Occasionally, I’d feel like Melissa was looking at me, but her eyes were fixed on the plate in front of her when I looked over at her. It felt like I was going crazy with paranoia.

I looked over at Christian, and he smiled at me before holding my hand under the table. Over and over again, I told myself that I was worthy of Christian. I wasn’t going to back down from a confrontation, and I wasn’t going to let them think that I couldn’t stand by their son.

Indeed, I couldn’t boast of as much money as they could, but if Christian felt the same way I felt and I was certain of how I felt, I wouldn’t let him fight for us alone.

The dinner table was cleared, and all left were the glasses of red wine. I didn’t bother drinking mine for fear that my hand was going to shake, and they would all know how nervous and scared I was.

“I heard from Kevin that you invited him to a restaurant to tell him and his family off,” Christian’s father said, breaking the silence.

I snapped my head to look at Christian, who immediately rubbed his thumb on the back of my hand, his eyes never leaving his parents.

“I didn’t tell them off.”

“Saying you don’t need them sounds like the same thing to me.”

Christian exhaled and looked to the side before turning his attention back to them. “I needed to make sure they understood what I meant at dinner the other day. And I didn’t want the both of you interfering with it.”

“We’re your parents,” Melissa said immediately, sparing me a look as if I was going about pointing at random people and trying to convince Christian that they were his parents.

“I know that, Mom,” Christian said, shaking his head. “Isn’t that why you should be happy that I found someone I love?”

I squeezed Christian’s hand to show him I was there for him. When Melissa looked over to me, I offered her a small smile. I didn’t back out of the staring even when it got too much.

“I don’t understand why it must be her,” Melissa said. “She’s Allison’s best friend for Pete’s sake. What does your sister have to say about this?” But she doesn’t wait for a reply, as if she already knew Allison wouldn’t be opposed to the happiness of her best friend and brother. “If I had known that you would end up bringing this much trouble to me, I would have stopped your friendship with Allison a long time ago.”

“I love her,” Christian said again, “and you know her. Shouldn’t you be grateful I’m bringing someone you’re already comfortable with?”

Melissa opened her mouth to say something, but she closed it again. I looked away from her to Christian’s father, who had said nothing. I found him watching me, and again, I didn’t try to look away from his stare.

“I know I don’t seem like the right person for your son,” I said, looking away from him to Melissa, who looked the maddest in the room. “The entire time I was a kid, I didn’t feel like I was the right friend for Allison either. Over and over, I tried to get you to like me, to forgive me for whatever sin I committed against you, but it didn’t matter in the long run. Nearly eight years later, you’re still thinking the same things. Normally, I would have tried to avoid you, but this isn’t as easy as being friends with Allison in a way you approved. This isn’t about making do with the fact that you didn’t like me. I love Christian, and you’re his mother. You mean the world to him, the both of you.”

I looked over to Christian’s father to make sure he knew he was still a part of the conversation. “I don’t want him to lose his family over this, and honestly, I’m not about to let go of him either.”

I squeezed Christian’s hand tighter, desperate for something to cling to.

“I don’t want Christian to give up being CEO for me. He’s worked too hard for it, and Allison has no interest in being the CEO. And I know you don’t want to lose your son, and even though he’s trying to be tough, I know he doesn’t want to lose you too. I know it would break my mother’s heart if I did not speak to her again. I’m not going to let go of Christian because he’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been. And I’m greedy like that. I want to cling to him; I want to make him as happy and safe as he has made me feel. So, if you could take that into consideration and give us your blessing, that would mean the world to us.”

I took a deep breath and squeezed Christian’s hand again. He squeezed mine back, and I looked over to him with a smile. Christian was also smiling back at me.

When I looked over to his parents, his father still had the same blank expression. Melissa, on the other hand, was worrying her lips. I took a deep breath and waited for them to reply.

Those words were way more than I expected to say. I thought I’d sit next to Christian and follow his lead. I thought the second he started talking, his parents were going to see reason and give in to him.

“I can’t believe this,” Melissa said, looking at her husband.

He looked over to her, and I could see the smile on his face. “Let’s stop fighting him on this. The kid’s mind is already made up, and if he stops calling because we refused to give in to this one thing, can you handle it?”

Melissa rolled her eyes and looked over to us. “I’m going to be watching you closely, Fiona. If you hurt my son, I’m going to make sure I hurt you just as well, your mother would have to come and hear the reason why.”

I grinned widely even though she just threatened me. Calling me Fiona was as green as the light I would get in respect to Melissa.

Chapter Twenty

Christian

“What do you think about this one?” I asked and brought the shirt closer to the screen.

“I can’t see it properly. You know that, right?” Allison’s voice was light with laughter.

I moved further back from the camera to give her a full view of the flower-patterned shirt I got for the date with Fiona.

It would be our first date, and I was determined to look my absolute best.

“It’s a nice shirt,” Allison reported back to me, and I smiled at the screen. With the shirt now sorted, I laid it on the bed and walked over to the wardrobe to pull out the pants I hoped would go with it.

“I can’t believe I’m about to go on a date with Fiona,” I said and grinned widely.

“All of which would not happen if you didn’t listen to me,” Allison said. “Come to think of it, it would have happened a lot sooner if you had actually listened to me when I told you to tell her.”

“I was petrified.”

“I’m literally your sister and her best friend. I most definitely would not be egging you on if neither of you felt the same way.”

I pursed my lips. “I most definitely wasn’t thinking about that.”

Allison laughed out loud, and I grabbed the pants, and turned to face her.

“I’m glad you both got to confess your feelings, and are now going on this wonderful date that is going to give way to a wedding.”

My eyes widened. “Did she say anything?”

Allison laughed even louder. “Y’all haven’t even gone on one date. You might go out with her and discover some bad habits that would put you off for life.”

I joined her in the laugh, but I shook my head vehemently. “I don’t think Fiona can do anything at this point that would scare me off her.”

“You say that now.”

I laughed again.

“Oh, look who’s calling. I have to be an emotional support system for my best friend. Your turn is over. Make sure to tell me all about the date.”

“Fiona will tell you.”

“I’d like both accounts.”

Allison hung up, and I threw my head back, staring at my ceiling. When Allison told me she found me an assistant, I never thought I would end up here with Fiona. It filled me with warmth to know that my sister was on the phone picking up Fiona’s clothes just like she did for me. Knowing my sister, she was going to do everything in her power to make sure that we ended up in something similar.

The prospect thrilled me.