Page 38 of Own Me

“Okay, then. Trust me. You will be dressed. You will look good. And that’sallyou need to know until Saturday night.”

Nervous flutters stir in my stomach.But I’m with Henry, I remind myself. Healwaystakes good care of me. “What’s the theme?”

“You’ll find out on Saturday.”

“Ugh! I don’t like this secret.”

“I can tell.” He enjoys keeping me in the dark.

I know better than to pump him for more information when he’s using that tone. I’ll have to work on him through the week to see if he’ll slip up. “I do want to talk to you about the quote for the catering company, though. It’s insane.”

“It’s fine.” Henry shuts his eyes, as if ready for sleep.

“But you don’t even know how much it is.”

“Is it more than five digits?”

“No, but—”

“Then it’s fine.”

I make a strangled sound. “People have hostedentirewedding receptions for the cost of this dinner party forninepeople.” Warner and Preston are coming with dates, and apparently, Margo always comes to this annual event, too, so when she caught wind of dinner at our place beforehand, she invited herself plus Joel.

“Just imagine what our wedding reception will cost. Are you still reading?” Henry’s unspoken request that I shut off the light.

“It seems excessive.” I flip the switch, throwing the room into darkness. That’s fine, I can never read in bed when he’s here, anyway. I can’t focus onanythingbut him.

“So was picking you up from Greenbank in a helicopter, but you didn’t complain then.”

I search for a retort but can’t come up with a suitable one. Besides, that stunt was so worth it when I saw the look of defeat on Jed’s face.

Henry sighs. “You’re marrying me, Abigail. You need to get used to a certain lifestyle.” He only uses my full name anymore when he’s lecturing me. After another beat, he adds, “If it makes you feel better, whatever we spend on Saturday, why don’t you donate double that amount to a charity of your choice.”

I do the quick math. Thatdoeshelp my conscience. “Anycharity?”

“Any charity your heart desires.”

I shift closer to him, pressing my lips against his bare shoulder. “What about something for ALS?”

His chest rises with a deep breath. He’s been hiding in work for most of the afternoon and evening, but I sense him hiding even deeper in his thoughts. Just last week, he was mulling over his life, feeling the pressure of being the only Wolf left. And in the last twenty-four hours, he has discovered that’s not true.

“Have you ever known anyone with it?” he asks quietly.

“No. Not personally,” I admit. “You? Before now, I mean.”

“One of my father’s best friends. He lived with it for almost ten years before his body gave up. He died five years ago.”

“Did you know him well?” I ask softly.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that. We golfed together for years. He was a big man and loud. Deep, booming laugh. It was hard watching his body stop working. I kept expecting to hear that laugh.” Henry pauses. “It’s unfair that Audrey couldn’t have more time with Violet. At least see her grow up.”

“Itisunfair,” I agree. “But diseases don’t care what’s fair. They don’t care if you’ve been a good person, or which god you pray to, or if you believe in one at all. They don’t care who you leave behind.”

Henry lifts his arm to wrap around me, pulling me up until my body is draped over his.

I inhale the delicious scent of soap still lingering on his hot skin. “I felt terrible for Audrey’s parents. Having to bury their child and finish raising a teenager at their age? I mean, they must be in their late seventies or—”

“Eighty-four. Both of them. They had Audrey later in life.”

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