Page 115 of Worth the Chase

“Oh, yay! You’re already here.” I smiled at everyone, happy to see them.

The only person missing was Anna, but she was working harder than I’d ever known she could. She was getting everything prepped for the time she’d be out of the office. There were multiple new products to photograph and get scheduled online for orders. She’d let me know she couldn’t get away, and I’d understood. I was happy that she’d found not only something she enjoyed, but was actually good at as well. I’d be seeing her soon enough anyway.

“I have your dress in the room for you. Does everyone want champagne or mimosas?” Sandy asked as she led us toward the oversize back space.

It was filled with full-length mirrors and had an elevated platform in the center. There were multiple velvet couches and ahandful of chairs. You wouldn’t have even known this existed if all you did was peruse the dresses out front.

“Yes to mimosas, please,” I answered.

She disappeared to go grab the champagne and glasses; I assumed. Part of me almost offered to help. Occupational hazard.

The group of us sat down and got comfortable right as Sandy returned, carrying a tray of flutes with the orange juice already in them and a large bottle of champagne. She placed the tray down and reached for the bottle.

“I’m pretty bad at opening these, so my apologies in advance,” she said before I extended my hand.

“I’m a professional.” I laughed.

She shoved it toward me. “Thank God. I’m always afraid I’m going to take someone’s eye out.”

We all laughed as I popped open the top and caught what was about to spill with one of the flutes.

“You really are a professional.” Sandy smiled as she took the open bottle from me and filled the rest.

She offered a glass to each one of us, along with a plastic flute filled with orange juice only for Clara. Her little face lit up at being included.

“To Bella and Matthew,” my mom said, her voice already shaky with emotion, and my eyes started to well with tears.

“We’re all so happy for you,” Brooklyn added.

“And for us,” Addi said with a grin. “You’re getting married on an island. How cool is that?”

“It is pretty outlandish.” I giggled and raised my glass in the air.

“In the best way,” Brooklyn said before yelling, “Cheers!”

Everyone took a sip, but I noticed that Addison hadn’t. She’d only pretended to. Her eyes swung to mine, and I was about to call her out when Clara spoke up.

“I’m going to miss Jasper.”

“I know.” I gave her a sad face. “Is Patrick freaking out about being away from him for so long?” I asked.

Addi frowned. “They’ve never been apart,” she said with sadness in her voice.

I hadn’t even considered that, but it was true. Patrick hadn’t ever left Jasper before, and now, he was going to be gone for a week.

“Maybe you can just sneak him on the plane? It is private. Distract Matthew and bring him on.”

Addi laughed. “Well, Mrs. Green is going to stay at our place so Jasper is more comfortable and doesn’t think we abandoned him or aren’t ever coming back. And Patrick plans on video-chatting her every day, so she’s been warned about that.”

Mrs. Green was Clara’s after-school babysitter. Jasper had been around her multiple times, so it made the most sense for her to stay with him instead of him being boarded with a bunch of strange dogs and people that he didn’t know.

“That’s good. So, tell me then, why aren’t you drinking?” I asked, and everyone turned to stare at her.

Her face paled, and I knew she was about to try to lie.

“I, um… no reason,” she said, and the group of us flashed questioning looks at one another.

“I knew it.” I shook my head.

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