Page 155 of Fall I Want
“Home,” she says with a grin. “I love the sound of that.”
“I’ve missed the manor,” I admit.
“I have too.”
Autumn dresses and I meet her eyes.
“How do I look?” she asks, adjusting my tie and hair. It’s no use.
“Fucking gorgeous and guilty. But there’s nothing you can do about that, babe.”
She presses her fingertips across her lips. “I guess you’re right about that.”
I unlock the door and lead her back to the reception with our fingers interlocked.
We move to the far side of the room, giddy, like teenagers in love.
I notice many people are staring, but I try to ignore it. We don’t look disheveled enough to stop a crowd, do we?
“Is my butt hanging out or something?” Autumn whispers, glancing behind her.
I look too. “Nah, your ass of mass destruction is put away.”
“For now,” she says, and we both laugh.
The bartender approaches us.
“I’d like a gin martini. Extra dirty.” She eyes me.
“Make it two.” I lean over and whisper in her ear, “Keep looking at me like that, and we will leave.”
She smirks. “I love how it sounds like a threat. I know better, though.”
Just as we’re handed our drinks, we turn to a commotion. Across the room, I notice Nicolas and Celine arguing against the wall. Autumn sees it, too, and glances at me over the rim of her glass.
Other people start to notice, too, because she’s raising her voice. I scan the room, searching for my sister as Celine reaches forward and slaps Nicolas.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Autumn says, her nostrils flaring. She glances at me.
Celine’s voice echoes across the room. “I never loved you. I’m still in love with Zane.”
Gasps sound throughout the room and I see my father and Silvia’s heads turn.
“We have to get them out of here.” Autumn steps forward, but I grab her hand and pull her back to me.
“This is part of the game, babe. Ignore it. Pretend she doesn’t exist. She’s searching for attention.”
“Handle it,” she nearly begs, and I can see how uncomfortable she’s growing. How uncomfortable every person in the room is. Eyes traverse the room from us to Celine and Nicolas then back.
“Okay. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
She nods and I place a kiss on her cheek. When I move away from her, I wear a frustrated scowl. When I’m fifty feet from Celine, I see my dad and sister approaching.
“You need to leave,” my father says.
“Now,” Harper demands, like a little bulldog. She’s always been intimidating.
“No!” Celine yells. Her anger is now directed at me. “You were supposed to marry me! Me! You promised me!” she cries out, her throat raw. “It’s over, Nicolas. It’s over! You’ll never be as good as him. Ever!”
