Page 82 of Forever with the CEO

“You okay?”

She nodded, smiling. I was addicted to this woman: the way she smelled, the way she did just about anything.

As we ate the appetizers, Sophie said, “I’m surprised your parents aren’t here, Allison. Why on earth would they miss their only remaining daughter’s wedding?”

There was a loud clank. Gran had dropped her fork. I should have warned her about Bob and Sophie, about how rude they could be.

“That’s a very insensitive question,” Gran said right away.

The corners of my mouth twitched. Sophie’s face fell. Being scolded by a ninety-year-old was probably the height of humiliation for her.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Sophie said, but by the tone of her voice, it was clear that she did.

“My parents are not in good health, and traveling is very difficult for them,” Allison offered. “I thought you knew that. I know Nora mentioned it many times.”

“We’re going to visit them soon,” I added as I brushed my wife’s shoulders with my fingers, rubbing them up and down.

I quickly realized I was doing it for my benefit as much as hers. This wasn’t just for Sophie and Bob’s sake. I fucking needed to touch this woman. I even shifted closer on my chair. My thigh was now touching hers, and I instantly felt a change in her body. She straightened up slightly. This was insane. The more I touched her, the more I wanted her. The ceremony at city hall made everything seem real, seem possible. If I were to have a family, this would be it.

“Hmm. And none of your friends are here either,” Sophie continued, addressing only Allison.

“Since it was such short notice, not everyone could make it,” Allison said easily. “And as you know, we wanted to keep it small since the venue couldn’t accommodate a lot of people.”

Sophie narrowed her eyes. I knew Allison was close to losing her cool. Hell, I was close to doing the same. These two assholes hadn’t even bothered spending one second with their grandchildren since they arrived, not at city hall nor here at the restaurant. Ben and the twins were running around the place, and my family took turns chasing after them. But Sophie andBob hadn’t made any move to suggest they wanted to be around the kids at all.

I’d instructed the photographer to also take videos of the event, figuring they could come in handy for a potential trial. We’d have solid proof that they couldn’t even be bothered to be grandparents, much less the custodial guardians for the twins.

The waiters circulated with drinks and brought wine options as well. I looked around at my family, and something about this picture felt completely right. Ever since Leo had gotten engaged, I’d started to feel out of place at family gatherings. I was literally the odd man out. And while my relationship with my brothers had always been tight, there was no denying that it had changed now that they all had someone in their lives. Inevitably, we drifted apart as they spent more time at home. We didn’t do brotherly outings like before. I never truly understood why, but right now, I was beginning to.

For fuck’s sake, Nick. What the hell are you even talking about? You and Allison just signed a document to make things easier for her to keep custody.

Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was simply right.

“Are you going to have a honeymoon?” Sophie asked, continuing her inquisition.

“No,” Allison replied, “there was no way I could get time off work. Maybe we’ll plan something next year for the four of us to go.”

I could see that happening. We’d take the kids to Disney World. The twins would love it.

Fucking hell, I was already making plans for next year.

“You’ll continue to work?” Bob asked.

“Of course she will. I have a strong, independent woman next to me,” I said. “CFO is no small position.”

“But I don’t understand. You’re married now,” Sophie said. She and Bob exchanged a glance. You’d think that Allison had announced she planned to be a stripper.

“There is no reason that I can’t have a careerandbe married to Nick.” Her voice dripped with pride.

Fuck, I loved the way that sounded. She was married to me.Allison is married to me!

Sophie straightened up. “No woman who cares about her family wants to work.”

I saw red, and all thoughts of playing it cool flew out the window.

“Not even your sister—”

“Stop right there, Sophie,” I cut her off. “Try to be civil if at all possible or else you need to leave right now.”

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