Page 68 of Wed to You-
“Chelsea.”
“I’m okay.” She pulled out a mini-bottle, reading the label. Vodka. While she could use a stiff drink, she didn’t want to go through the hassle of figuring out how to mix one in a limo. Rummaging around, she found a demi-bottle of champagne. They weren’t in a celebratory mood, but it didn’t require mixing.
She popped the top and quickly put the mouth of the bottle to her lips to avoid spilling. The bubbles exploded in her mouth. With an apologetic smile toward Jagger for her uncouth action, she wiped her mouth.
He was watching her with those intense blue...ice?...eyes. Sheheld the bottle to him. “Maybe this will help?”
“It would take a tanker of booze to help deal with him.”
Sitting back on her heels, she nodded. “I can see that. But he’s not here now. So, what’s the problem?”
One dark brow rose. “It’s not something I can let go of easily.”
“Why not?” She took another drink, waiting for the slight lightheadedness that came from champagne. She always wondered if it was the bubbles or the booze. Or maybe it was the combination of both.
“Because he has that effect on me.”
She studied him. “You should learn to let it go.”
“Just like that?”
“Well, sometimes it takes a little more than that, but yeah. Holding on to it just lets him win. He’s not even here now and he’s winning.”
His jaw tightened. “You can just let things go?”
She nodded. “If I was one to hold on to stuff, I’d still be mad about you ditching me at Mitch and Sydney’s wedding.”
“The fact that you’ve just brought it up suggests that maybe you are.”
“Nah. I’m letting you make it up to me. It was one of the perks of getting married, remember? You know, when Brian used to get all bent out of shape, my mom—”
“You say that like I’m being unreasonable.”
“No. You have every right to be angry, but like I said, you need to let it go. Be in the moment.”
“In this moment, I have my father threatening to go to court over Kaden’s trust and my grandfather’s will, and Kaden’s mom trying to take him away from me.”
“No. In this moment, there is me and you in the back of a limo in New York City.” His expression suggested he thought she couldn’t understand, but she did. “I know angst and tension and grief.”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, maybe because her tone turned angry.
“My brother was killed by his own colleagues. My mother died of cancer a year later. I could barely afford to pay my bills and carried the burden of being the Beemer who might lose the family house. Don’t think I haven’t felt utter despair. But what did the worry and anger and bitterness get me? Nothing. In fact, it kept me from having what I want. So, I did the best I could, and I’ve worked to be grateful for what I’ve got.”
“My father insulted you in the worst possible way.”
“So what? Don’t you think everyone at that party knows he’s heinous? They admire you and what you’ve done to turn your life around, and what you’ve done for Kaden.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I talked to them.”
His lips twitched upward, but the smile they hinted at didn’t reach his amazing eyes.
“Here.” She put the champagne down and climbed up next to him on the seat. Outside, bright lights rushed by, but she ignored them. She maneuvered onto her knees, her kneecaps lightly brushing his thigh. She leaned toward him, pressing the first two fingers of each hand on either side of his temple.
He eyed her with wary confusion.
“When my mom had a bad day, I massaged her temples. She said it helped.” She continued to rub his temples in slow circles.
