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She holds my hand with both of hers. “That’s because you feel guilty, but you shouldn’t. He loved you like his own flesh and blood, Imi. He wanted you to have it.”
“I know, but it still feels wrong.”
She smiles with sympathy. “I think we need to go and get horribly drunk tonight. Does Khristian have any hot, rich friends who need a sugar baby?” She laughs as I sputter my wine all over the table.
“You’re going to get us kicked out,” I say, wiping my chin with a napkin. “But I have missed you, Charli. It’s not the same back home without you.”
She smiles. “I know, I’m a hard act to follow.”
I’ve needed this. A good heart to heart and some time with my friend. I know I’ve been neglecting Ariana, but she’s so loved up with Lukas that I don’t want to rain on her parade with all my crap.
“I think alcohol is in order,” I go on. “It’s been a while.”
She tilts her wine glass to mine and smirks. “That’s my girl.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Imogen
London goes by too quickly.
I’m so happy when Khristian finally meets Charlize and they get along.
Of course, Charli makes stupid jokes and nudges Khristian in the ribs when she asked him when the wedding was. He didn’t back down, giving me a smirk while he answered her peppering questions for most of the night.
Khristian watched me like a hawk in the club. At one point, he came onto the dance floor and wrapped his arms around me, pushing me against a wall at the back, kissing me hard.
He makes me feel protected and loved, and like I’m the only woman that exists. He makes me forget about all the bad things in my life, and as if I’ve known him longer than I have.
Yes, it’s a whirlwind, but I know I’ve never felt this way before.
When we head back to Seattle, I tell Khristian I’m happy to meet with his lawyer. This matter has to be settled and I don’t want it going to court, not that Harold thinks they have a leg to stand on, it’s merely my mom making threats and trying to intimidate me. Mediation is our best course of action, but I know what I need to do now.
Khristian holds my hand in the car as we head downtown. “Do you ever drive?” I ask him out of nowhere.
He turns to me. “Yes, but not with you in the car.”
I frown. “Why not?”
He looks straight ahead. “Because I was driving the night my finance was killed. I never drive when I’m with someone I care about.”
My eyes go wide. I never even registered that was the reason. His hand clamps over mine and tightens. My heart pounds loudly in my chest.
“Khristian, I’m so sorry.”
He clears his throat. “The piece of shit who killed her, and our son, didn’t even remember. Can you believe that? He took out my family and didn’t even have any memory of doing it, because he was drunk and high on drugs.”
I bite on my lip, tears springing to my eyes at how horribly unfair it is. “He obviously went to jail?” I whisper. Not that jail would be good enough for someone who just wiped out your loved ones.
“Yes. The asshole was stabbed to death in a brawl and never made it out. Serves him right. He would’ve suffered a worse fate if he’d walked free one day.”
A shiver goes down my spine. He’s bitter and I get it. I can’t even imagine Khristian’s pain.
“Were you hurt in the accident?”
He takes a long time to answer. “I suffered a broken arm, a broken nose, some minor bruising and a concussion. The coroner said Nina died on impact — we were hit on her side of the car. They tried to save our baby…” He trails off. I squeeze his hand until he can continue. “Oliver James lived for about six hours. He was three months premature. He was too small to survive, none of his vital organs had developed properly. I couldn’t even hold him.”
I fold a hand over my mouth to save from sobbing. I rest my head on his shoulder. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
