Page 20 of Infinite Love Novella

“What was that about an open bar?” Connor asked, falling in place beside me with Pepper’s hand in his. “I’m always up for an open bar, especially when I’m hung over. I need something strong, pronto.”

“That’s the thing about being settled down,” Pepper observed, winking at Evelyn. “They aren’t used to partying the way they did back in the day.”

“Excuse me?” Connor countered with a snort. “I’m the guy who got caught by paparazzi dancing on a table in Vegas not long after we tied the knot. There is photographic evidence of a bartender mixing drinks in my mouth mere days ago.” He sounded proud of himself.

“Shit, I forgot to check and see if the pictures went live,” I admitted.

“Let’s just say I woke up to no fewer than a dozen angry texts from the old man,” Connor told me, rolling his eyes. “He knows there’s nothing he can do about it. It’s not his company to… how did he put it? Run into the ground?”

“It was also a hell of a way for him to find out he has a daughter-in-law,” I pointed out as we got in line for the buffet. “I’m assuming you hadn’t told them yet.”

“We were hoping to make it a little more personal than a phone call,” Pepper explained. “And honestly, it’s not easy to get his mom and dad in the same room. They’re always off doing their own thing separately.” Another reminder of the man I did not want to be.

“Good morning.” Lourde cut between Connor and me, tapping her brother on the shoulder. “How many texts did you get this morning?”

“Twelve,” he replied, and the fucker managed to sound sort of smug about it. “How many did you get?”

“Fifteen,” she crowed. “From both Mom and Dad.”

Connor scoffed. “That doesn’t count. All of my texts came from Dad. I still win.” They burst out laughing before he added, “I wonder what first prize would be in that contest.”

We were taking our seats at an empty table when a smattering of applause drew our attention to the doorway, where Olivia and Ari were entering the room hand-in-hand. “Good morning,” Ari called out. “I hope everybody’s enjoying their breakfast.”

Connor snorted before smirking at me. “It looks like those two were busy enjoying other things all night.” He had a point. I had never seen Ari look so exhausted, down to the circles under his eyes. But he was smiling, and anybody with working eyes could see the little looks he and Olivia exchanged as they made conversation with a few family members seated at another table. They may have been together for years and shared a child, but there was nothing like being newlyweds.

“We have to schedule a playdate soon,” Lourde suggested to Evelyn. “Colton needs a little more time with his cousins.”

“We’ll work something out,” Evelyn promised. “Shoot me a few good dates and times, and we’ll go from there.”

“I wonder if they’ll be close as they grow up,” I pondered as I cut into a fresh waffle loaded with berries. “Built-in friends, you know? I hope that’s how it is.”

“There’s one thing we absolutely can’t do,” Lourde insisted, and now she looked serious. Turning to Connor, she said, “Remember how Mom and Dad always sort of unconsciously pitted us against other kids in the family around our age?”

“Unconsciously?” he asked with a sharp laugh. “It was completely conscious. Everything they did, we had to do better. Everything we did had to be better than something they had already achieved. Let’s make sure we never do that with our kids.”

“Our kids?” Evelyn asked, propping her chin on her hand before her gaze swung from Connor to Pepper. “Is there something you aren’t telling us?” she teased.

Pepper’s narrowed eyes and pursed lips made everybody laugh. “Hush your mouth,” she warned. “Everything in due time.”

Our table was complete once the bride and groom joined us. “How’s everybody feeling this morning?” Ari asked after flopping into his chair.

“Better than you look,” I replied. “Did somebody run you over after the reception?”

He shot me a withering look. “Don’t pretend you forgot how it felt once everything was over and all the stress was gone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad everything went off without a hitch, even with the rain. But it’s going to take me a minute to recuperate.”

“That’s what a honeymoon is for,” Olivia reminded him with a peck on the cheek. “This time tomorrow, we will be on our way.”

“I’m serious.” Lourde paired her words with a scowl, telling me she meant business. “If I so much as get a hint that you’ve opened your email while you’re on this trip, I will boil you alive when you get back.”

“Such violence,” Connor whispered, wincing at his sister’s threat. “I thought marriage and motherhood were supposed to mellow a woman out.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” she continued, pointedly avoiding looking at Connor in favor of staring at Olivia. “No work while you’re away. I have everything under control.”

Ari turned in his chair, lifting his eyebrows as he looked at his wife. “Did you hear that? Everything is under control. All you have to do is focus on having fun while we’re away.”

“I know, I know. But you know how I am,” she grumbled. “I love to work. Is that a crime?”

“No, but it would be a crime to waste a beautiful honeymoon on work,” Evelyn pointed out.

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