Page 72 of Bridesmaid to Bride

Oh, that sounds nice.

Sorry I doubted you; you can do this alone. You don’t need Foster or anybody else.

Wow! Is this Dad believing in me?

I can take you under my wing and teach you everything I know.

Right, because if I wait any longer, Dad won’t be there anymore. And it’d be amazing to have him as a mentor. I mean, he’s the best in the business.

My eyes continue to read, and the words blur.

See the attached contract and read it over. I need an answer by Sunday.

Sunday? That’s the day after tomorrow! I continue, hearing Dad’s stern cadence, and I can almost see him—eyebrow arched, lips thinned to a line.

This is our family legacy, Eva. I need you now or not at all.

His threat, sharp and final, slices through the air. My inheritance. My future. Everything I’ve known dangles by this, the thread of a cobweb. Sticky, invisible, and yanking me back into the life I left behind. For good.

That’s why I need to see West, and now.

36

The Inevitable

EVA

Room 402 looms ahead, and even though my palms are clammy and I’m jittery, I still can’t wait to be in his arms—and bed—one more night. I’m rushing when I lift my hand and knock.

“Who is it?” His voice sounds weird. Or am I just hearing things?

And why is he asking that? Is he okay? “Uh, room service?”

The door swings open, and there he stands—looking tortured, like he stepped out of a GQ photoshoot gone wrong with his suit still on, but his tie loose and his hair wild. My eyes go wide. “What happened?”

“Come in,” he offers, but his eyes are hard, guarded.

“Thanks.” I fidget with the hem of my dress, my growing nerves showing. “So, I guess it wasn’t a kid.”

“Huh?”

I bite my lip. “The other night—who caught us in the hall.”

“Oh yeah.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “Definitely not a kid. I’m so sorry about that.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“Again, thank you for coming to my parents’ defense,” he says, but his tone’s deflated.

“Of course.”

“No really. I know you did that at the expense of everything you’re fighting for.” This time there’s a bit more energy to his words, but not much.

“I couldn’t sit back and watch that happen to anyone, let alone your wonderful parents.”

“I know you couldn’t.”

The exchange we’re having is nice, but there’s nothing nice about this moment.

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