Page 18 of I Choose You

She was on my mind more than anything else. I wasn’t distracted at work. I got my shit done. But still, whenever I had a moment of downtime, it was her face I saw. For how often I replayed the moment of seeing her so shocked, I couldn’t simply dismiss her.

With most of my work done, I pulled out my phone to check off one other item on my to-do list. I scrolled through my contact list, seeking my friend who might be able to help me out in a pinch. Not my pinch but Dad’s.

At Colette’s name, I pressed send and exited my office. Pamela waved at me as I left, and by the time I reached the elevators, I got Colette’s voicemail.

Dammit. I’d hoped to speak with her, not leave a message.

I’d try again.

Once I reached the parking garage, I called again and got a hold of her.

“Hey, Kaden! What’s up?” she answered.

“I wanted to call and see about reserving the manor.”

Her family home had been converted to a venue for weddings and parties. When Dad first told me he and Margaux were still looking for a location to hold their nuptials, Colette’s place was the first place that came to mind. I’d recently attended a wedding there, a groomsman for when Colette married my friend Tristan. I knew she was eager to build the manor’s profile, and with how elegant Dad seemed to want this wedding to be, Colette’s place would be perfect.

If it was available.

“For…” Colette hedged for a long moment. “A party?”

“A wedding.”

She gasped. “For you?”

I chuckled as I headed toward my SUV. Driving in the city could be cumbersome, but after being at the office all day, I sometimes sought the privacy and comfort of my SUV. Impractical for the city, but it suited me.

A strange sense of solitude welcomed me when I entered the vehicle. Quiet, clean, and empty. When I was but one car among the many on the road, it was easy to feel small. Small, but not inferior, just one of the many. In a weirdly philosophical way, it grounded me, reminding me I was only one of the billions on this earth and no moment was guaranteed. Staying in the office and keeping my mind on work made me lose that connection sometimes, and as odd as it might be, driving my SUV through the busy city helped me find myself again.

Who the hell am I kidding? I just want to get away for a minute.

Especially Kody, who’d ignored my advice to keep his hands off the new receptionist. He’d already slept with her, and just this morning, she was giving him a cold shoulder and icy looks. It turned out she wasn’t just another pretty face to fuck and had wanted more.

“No, not for me. My dad.”

“Didn’t he just start dating someone?” she asked. Her question came quick, but I didn’t pick up on any judgment from her.

Sure feels like it. “They’ve been together for a few months.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful.”

I waited for a smile to come, but I wasn’t feeling it. Like Colette, my initial reaction was surprise. I couldn’t shake the hunch that Dad and Margaux were moving too fast, but I also realized it wasn’t my call. I wasn’t in any position to tell them how they should pace their lives.

“Your family manor was the first place I thought of.”

“When are they marrying? Have they set a date?” She giggled. “I’m sure they have a date in mind to be ready to secure a location.”

I gave her the date. “They’ve already sent out invites.”

“Oh! Wow. Okay, well, looking through the calendar here, we do have that day available. The whole weekend would be free.”

Now I smiled. I was still on the fence about the rush for Dad and Margaux’s wedding, but I looked forward to helping Colette. She’d converted the manor into a wedding and party venue to keep the building running, and I was happy to be able to help her secure a reservation. Dad confessed that he and Margaux wanted this to be the event of the year. Whatever packages Colette offered, I’d take the top tier. Colette would be able to pad her profile and add great pictures to further boost her manor’s reputation as an exclusive, highly sought destination.

“What if you and your father came out to see the manor next weekend? I’d love to show you the grounds and discuss the options.”

“Sure.”

“We’ve got a wedding on Saturday. It would be a great way to show you the setup and see what we can offer.”