Page 171 of I Choose You

“How about you start changing right now? Stop checking out Mercedes.”

He scowled, looking at me before glancing away.

“She’s your stepsister now!”

As the song turned to a livelier one with a coordinated dance behind it, he groaned and stepped back. I let go of him too. Despite our many differences, we shared a dislike for the Electric Slide.

“I thought I told the DJ to limit these things,” he grumbled.

I laughed, walking off the dance floor. We headed toward the table where Kaden waited for me, but I didn’t want this moment to end.

“Hey,” I said.

“Yeah?”

“What’s the deal with the plaid? Why does he hate it so much?”

He cracked up. Laughing so hard, he garnered the attention of several guests who couldn’t help but smile, his amusement infectious, even though they couldn’t know what we were talking about with the music so loud.

“He said you guys were off on Spring Break one year.”

A strong arm banded around my waist, cutting me off. Kaden growled, pulling my back against his chest in a hug.

“No. No way.”

Kody still laughed as he straightened. “We went to this beach party—”

Kaden stepped forward to chase him away. “Shut up.”

Kody retreated and shook his head. “I’ll tell you later,” he promised.

I giggled and grinned at Kaden, who groaned good-naturedly. “Maybe it’s not a great idea if you guys get along.” He rubbed his face. “All the embarrassing shit he’ll tell you.”

I kissed him quickly, seeing his dad and Margaux approaching and seeming to look for him. “I’ll love you no matter what kind of stories he has to share.” I winked, excited for all that was to come.

57

KADEN

As the night carried on, I danced, talked, and ate with Brooke. I realized this wedding was our first real date. Okay, maybe she wanted to consider that dinner with her mom our first official date. I felt more like that had been a meet-the-parent inspection check with the way her mom quizzed me and watched me interact with her daughter. I passed.

This wedding was supposed to be the finalization of our arrangement. Brooke was supposed to have been here with me as my fake date, concluding the charade. Instead, it marked the beginning of real dates, and I couldn’t wait for all the others to follow.

At the end of the party, we lingered among the few remaining guests who had yet to part. The music was winding down to slower, calmer songs. Dishes were still being cleared away. And Colette’s staff began the process of tidying the room as best as they could in preparation of everyone heading out.

Dad and Margaux said goodbye one more time. They’d stuck around the longest. I almost thought they’d leave early. If anyone could have the freedom to just take off, it would’ve been them.

I did not want to let the idea of their wedding night into my mind. Nope. I wasn’t going there. But they’d stayed. Instead of the need to kiss and hug and cling to each other, they’d treated most of the reception as a big party, talking and chatting with so many friends.

At last, they left, yawning and smiling as they climbed into the back seat of the limo I’d arranged for them.

Brooke sighed as she sat back in the chair of an abandoned table near the dance floor. She set her arm on the tablecloth then lifted it with a wince. Frosting from the cake had been smeared on the linen, and she dabbed it off with a napkin.

“Let me guess.” I sat and lifted her feet into my lap. “These are not the right shoes.”

She moaned as I removed her heels, and the sound shot straight to my dick. Tired or not, I would always react to those sexy noises.

“But they’re so pretty,” she pouted. She eyed the silver shoes as I set them on the table.