Page 64 of The Merger
I waited for him to say he was joking, but he didn’t flinch. When he didn’t I said, “I’d hardly think staying up all night with a crying baby is being lucky.”
Sabrina’s eyebrows went up, smoothing out the creases. “That’s because we haven’t gone inside yet.”
Voices filtered into the foyer. Sabrina groaned, and we followed the sound. The main section of the house had been cleared out for the party. There were round tables set around an open space for a dance floor. There was even a string quartet playing softly up in the front of the room.
Sabrina looked up at Colter. “Do you know anyone here?”
He snagged a couple flutes of champagne off a tray a waiter was circulating with and handed one to Jana. “Unfortunately. You’ve skipped most of these functions. I was forced to go to them until I left for college. Nothing changes, not even the faces.”
I went to grab a couple for Sabrina and me, but she waved me off. “I need to keep a clear head when dealing with my mother.”
When I didn’t grab one for myself, she said, “I didn’t mean you can’t have one. You might need it to make it through the night.”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “If you’re not drinking neither am I.”
“People will think you’re pregnant,” Colt mumbled into his glass.
Sabrina and I exchanged a look. “Good point,” she said and grabbed two glasses. She still didn’t drink it, but at least we looked like a happy non-reproducing couple.
A woman, I assumed to be Annalise, floated over. The cloud of her expensive perfume preceded her, choking out the fresh air with its cloying sweetness.
“Darling,” she said loud enough for nearby guests to overhear her. “There are so many people you simply have to meet!”
She latched onto Sabrina’s arm and pulled her toward a crowd of Annalise twins. At a minimum they went to the same plastic surgeon and hairdresser. Individually they all had a cold, sort of clinical beauty. Each of them had the same shade of golden blonde hair that fell just past their shoulders, twisted into some kind of fancy updo smoothed back without a single hair out of place. The similarities continued to the makeup colors they used to the style of dresses they wore.
Sabrina looked back at me, and mouthed, “Help.”
“I’d better go rescue my wife.” I tried to fight the smirk pulling at the corner of my mouth. This wasn’t the right time to show amusement, but I did love calling her my wife.
I was halfway across the room when a familiar voice hit me. The urge to run from the party was strong. Somehow my feet continued to carry me forward. Before I was ready, I found myself standing next to the woman who altered the course of my life.
Sabrina let out a sigh when I moved next to her, and I forced out bad memories to focus on who was really important. Her arm threaded through mine, and she held on for dear life. I forced myself not to look at the clones and find the icy blue eyes my brother shared.
“Ladies,” Annalise began, “I’d like to introduce you to my son-in-law, Stryker Lawson.”
She looked at me. Her eyes sparkled with a malicious joy. Addressing the woman I was trying hard to ignore, she said, “I believe you know Jacinda Graham. Sabrina has known the Grahams nearly her entire life, but I only just learned you have as well.”
Sabrina had warned me her mother was evil, but I never would have imagined she’d invite my wicked stepmother to a party she threw to celebrate our marriage. Part of me wanted to see how Jacinda would respond to being forced to interact with me. She’d spent thirty-six years doing her best to pretend I didn’t exist.
The sneer on her face was the first indication her words would be dripping with venom. “I’m surprised at you, Sabrina. You were clearly brought up in a fine family. You and my Malcolm were always so close growing up, I’d have thought you would have had higher standards for who you chose to spend your life with.”
Annalise laughed. “I think you’re confusing Sabrina with my youngest, Waverly. Sabrina was raised by her father, and he certainly never cared for proper society. I’ve never quite understood your husband’s friendship with that man. He’s so pedestrian.”
I was near boiling with rage. She warned me not to come here, but I didn’t listen. I’d stupidly thought these people would matter. Maybe because I’d always been kept away from these types of functions. As a temporary CEO I never had to court business, and never ended up networking at these events in that capacity either. Instead, I pushed Sabrina into a situation that was going to do nothing except hurt her.
Turning to Sabrina, I tipped her chin up with my finger so she would look me in the eyes. The glassiness of her blue eyes showed me how hard she was fighting not to cry. “I’m sorry, Sunshine. You were right. We shouldn’t have come.”
Before they could respond I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the aging mean girls club. “Let’s go grab Jana and Colter and get the fuck out of here.”
She squeezed my hand, and let me lead her back to our friends. Colt went on alert the moment he laid eyes on Sabrina. “What happened?”
She swiped angrily at a tear that managed to escape. “Just the usual. Annalise had to remind me I’m not “Princess Waverly. I don’t know why I’d hoped maybe she really did want to do something nice for me.”
If she’d have shot me it would have hurt less. Either way, I felt like I had a wound oozing from my chest. “This is my fault. I pushed when you didn’t want to come. I should have listened to you.”
Her breath shuddered as she fought the urge to break down. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. For years I tried to become the man who was worthy to hold her when she cried. I didn’t think I’d be the one to cause the tears.
“Speak of the devil,” Colt muttered as a commotion by the front door made us all turn and look.