“Nice to meet you,” she says.
Mitch stays quiet, and Steven’s expression turns neutral.
Xander, Charlotte, Piper, and Noah join us. The waitress comes by with bruschetta appetizers, and everyone takes one. Mitch takes two and stuffs one into his mouth.
Steven picks up the last one and hands it to me. “Here, have mine.”
“I’m okay. You take it.”
He looks at Mitch, who shoves the other one in his mouth. “No, I’m good.”
I take a bite then hold the other half to his mouth. “We can share. Here.”
He winks at me, takes a bite, and I’m once again in quiver land.
Charlotte clears her throat. “Anna, when do you go back?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Mitch says.
“I thought our flight is on Monday?”
“It was. I changed it today and bought commercial tickets.”
“What? Why?”
“Why not?”
“I was going to spend time with Chase and Vivian. Her mom is cooking Sunday dinner for us. I told you.”
He tilts his head and raises his eyebrow. “We’re going home tomorrow morning.”
Steven’s hand forms into a fist at his side. Noah crosses his arms, and Xander scowls at Mitch. Charlotte, Piper, and I exchange glances.
“I haven’t seen my brother or Vivian in a few months.”
“Deal with it. I need another drink.” He finishes his champagne and saunters off.
Anna’s eyes fill with tears.
I put my arm around her. “Let him go home. It’s not like you lost a ticket. You still have your seat on the flight for Monday with our families.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m just going to say it. You can do so much better,” Piper says.
“Piper,” Noah warns.
“What? It’s true.”
“I have to agree,” Charlotte chimes in.
“Agree about what?” Chase asks behind us.
Anna stiffens.
“Mitch bought tickets to leave tomorrow morning,” Steven responds.
Chase’s eyes turn to slits. “Let him leave. We have plans.”
Anna’s face crumples. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“He’ll be upset.”
“So what? Let him mope.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Why don’t you fill me in?”
“Chase.” Vivian puts her hand on his arm.
“Look, he’s under a lot of pressure at work right now and—”
“We all have a lot of stress,” Chase insists.
“You don’t understand,” Anna cries out.
Chase lowers his voice, and his face reddens. “Anna, you need to leave him.”
“Chase,” Vivian tries again.
He looks at her. “No. Enough is enough.”
“Not now,” she quietly says.
Steven steps back. “I think it’s time we got some real drinks. Harper, do you want a cabernet?”
“Please.”
He steps back and pats Chase on the back. “Let’s go. Vivian, you want water or something else?”
“Water is great, thanks.”
The men leave, and we circle the table.
“Anna, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. He’s just stressed. You have to keep Chase away from him.”
“Agreed,” Vivian says.
“I need to go to the restroom,” I say.
“I’ll go with you,” Anna replies.
“Okay.”
When we get inside the bathroom, I touch up my makeup, which is a mess from my tears.
I can’t believe I let Steven see me like this.
Ugh.
Anna comes out of the stall.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on between you and Mitch?”
“He’s upset with me.”
“Why?”
She bites her lip and shifts on her feet.
“Anna, tell me.”
Her eyes glisten. “I told him I didn’t appreciate him flirting with the waitress in the bar last night.”
“At the rehearsal dinner?”
“No, our hotel.”
“Hotel? You aren’t staying with Chase and Vivian?”
“Mitch didn’t want to, and I didn’t want him uncomfortable.”
I hesitate.
“What?”
“Do you think he’s cheating on you?”
A tear drops. “No. Yes. I don’t know.”
I embrace her, and she cries on my shoulder. “I don’t have any proof. It’s just that he’s always flirting, and last night I was waiting for him in bed. I had my lingerie on and everything, thinking we were on a trip. He knew I was waiting for him. He never came up, so after so many text messages, I put my clothes on and went down to the bar and...”
“And what?” I quietly ask.
“The waitress was on his lap, and they were taking shots together.”
That piece of crap.
“Anna—”
“I better get back out there. I don’t want Mitch mad.” She wipes her eyes. “Don’t say anything to anyone. Please?”
“I won’t.”
We go down the hall, and Chase yells, “You motherfucker.”
“Get back,” Steven booms.
We turn the corner, and Steven holds Chase back. Noah has Mitch, and Xander stands between them.
“Mitch! Chase! What are you doing? We’re at a wedding.”
“We’re out of here.” Mitch shrugs out of Noah’s grasp and tries to grab Anna.
“What?” she cries.
Chase tries to go after him, and Steven pushes him against a wall. “Calm down. This is my sister’s wedding.”
“Anna, now,” Mitch orders.
I pull her into me. “She’s not going. This is our family event, and she’s part of it.”
Mitch steps in front of me and points in my face. “Bitch, mind your own business.”
Steven spins, pushes him away from me, and lands a punch in the middle of his face. Blood spurts everywhere, and Anna screams.
Noah pulls Mitch away, Xander and Chase try to hold Steven back, but he’s like an enraged beast, trying to get free.
“Don’t you ever speak to her like that, you piece of shit.”
“You’re going to pay for this,” Mitch says.
“Bring it,” Steven growls.
Security comes over, along with Quinn and Jamison. Anna retreats with Mitch to one side of the room.
Steven looks at Quinn, and he shuts his eyes.
“It wasn’t his fault,” Chase claims.
“How is Mitch’s busted nose not your fault when you’ve got blood all over your hand?” Quinn asks.
“He called Harper a bitch.”
Jamison’s eyes turn to slits. “Where is he?”
Noah steps in front of him. “No, man. It’s your wedding. Steven took care of him. Stay out of it.”
“Quinn, I’m sorry,” Steven says.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah.”
“Your hand is swollen.”
“It’s fine.”
A security officer comes over. “Mr. Sinclair, we need you to leave the premises.”