Page 46 of Santa Daddies
The rehearsal was torture since I had to stand near Emily, but I wasn’t allowed to touch her. And being around Little Red and not doing so was akin to starving and watching people eat. And seeing her walk down the aisle twisted me up inside. I had never pictured anyone I’d dated walking down the aisle toward me. I’d never imagined them in a big fluffy wedding gown with my heart swelling and my gut flip-flopping either. And yet I did exactly that when she did her practice run down the aisle.
After only knowing this woman a few weeks, I knew without a doubt I wanted to marry her. Just like that first night, but this time I didn’t blow off the thought. Looking at my watch and seeing I had an hour before the rehearsal dinner; I made a quick trip into town.
Thoughts of marrying Emily were still floating around in my head when I walked into the small dining hall at the main chalet an hour later. Everyone was seated around a beautifullydecorated ornately carved oval table. It was the last dinner we’d have as a group before David and Charlotte were wed.
Christmas music played quietly in the background and the table was set with poinsettia-painted plates and napkin holders. The center pieces were lit-up crystal churches, set on mirrored plates made to look like skating ponds, and figures of children skated around the lit Christmas tree in the middle while a bride and groom were coming out of the church.
Emily was sitting next to Lucas, but she was facing Madeline and Charlotte. She looked beautiful as she laughed with her sister and soon to be sister-in-law. Her cheeks had a healthy pink glow and her eyes sparkled with happiness. Part of that glow was a direct result of what I’d done to her in the little church basement, but that was our little secret. Lucas scrolled his phone looking both bored and annoyed.
I smirked, happy the fucker wasn’t the center of attention like he expected. As I made my way to the spot beside David, I waved to the wait staff so they could start serving champagne. The room was still abuzz with chatting friends and family, so I leaned close to David, who was hovering over his bride’s shoulder to talk to his sisters.
“Hey, should I get this thing started?” David gave a cursory glance around the table and we both noticed an empty chair.
“Who’s missing?”
He looked at me, his brow furrowing as we both did a count.
“No one?” I questioned.
David frowned. “Hey, babe, is there anyone missing?” He pointed to the empty chair. Charlotte sat straight and both her, David, and Madeline suddenly resembled meerkats looking over the Serengeti.
And that’s when she walked in. My jaw slackened but my fists went tight.
David’s eyes cut to mine. “You told me she wasn’t coming. That you broke up,” he whispered harshly.
Charlotte’s head snapped toward me. “She texted me last night.” Charlotte’s eyes widened. “She said she was able to change her plans and make it after all. I thought you knew. She said you were back together. Lucas mentioned it to Madeline and me yesterday too. That’s her seat.” Charlotte gave me a pained expression. “Did I screw up?”
David’s gaze passed between us. Charlotte looked near tears, and I realized it was probably my angry expression, so I took a breath and forced myself to relax.
“I’ve got this.” I stood, my chair scraping the wood floor in an awkward noise as I did.
“Kristoffer!” David called once again in a harsh whisper.
I held up a hand. “Don’t worry, I won’t make a scene.”
He didn’t need to warn me. I’d never have made a scene, even if I wanted to pick her and Lucas up by their proverbial scruffs and toss them in a snowbank.
“Clara? What are you doing here?” I asked, walking toward my ex.
“Darling!” Clara, dressed in a red silk gown that dipped so low at the back it was an inch above obscene, reached out for me. “I was able to change my plans and come after all.”
Placing my hand in the small of her back, I tried to guide her back toward the door. She rubbed against my side like a cat before she realized I was ushering her toward to exit. As soon as she figured it out, she quickly turned and attempted to press a kiss to my mouth. I moved at the last second and her ruby-red lips hit my cheek instead. Even though I’d dodged my ex’s kiss, Emily’s face still paled.
Gritting my teeth, I looked at Lucas, who was smiling like the Cheshire cat. He put his arm over the back of Emily’s chair, and leaned closer to her, whispering in her ear.
When my eyes swung back to her, the pain in her expression was like a kick to the chest. Betrayal, confusion, hurt, each emotion splayed across her features like shadows.
By the time I was able catch her eye, Clara was telling everyone a story of me begging her to come and rescue me from all the couples that were making me ache with loneliness. And how could she possibly refuse such a handsome man?
“Clara, Kristoffer told us you weren’t coming,” David said. I was too busy watching a look pass between Clara and Lucas to notice David’s expression, but he sounded angry.
“He thought I had to be in Milan this week for a photo shoot. But when he called me, sounding so sad, I knew I had to find a way to sneak back and surprise him.” She started pawing me like an octopus and it snapped me out of my stupor. “My poor baby.”
“May I see you outside?” I asked, my voice tight, once again attempting to guide her from the room.
I looked back at David to reassure him, but he no longer looked like he cared about causing a scene. He looked like he was going to strangle me.
“Oh, excuse us. I guess we’re going to a have a proper hello,” Clara said with an overplayed giggle, wiggling her perfectly sculpted brows.
