Chapter 184
Olivia
I thought about this, considering how to answer. “He’s more relaxed. Funnier. Still commanding and intense, but in a different way. Sometimes he likes to be barefoot.” I smiled at this small detail I’d come to find endearing.
“Barefoot?” Ariana repeated. “I can’t even picture it. Alexander Carter without those Italian leather shoes?”
“It humanizes him,” I explained. “Makes him real.”
“And what about his family? How are they treating you?” Claire asked.
I took another sip of my drink before answering. “His grandfather, Harold, is actually pretty sweet to me. Victoria is… well, Victoria.”
“Still a bitch?” Emilia asked bluntly.
“She’s not thrilled that I’m the new Mrs. Carter.”
“Screw her,” Ariana declared. “You won the prize, not her.”
“It’s not a competition,” I reminded her, though in many ways, it was exactly that. “Anyway, enough about me. What’s new with you guys? Claire, how’s your job?”
As Claire launched into a story about her latest workplace drama, I felt my phone buzz in my purse. Discreetly checking it under the table, I saw a text from Alexander.
Alexander: How’s girls‘ night?
I smiled and quickly typed a response.
Me: Girls are grilling me about married life and our Europe trip.
response came seconds
I’m taking you shopping in
lip to hide my
actually
Good. Coming
so.
you
rise to my cheeks at
broke through my thoughts. “Who are
my phone
isn’t it? Can’t even make it through a girls‘
just wanted to know when I’d be home,” I said
Ryan never cared when you came home unless
nothing like Ryan,” I stated
Emilia muttered. “Otherwise I’d
who wanted the best for me. “Seriously, though, marriage is good. It’s busy, but good. The Thompson Hotels account is taking off, and Michelle seems pleased with
family drama?” Ariana prompted.
too exciting,” I lied.
stuff,” Emilia repeated skeptically. “Among
change everything,” I pointed
“Seriously, though.
off guard with its sincerity. I took a moment to consider my answer, not
life,
face dramatically. “Our little Olivia, all grown up
talking about a man, Olivia. Not even during the early days with Ryan when things were supposedly so blissful
“It’s different with Alexander. More intense. More
Europe,” Claire sighed dreamily. “God, it’s like a
modern fairy tale,” I corrected. “I still work my ass off at the
don’t want to drive your Porsche,” Claire teased, raising
I admitted with a laugh. “But I’m still
wake up next to Alexander Carter.” Ariana sighed dramatically.
her cocktail. “Is he picking you up tonight, or
head out soon.” I checked my watch, surprised to see how late it had gotten. “Alexander has an early meeting tomorrow, and I promised I’d be home before
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