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"You too, later on. And enjoy yourself."
Even though I was already a few feet away from him, I could still feel his eyes on the small of my back.
Audrey
Irolled my eyes. None of what was happening was necessary. Not tonight's party, not the biggest wedding celebration all of Honolulu had seen this year. A spread in the islands' most popular fashion magazine? Not necessary. A photographer who wanted more money than the cost of a sedan? Excessive. A wedding reception with hundreds of guests was a giveaway. So was theVera Wanggown, which was more of a statement piece for my father than what I wanted.
But here I was, at the pre-wedding party, letting it all wash over me so I could get it over with as quickly as possible and forget about the last stressful year and a half. A private party somewhere on the beach hadn't been an option. So my mom's designated wedding planner had mutated into my best friend for months– mostly because she took all the unpleasant tasks off my hands and I could continue to pretend that D-Day wasn't getting any closer.
It was absolutely impossible to sneak in among the guests and pretend that I had been there the whole time and had been caught up in a conversation. As soon as I took the first step into the foyer, Diana came running up to me with a smile. She put her hand around my forearm and positioned herself so that I couldn't be seen.
"You look absolutely fantastic," she said quickly before getting down to business. "Your fiancé just called to say he can't be here tonight. Work..."
The muscle under my left eye began to twitch. I raised my eyes and stared straight into the face of Lei Kealoha, one of my father's most important business partners. With the exception of my future husband, Alexander.
"I am not surprised," I said, keeping our eyes locked despite the whole room standing in between. I had no desire to see Diana's pitying expression or the curiosity on the faces of the others present.
I established a point in this room that grounded me. Lei's neutral, slightly grim expression was perfect.
"And my father?" I continued. If Alexander was absent, it was obvious that he had an important appointment as well, one that he could not afford to miss under any circumstances.
Finger by finger, I loosened the tight grip with which I had driven my nails into the palm of my hand. Beads of sweat formed on Diana's forehead.
"He also sends his apologies. But everyone will be there tomorrow for your big day."
"Wonderful," I groaned.
I put up with this whole circus for just two men, and both of them thought it was okay to stay away from all the festivities. I mentally counted to ten before taking a step away from Diana, freeing my arm and turning my gaze to her face instead of continuing to stare at the man who seemed like a curiosity in this room for more than one reason.
"When is the cake going to be brought out?"
"It will be served to the guests in ten minutes." She gave me a look of regret that I could interpret with a fair degree of accuracy.
No cake for Audrey.
Words my mother had undoubtedly uttered at some point during the afternoon. It could be that I'd put on five pounds overnight and wouldn't fit into the expensive designer dress that had cost a fortune and would gather dust in the closet after this one occasion, because I certainly wouldn't squeeze into it a second time.
"So while everyone else is enjoying a piece of the best cake in the world, I'm supposed to watch?" Sometimes I wondered if the men watching me felt the same way I did while I watched others.
My mouth watered at the thought of the cake, and yet it was certain I wasn't going to get any of it. I would probably have to skip dinner as well– or breakfast for that matter. Something would undoubtedly get cut from the menu to avoid the risk.
Maybe if I had moved out ten years ago at the first opportunity and sought distance, I really would have been better off. At least then I wouldn't be standing here tonight feeling completely out of place.
* * *
The friendly smileI kept on my lips all evening made my cheek muscles ache. The fact that no one noticed the emptiness in my eyes was debatable.
Somewhere around half an hour ago, I'd decided that enough booze had been consumed to cover up that I'd disappeared. No one missed the bride. A good night's sleep before the big day, or whatever it was you wanted to tell yourself.
By now, I knew the entire ceremony, every single second of the day's schedule, by heart, so much so that I could have done it all in my sleep.
I placed my phone on the stone tiles beside me. I had read Alexander's apology message preview, but I had no intention of opening it or replying. Officially, I was busy entertaining our guests and smiling away his absence.
"Unless I misheard earlier, Naomi has given the kitchen staff very clear instructions regarding your diet for the next few days," a male voice said so unexpectedly that I jumped and my shoe, which I had been carefully balancing on my toes the entire time, fell into the water.
Amused, I closed my mouth before looking over my shoulder at Lei leaning against the open patio door. Something he obviously liked to do. Leaning on things andwatching.
"And you've brought reparations for that gaffe, I see," I remarked, eyeing the plate he held. The plate looked tiny. That was only because Lei was a big man. "She'll rip your head off if she finds out."
