I signaled the waitress. “Could you please just keep the alcohol coming?”
“Of course, sir. My apologies.”
“If you’d like something stronger, please be my guest,” I told Kelsey’s parents while my father pretended to wipe something off their daughter’s mouth, making her giggle.
“Anyone up for dessert?” Tatiana’s mother asked.
“Order anything that strikes your fancy.”
* * *
When Alfie stoodup to use the bathroom, I went with him, to make sure he didn’t get kidnapped and because I couldn’t take sitting at that table a minute longer.
As I stood outside of the restroom, waiting for my little brother, Tatiana appeared in front of me.
“I hate your father,” she spat.
I leaned my head back against the wall. “Cheaters gonna cheat. Daryl is a piece of shit. You see that.”
“He’s drunk, and you should have told that little hussy she and her sad-sack parents were not invited to my graduation dinner. It is supposed to be about me. This is my day!”
“I was trying to be polite,” I drawled. “I thought you two were friends.”
“Never,” Tatiana hissed. “I have standards.”
She glanced back toward the main restaurant space. Kelsey’s high-pitched giggle floated down the hallway.
I suddenly saw an opening for ensuring I kept my brother.
“It’s not too late to back out of the wedding,” I told her lightly. “You could find someone better than my father who’s not going to be an old man doddering around in a golf cart fifteen years from now. Do you really want to waste your youth on him?”
She whirled back around to face me, and her eyes narrowed. “Actually,” she said through her teeth, “I don’t. But I don’t think you care about my happiness. You’re just like your father—selfish to the bone. You just want to keep Alfie to yourself. So how about a deal? You and I hook up, and I will break up with your father and let you keep Alfie.”
My stomach sank. I would not be stuck with Tatiana. I knew if I slept with her, she would immediately get pregnant, and I would be shackled to her forever.
“If you don’t, then I’m going to stay with your father long enough to score a hefty divorce payment, then I’m taking Alfie, and you’ll never see him again.”
I bared my teeth at her. “I will never choose you. I don’t want you in my life, and I certainly don’t want you in my bed.”
Her lip curled back. “Then be prepared to lose Alfie, because this is war.” She smirked. “But of course, my offer still stands, whenever you decide you’ve had enough.”
39
Amy
“Ladies,” Ivy called when I walked into the office after being dropped off by Sebastian. “Are we ready for this wedding?”
“No!” we all chorused.
“Wrong answer,” Ivy stated.
“I’ve done my part,” Brea said happily. “The dress is amazing. The photos Grace took the other day look awesome.”
“I even took a few extras of Sebastian just for you, Amy,” Grace told me.
“Is that why you actually arrived on time to the meeting?” Elsie asked. “Because your billionaire on a stick drove you?”
“We discussed the wedding on the way over,” I said primly.
