Page 16 of The Acquisition

Evie narrowed her eyes. "There's a lot you aren't telling me, isn't there?"

Sabrina snorted. "You could say that."

For probably the hundredth time, I shot her a look meant to shut her up. "Don't worry about it right now. We aren't hiding things from you, it's just not the right time to tell you everything."

Evie put down the tube of lipstick she was getting ready to apply and shook her head. "Nope. We aren't doing this. I hate secrets, especially when I'm on the wrong side of them. Tell me now because I'm not going out there until I know what's going on."

"Jana got kicked out of her apartment and spent the night with your dad," Sabrina blurted out.

Grace strolled over and took her flute of champagne away. "That's probably enough bubbly for you, dear."

Evie stood staring at me with her mouth hanging open.

"Don't look at me like that. I crashed in his guest room because I didn't know who to call after the disaster of a party. I knew you were likely already asleep, and anyway, he picked me up and let me stay in his guest room," I quickly explained.

She exhaled. "Okay, I can understand that. It would be super weird if you were dating my dad. I mean it's already weird that I'm having his best friend's baby, but that doesn't mean he should date my best friend."

A small part of me felt both irritated and guilty. I couldn't deny that I wanted Colter, even if I did plan to deny myself the pleasure of having him. Still, being told I couldn't have him didn't sit well.

"Is that everything?" Evie asked.

"I'm your aunt." Sabrina slapped her own hand across her mouth. "Oh my god! This is why no one lets me drink."

"You think?" I snapped. Looking up at the ceiling, I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. "So, there's also that. Her mom married Colt's dad when she was a toddler, so technically she's his stepsister. And no," I held my hands out in front of me, "I didn't know all this time. I found out this morning."

Evie turned her face toward Sabrina.

Sabrina's eyes were the size of saucers, and she kept shaking her head back and forth. "I'm so sorry. I've known Beck forever, so we never really talked about it, because it's just always been our normal. Honestly, I don't think Colt likes to talk about our parents, so we never bring it up. We didn't really grow up together either. But, I mean," she took a deep breath. "We weren't hiding it from you. No one knew you were his daughter when you first showed up, and we became friends. I was afraid you wouldn't see me the same after that, and I really wanted to be friends."

Evie looked at me and smiled slightly. "It's fine. I mean, it's really weird, but I'm not mad. I'm not calling you Aunt Sabrina though."

"Please don't," Sabrina said, relief evident in her voice.

"No more alcohol though, okay?" Evie suggested.

There was a knock at the door followed by Colt's booming voice effectively ending the awkward conversation. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Evie said, her voice breaking slightly. She reached for my hand, and I gave hers a squeeze.

The door creaked open, and he strolled in looking like James Bond, sophisticated but with that lingering air of bad boy clinging to him. No matter how many sweet things he did, I needed to remember that the reputation he had for being a playboy was also a part of who he was.

I was the woman men lusted after, the one they wanted to spend the night with. I wasn't the girl they loved and wanted to spend their lives with. I needed to not forget that if I wanted to keep my heart in one piece. One shattering heartbreak in a lifetime was plenty.

His eyes fell onto Evie, and his usual aloof expression was replaced by pure love and pride. She took his offered elbow, and we began to move toward the main room where the ceremony was going to take place. At the end of the hallway, Sabrina and I rushed ahead to take our seats. Fitz waited to escort Grace down to their seats. Despite the fact we were the entire guest list, the ceremony proceeded as formally as if there were hundreds of people present.

Beckett didn't seem to notice or care that the audience consisted of two women he worked with and a few empty chairs. Once his eyes found Evie, he didn't see anyone else.

Since there weren't any other guests, no one stood up with them. Colt and I were set to sign the certificate after the ceremony, but otherwise my only duty was to watch my best friend finally get the life she deserved.

The wedding was perfect for Evie. Having a lot of guests wouldn't have suited her since she was such a private person. The only ones she wanted to share such an important moment with were the people she was close to.

Despite the small guest list, I was able to slip into the background. I smiled when someone seemed to notice me and went through all the motions of what was expected of me. It was hard though because every person in the room, apart from me, was family. Colter and Sabrina were joined with the Andersons through Evie. The only one who didn't belong was me.

They were all talking and laughing, and I managed to slip out to one of the patios unnoticed. The air was chilly, and I would have liked to have a coat, but it was more important to have the peace of solitude than to be warm at that moment. My thoughts were so loud. I needed to gather myself without feeling like someone was watching. Not that anyone was. None of them seemed to notice me fighting to keep the smile on my face.

I wrapped my arms around myself and studied the moonlight reflecting on the snowcapped mountains.

Even though it was quiet, I didn't hear anyone walk up behind me. I didn't realize I wasn't alone until a suit coat was dropped around my shoulders.

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