Page 67 of Noah

"Is he a criminal lawyer?"

"That part is true."

"Praise be for that. Father is going to want to talk shop. You do know that?"

I heaved out a sigh. Brody and I had been talking about this. How his anxiety was going to stay in check while around my parents and all those people. He had assured me he could do it.

"Not sure how you managed to sway them into accepting a doctor."

"Oh, they have not accepted him. Henry still has a lot of work to do to win them over."

"I'm sorry I haven't met him yet."

"We've all been busy. You'll meet him tonight. Maybe the four of us can take off and smoke a fatty in a back stairwell or something."

"Pretty sure Brody wouldn't be into that."

"Huh. Can't believe you hooked yourself up with someone responsible."

"I've had plenty of responsible boyfriends."

"Oh, please."

"You're going to love him."

"Do you … love him?"

"We haven't even known each other a month."

"So?"

"So, keep your mind on your relationship. When's the wedding?"

The banter continued back and forth until I felt better about going to the gala. Brody and I were going to be fine. With Frances there to back us up, all eyes wouldn't be on me.

And the man who had claimed me.

Chapter Fourteen | Brody

I took a deep breath as I looked out the limousine window. Noah squeezed my hand and remained silent. I needed another few seconds to compose myself.

"I can do this," I whispered to myself.

Noah took it to mean he could talk.

"We don't have to go in there," he said. "I can come up with an excuse for why we bailed."

"No. I'm doing this. I practiced in my head." I put my hand on the door handle and pulled. The cold night air circulated into the backseat. Noah was right behind me as I climbed out and took a few steps across the pavement toward the front glass doors of the Pacific Grande.

I'd never been there before, and I hadn't been able to find a floor plan online. I was going to have to go in blind. Noah took my hand, and we walked through the doors held open by a doorman. The front lobby was immense and opulent. Thankfully, Noah knew where he was going.

On the way down a wide hallway, I spotted a washroom. It turned out to be the one closest to the ballroom. That out of the way, I felt slightly better. I hated wandering around a new space trying to find a bathroom. It was a surefire way to kick my anxiety into overdrive.

I schooled my face into a pleasant expression as we approached who I assumed were Noah's parents. The man was in his early 60s, just starting to grey. Very sophisticated. Beside him was a woman who was Noah in female form. But polished. Her auburn hair was done up in an elaborate hairstyle and her stunning blue eyes like Noah's were watching us as we made our way to them.

"Mother. Father."

I almost crinkled my nose at the formality of Noah's words.

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