Page 33 of Never Fake Date the Financier
“How about Snickerdoodle?”
She snorts. “Oh, god. It’s perfect.”
I sigh. “Hopefully, I won’t have to fend off any more questions about him. Her?”
“Her.” Ella nods seriously. “Which reminds me… I might have mentioned a few more details about him that I should catch you up on.”
I clear my throat. “Such as?”
“Well, he has a few health concerns that require—Uncle Luther!” Ella interjects as I turn and find Uncle Luther hobbling over toward us in full-on military garb. Oh, Jesus. I’m having flashbacks to Thanksgiving decades ago, where he sat the kids around him and told us war stories before our parents could step in.
Now that I think about it, that was the last Thanksgiving I remember seeing him.
“There you are!” Uncle Luther says, clapping me on the shoulder with surprising force for a man who has to be pushing a hundred. “Big day tomorrow. Getting nervous yet, my boy?”
Ella and I exchange a glance as he turns his attention to Ella.
“And this lovely lady must be Sariah! Even more beautiful than I expected.”
He reaches for her hand as Ella’s eyes widen, and I step in, pulling Ella back. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding?—”
“Snickerdoodle,” Ella whispers from beside me, clenching my arm.
I snort. He’s harmless. Confused, but harmless.
“This is Gabriella, my girlfriend. I’m Adrian, not Max.”
Uncle Luther stares at me like I’m speaking a completely different language. His eyes go hazy for a moment before recovering that glint.
“Have I told you the time I fought off?—”
“Uncle Luther!” Max’s voice carries across the deck, momentarily saving us.
He turns, watching as Max approaches with Sariah, Lillian, and a couple of the bridesmaids in tow, while I lean toward Ella.
“Can I use Snickerdoodle too?”
“I don’t see why not.” She shakes her head, sighing. “Is this any indication of how the rest of the night will go?”
I slide my hand on her lower back without thinking as I lean in closer, watching as Max escorts Uncle Luther’s nurse to him. “It can only get better from here, right?”
“If you say so.”
A few moments later, Max arrives with Sariah and crew in tow. “Sorry about that. He gave Vivian the slip. Couldn’t find him anywhere. I hope he didn’t start in on one of his old war stories.”
“Saved us just in time,” Ella says, smiling.
“So glad you two could make it,” Sariah says, her eyes drifting to my hand still resting on the small of Ella’s back. “We were wondering when you two would arrive.”
“Fashionably late,” Ella replies smoothly. “I couldn’t decide what to wear.”
“Well, you look stunning,” Max says as I feel an irrational flare of possessiveness.
“Absolutely gorgeous, Gabby,” Lillian coos. “Such an interesting dress, and I love that bold color choice.”
I feel Ella tense beside me and give her waist a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “I never considered navy blue as a bold choice, but thanks. I love your…” Ella pauses as she scans Lillian, finally saying, “All of it.”
I hide my smile behind my glass of champagne. I think Lillian’s biting off more than she can chew with my girl. And I think Ella likes the back and forth.
