Page 97 of One Wealthy Wedding

Cat

The joke is on me later, because Theo can cook, and really well, apparently. It’s an unseasonably warm April day, and he leads us up to the roof to grill. He’s already prepared several steak sauces and opened a red wine.

“Don’t drop that, Cat. It needs to breathe,” he tosses over his shoulder as we head up the stairs to the gym and roof.

I growl under my breath, which he ignores, even though I know he heard me. We wend our way through the wooden planters of grasses until we reach a secluded table. It’s covered by an arbor that is just starting to see green shoots on the vines.

“There’s a full outdoor kitchen.” Theo points. “A wine fridge. A hot tub over there. Loungers. You can start using them in a few weeks, probably. I had the plantings designed to block the wind. It gets pretty warm on the south side of the building.”

He says this all like it’s totally normal, and suddenly, I’m irrationally mad at him.

“What?” He’s looking at my face, and he must realize I’m upset.

“I just—I don’t know.” He’s done this all on his own. He’s achieved so much, and I’ve done nothing. I was never allowed to reach for more. Anger makes tears clog in my throat. I swipe at my eyes and turn away.

“Cat. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say stiffly. It’s stupid to be upset about this. I had everything for so long, and it’s my own foolish weakness that kept me from rebelling against my parents and making my own path. Theo wouldn’t have waited until twenty-eight to learn how to open a bank account. He would have learned how to drive. He wouldn’t have been comfortable with the perfect, pretty box they stuck me in.

I have no right to be upset at this man who has built an empire for himself.

“Are you sure?” he asks, his face drawn with concern.

I don’t get a chance to respond, because Brenda calls Theo over to have him light the grill, and I let myself be caught up in the totally normal family dinner. Well, normal if you’re a superstar hockey player and a daredevil billionaire.

Brenda wants to know when Theo’s next work trip is, because she might want to come, and Cole lets us know that his physical therapy for the knee injury he suffered last season is finally done.

When Cole asks how school is going, I look up at him in surprise. “It’s okay,” I say slowly. “I wouldn’t say I’m particularly good at it.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” Brenda says, leaning over to squeeze my arm.

“Cat doesn’t give herself enough credit,” Theo adds, shaking his head.

I know his words are all for show, but they warm something inside me anyway.

“A match made in heaven,” Cole says dryly, giving his brother a look.

“Don’t start,” Theo warns.

“Boys,” their mom says, and I’m reminded of years ago, when a warning word from Brenda was all it took for Theo to immediately stop what he was doing.

I smile, and he gives me a suspicious look. “Why are you grinning like that?”

“Just remembering how naughty you were as a kid,” I say lightly.

Cole laughs. “Remember when you tossed all of mom’s shoes onto the roof?”

Theo winces, and their mom groans. “I had to hire someone to get them all down.”

“Like you never did anything bad,” Theo says his brother.

“I’m a saint compared to you,” Cole shoots back.

Brenda just shakes her head, but she’s smiling. More proof that she’s the best mom in the world. Not for the first time, I wish I remembered my mom. My eyes sting, and I look back down at my plate. All I have is her diary and some faint impressions of her from my childhood. I shove the feelings down while I chew.

The steak is delicious, as are the thinly sliced mushrooms and the mashed potatoes Theo unveils. But best of all is the chocolate cake.

“It looks like the cake from Matilda,” I marvel. “Did you make this?” I immediately kick myself for asking the question. I should know whether he can bake.

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