Page 22 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

Sabrina, noting she had her work cut out for her, addressed Izan directly. “If the amaretto is too much for you, we could use apple wine, which I know is popular in Norway.”

Taken aback by Sabrina’s kindness, Izan’s defenses momentarily dropped. “How very kind of you. But I will let my bride choose the cake.”

“Good idea.” Sabrina grinned. “I hope, though, that you plan on wearing a bunad to the wedding to honor your heritage.”

Izan looked confused for a moment before he laughed. “No, no. Once again, I’ve left that decision to my bride.”

“What is a bunad?” Lexi asked while shoving a large bite of cake into her mouth. Apparently she didn’t really care about the calories.

“I’m sure Soren will be happy to fill you in.” Sabrina moved on to our table with a look that said, Check, as if she were playing chess. Her tenacity was going to get her in trouble, although I admired her spunk.

I watched as Izan shoved a piece of cake in his mouth and pulled out his phone. No doubt he had to look up what a bunad was. It was traditional Norwegian wedding clothing, which he should have easily known about if he were from Norway and not Spain.

“Speaking of wedding clothing”—Callie obviously knew exactly what Sabrina was talking about—“I was hoping that we could convince you to be in the wedding party. Poor Soren was just told today that his two groomsmen from Norway can’t make it because of a family emergency, and, as luck would have it, his best man has come down with pneumonia.”

That sounded quite unlucky. “What a shame.” I did my best to commiserate.

Meanwhile, Sabrina dropped the cake she was serving to her father on the floor and said, “Cash will absolutely not be in the wedding.”

“Why ever not?” Callie asked.

Sabrina gripped the back of Mercer’s chair, trying to maintain her composure while shooting darts at me with her gorgeous eyes. “Because I’m sure Lexi and Soren don’t want a stranger in their wedding party.”

“Let’s ask them,” Callie said reasonably. “Lexi, dear,” Callie called.

Lexi turned with frosting on her lip.

Callie pointed at her own lip to let her daughter know about the frosting.

Izan took care of the frosting situation by kissing it off her. The man played his part well.

“Honey, I was just thinking,” Callie drawled, “that the receiving line is going to look awfully bare with no groomsmen. But I have a solution.” Callie patted my shoulder, seemingly enjoying herself. “We could have this guy here and Drew in the line, if both are amenable.”

Izan snapped his head my way, a vein throbbing in his neck.

Lexi, on the other hand, gave me a good once-over. “He would look good in the pictures, and we do need at least a couple of groomsmen.”

“It’s settled, then.” Callie smiled, ever so pleased.

Izan gave me a hard stare before plastering on a fake smile for Callie and his bride. “Excellent,” he lied through his teeth.

“Cash never said yes,” Sabrina reminded her mom while her facial expressions told me I’d better damn well say no.

Every eye at the table ping-ponged between us to see how I would answer.

Unfortunately, I was going to have to let Sabrina down again. While I didn’t enjoy disappointing her, I hated the thought even more of not protecting her. And ... perhaps I had some ulterior motives. “Will I be the one to walk Sabrina down the aisle?” It was my one shot to have a wedding experience with her.

Sabrina gripped the chair so hard, her knuckles turned white while she shook her head no, silently begging her mom to do right by her.

Callie paid her no attention. “I think that would be lovely.”

“Sold.”

I hate you, Sabrina mouthed.

I hated myself too, but I couldn’t wait to attend my first—and probably only—wedding.

Sabrina

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