After You (Because of You 2)

“Is she having doubts?” he asks, flicking a glance up at me. “Is she freaking out in there, or is she all cool and collected?”

“Don’t worry about it,” I advise him.

“I’m not the marrying kind.”

“Neither is she,” I point out. “Yet, here we all are.”

“It’s not too late to call it off,” he states.

“It absolutely is too late to call it off,” I state. “I took time off work for this. If you don’t go through with the wedding, in addition to all the money you’ve wasted on this ceremony and the reception, I will bill you for my time.”

“You’re so cold.”

“Like an ice sculpture,” I agree. “Which you bought two of, and they’re non-refundable.” I take a step forward, straightening his slightly crooked bow tie. “You’re going to be fine. It’s just a party. You love parties.”

“Not parties where I give up all my freedom,” he disagrees.

“She’s giving up hers, too,” I remind him. “For some reason, she seems to think you’re worth it, and you know she is, so you better lock it down while you have a chance.”

“See, she thinks I’m the catch.”

“That’s why you need to get out there and marry her before she wises up.”

Smirking as he glances from me to his reflection, Alex informs me, “Watch it, my head’s gonna get so big I won’t be able to get out of this room.”

“You’ve spent enough years having your ego inflated. If you’re having doubts about marrying the much-younger knockout down the hall, you need to deflate a bit.”

“She is pretty hot,” he acknowledges.

I nod my agreement. “And interesting, to boot. You scored a ten. You’re a lucky dog.”

His gaze slides back my way. Foreboding slides through me as soon as his gaze lands on me, so I shouldn’t be surprised when his next words are, “How come Henry isn’t here with you? I thought I was finally gonna get to meet this guy.”

A flicker of irritation moves through me; it always does when Alex asks about my love life. I know he means well, but since he’s the only person in my life who witnessed my first—and last—crash-and-burn romance, I don’t like mentioning guys to him. Obviously he isn’t a normal, protective father, but since he survived my mother, he’s a little more aware of the severity of my romantic dysfunction than the rest of the world.

“He’s busy,” I say, simply. “He has a big case right now and it would’ve been stressful for him to take time off when he needed to be working.”

Alex appears entirely unimpressed. “He sounds like an asshole.”

My stern gaze snaps to his. “He is not an asshole. Henry is wonderful. He was willing to take the time off and come if I asked him to, but I told him it was fine. It’s not a big deal.”

“Sure,” he says, deceptively casual. “It’s only your father’s wedding. Those happen like every day. He can just catch the next one.”

I glare mildly.

“He should be here,” he states. “I don’t care if you told him he didn’t have to take the time off, he shouldn’t have missed this.”

“This is a new relationship, Alex. You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” I inform him, taking a step back and letting my gaze sweep over his tux to make sure he’s ready.

“I’m not,” he states. “I’m reading the signs and trying to intervene so you don’t fall madly in love with another inconsiderate asshole.”

“Henry isn’t an asshole, I told you that.”

“He’s a lawyer. I don’t believe you.”

I roll my eyes and sigh. “You’re annoying me.”

“I’m worried,” he states.