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THEO
My eyes scanthe room yet another time. This rehearsal dinner is finally over, thank God, but I have yet to set eyes on Cassie. The small number of guests that were in attendance tonight start to head home or up to their rooms here at The Alexander that has been booked for the weekend.
The feeling fills me with unease.
I haven’t seen her in a month and I know she’s here.
After the breakup, Nora stormed into my office and informed me that she would not be firing Cassie and that I would have to deal with it. That I needed to behave like an adult. If I hadn’t been so pissed, I would have laughed at the forceful nature in which my little sister demanded that I behave like an adult when my entire life, that’s all I’ve been.
But alas, I was in a bad way mentally and only grunted and told her I had a meeting.
Then I promptly tasked Meredith on all things HEA, Inc. and made sure I never had to see Cassie’s name even hit my inbox.
It was a catch-22 because I was so pissed at her, making sure I had no contact was necessary yet nearly every day for the past month I’ve held out a small sliver of hope that her name would pop up in my inbox or she would slide into my text messages. Or even a call.
But I know the silence is for the best. It’s what’s best for both of us.
“If you want to see her, I can find her.”
I’m startled by the voice behind me. It’s my sister.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I grumble and take a sip of my scotch. I lean back in my chair at a table near the bar that’s been set up in the back of this banquette room.
“You’ve been looking for her all night. She’s here, but she’s hiding. I don’t blame her. You’ve been extra grouchy tonight.” She takes a seat next to me.
“I haven’t.”
She laughs softly. “Theo, you better smile your way down the aisle tomorrow and as you give me away to Mateo, or I will cut you.” Her smile is gone and in its place is the face of a tyrant. A little sister from Hell.
I snort.
Her smile is back. “She didn’t want to attend tonight. I made her.”
My brow arches. “When did you become so bossy?”
“When my brother screwed my wedding planner, then broke her heart a month before my wedding,” she deadpans.
I sigh and take a longer pull of my drink.
I glance around the space again. Only a few people remain. The officiant just left, and a couple of bridesmaids linger, waiting to take Nora up to their suite for the night. Mateo and his parents and grandparents chat by the door that leads out into the lobby, which is where I suspect Cassie is. Her assistant has been floating around all night, which is why I originally thought she wasn’t here.
“I just wanted you to be happy,” Nora says quietly.
“I am,” I lie.
“You’re not. You’re grumpy. And lonely. And I wanted you to be happy.” She sniffs.
Turning my head to her, I find tears in her eyes. “Nora.”
“You and me, it’s just been us for so long now. But tomorrow I start my new life with my own family and all I wanted was to know that you had someone too. That you had someone to love, someone to make sure you smiled at least once a day. I needed to know I wasn’t leaving you behind. That’s all I wanted for you.” A tear drops on her cheek.
“Nora, that’s not your job.”
“I thought for sure that Cassie was the one.”
I let out a deep breath through my nose. She hasn’t brought up Cassie since she stormed into my office.
“I knew you were up to no good, skipping out on meetings and asking me to meet her. I may be perpetually grouchy, little sister, but I am not an idiot.”
