“I don’t have anything to say to the man who feels nothing for me.”
“He didn’t say that,” Mimi said.
“Close enough.” Stef slurped a melting marshmallow off the surface of her cocoa.
Chase muttered something that sounded like “That thickheaded prick” before grabbing his coat off the back of a chair.
“I don’t want him to love me because my big brother threatened him,” Stefanie told Chase.
“He resigned as head of security yesterday,” he said. “I’m discussing that. Not you. I’m not interested in changing his mind if he feels nothing for you.”
“You wouldn’t want him anywhere near me if he was madly in love with me, either,” she half joked.
“That’s not true.” Chase’s eyes were narrowed, serious. “You deserve someone who knows your worth. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. An arranged marriage—worse, one for the sake of my campaign—isn’t what you deserve.” A flicker of guilt colored his handsome features.
“Thank you.”
“He’s been smarter since he realized he’s in love with me.” Mimi winked at Stef and then looked up at her fiancé with adoration.
“You love him in equal measure, Mimi,” Stef said. “We all see it.”
Stefanie’s heart ached for her own love lost at the same time it swelled to include the pure joy on her future sister-in-law’s face. Enough of this wallowing. Mourning what could’ve been was a waste of time. There was too much good in the world to celebrate.
“Speaking of ‘I do’—” Stef set aside her cocoa and faced Mimi on her sofa “—let’s talk about your upcoming wedding. Have you found a dress? Who’s your planner? What color bridesmaid dress will I wear?”
Mimi let out a sheepish laugh. “I do have wedding magazines in my purse...just in case.”
“Good.” Stef smiled through her hurt, determined to feel good instead of lousy for a few minutes. “Let’s see them.”
“I’ll be back to pick you up after...after,” Chase tacked on ominously before he kissed his future wife on the lips.
“No fighting,” Stef warned him as he dropped a kiss on her forehead.
But his smirk and wink before he walked out the door told her that her warning had fallen on deaf ears.