Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“I trust you,” she says.
But does she, though?
“Let’s add a bottle of Hibiki to this order,” Kellan chimes in. “Four tumblers, ice and sparkling water on the side, please.”
“He’s really hooked on that Japanese stuff, huh?” Callie says.
Melanie leans back once the waitress leaves. “What a cozy setting for a private party.”
Something about the way she says it strikes me as off. I look around at all my friends to gauge their reactions. Kellan, Alex and Oscar seem to be completely ignoring her. I originally thought that was a good thing, but now it seems a little too obvious. She’s a very attractive woman, and she’s also Callie’s sister. They’ve clearly met before.
And maybe that’s the issue. It points back to my original suspicion.
No one responds to her pointed observation and an awkward silence descends on the table. Callie swoops in to save the day, putting a hand over her sister’s. “You simply have to get out on the slopes tomorrow. The boys could do their whiskey lounge thing, and we could have a girls’ fun day out in the snow.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Bryan says. He’s looking directly at Kellan as he speaks, and I can’t help but think that everyone is in on some knowledge that I’m lacking.
The waitress returns with our drinks, placing each order with practiced care. I’m glad I went for the Rothschild, truly. It rolls down my tongue and takes some of the edge off in the span of minutes. When she’s done, the waitress gives us a moment to look over the menus. We’re alone again when Melanie raises her glass.
“To old and new friends,” she cheers.
Oscar doesn’t look happy as he raises his glass. Neither do Alex or Kellan. My instincts have never failed me before, and I should trust my gut now more than ever. Something definitely happened between the Anderson brothers and Melanie. Callie seems out of the loop. Bryan, not so much.
You don’t need a psychology degree to see the truth.
I just need to keep my eyes open and get to the bottom of it, one way or another.
19
OSCAR
This is a dirty move, and Melanie knows it.
She’s a lousy sister, too; Callie has no clue what happened between us. That might have to change if Melanie plans on disrupting the rest of our holiday—settlement be damned.
I nod, smile, and keep the conversation humming, all while pointedly ignoring Melanie. Makayla keeps stealing glances at me. She’s no fool; she already senses something’s off.
“How’s your truffle sauce?” I ask her with a warm smile.
She twirls a few pieces of penne in the dark gray sauce; the earthy, cheesy aroma drifts straight to my nose. “I don’t regret ordering this dish,” Makayla says. “I know I should’ve gone for something specifically Swedish again, but when the waitress mentioned truffles, I just had to.”
“They pair well with the wine, too,” Melanie chimes in. “Thanks for the tip, Kay.”
“You’re most welcome,” she replies with a warm smile.
Kay. Listen to her. Calling her Kay. Sniffing her out like the predator that she is. Legally, I can’t talk about what happened. I don’t want to talk about it, either. Should the truth come out, it will devastate Callie. Hell, with Makayla back in our lives, I don’t want to ruin our chances with her, either.
“You’ve got plenty of time to try out the rest of the local dishes,” Kellan tells Makayla as he cuts into his seared salmon. “Didn’t the waitress mention something about a separate dessert menu?”
“Oh, she totally did,” Callie exclaims, her eyes round with anticipation. “I hear the Swedes make some of the best sweets in the world!”
“As long as the spirits keep flowing, I’ll eat whatever is placed in front of me,” Alex grumbles.
Alex takes Melanie’s sudden appearance the hardest, and I can’t blame him. He never wanted to go through with the settlement. For a moment, I was tempted to side with him. Maybe I should’ve. Maybe, if we had everything out in the open, I wouldn’t be choking down every bite while mapping out evasive maneuvers—Makayla will have questions as soon as we’re alone again.
I loathe the idea of lying to her.
“I think the Danes are the ones famous for pastries,” Melanie says.
“They’re all related cultures, at least to some degree,” Callie replies. “The Swedes have their share of pastries, too, but after some googling and spraining my eyes while trying to read the desserts’ original names, I think I’m most excited about the Klappgröt. God, I hope I’m pronouncing it right…”
Makayla laughs. “That name does not sound delicious.”
“But it is, once I tell you what it’s made of,” Callie insists.
Bryan gives his girl a loving look. “Aw, you googled Swedish stuff before we came here…”
“Of course. I have to—we have to—make this experience count!”
I feel my phone ping in my pocket, and take it out as if it's the most natural move in the world. I’ve got a text from Alex, across the table.