
“I just wanted to talk to you about the wedding,” I said, going straight to the point. “I know you’re giving Cassie money for her wedding. I was just wondering if you might be able to help contribute to mine?” I twisted the ring around on my finger. “The Holbrooks had mentioned you would. Remember, I didn’t take a penny from you for college. I took out loans all on my own.” I was rambling now. “I didn’t ask you to buy me a house. I haven’t asked you for anything.”
My father scowled at me.
“You think I’m going to give you a penny so you can marry that billionaire?” he said, jabbing a finger at me. “You know what I think? I think you’re just marrying him because he wants to win that contract. You’ve cost me too much money already. I never wanted you, but I took you in out of the goodness of my heart. And what did I receive in return? A disrespectful, ungrateful daughter.” He pointed to the watch I was wearing. “You never miss an opportunity to throw that in my face, just like at the dinner.”
“It was a gift from you,” I snapped at him, suddenly furious.
“Either you’re using him or he’s using you or you’re both using each other,” my father continued, face screwed up in bitterness. “Of course, I should have known you would turn out just like your mother. This is exactly like something she would have cooked up, though maybe not. She was never all that intelligent. I’m wondering if you are either.”
I clenched my jaw and tried not to cry. Why had I ever thought my father was going to give me anything? Why had I even decided to humiliate myself and ask him?
