“Yes,” she agreed, her tone actually sounding almost sad.
Wasn’t it bad enough she didn’t want to be married to him, did she have to be depressed about it, too?
“I wonder how Raven ended up being your best man?” she said, reaching for her drink, only to realize it was empty. She dropped her hand back to her lap.
“Another?” he asked, and she shook her head.
“I don’t know. That is a mystery,” he said. “I personally can’t stand the guy.”
“I’m not a fan either,” Katie said, and her admission pleased him.
Now there was his worst nightmare—Katie dating Raven after their annulment.
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “I’d have to deny you an annulment if you told me you had a thing for him.”
Sure, he’d said that to be funny, but he wasn’t sure it was totally untrue.
And apparently it hadn’t sounded like a joke to her either, because she turned slightly on her barstool to study him.
Shit, he shouldn’t have said that.
But to his relief, she managed a small laugh. “You really must dislike the guy.”
Cort disliked the idea of him anywhere near Katie. And if he was going to be really honest, at least with himself, Raven’s obvious interest in Katie was probably the primary reason he didn’t like the man.
He smiled, then used her words. “I’m not a fan.”
She smiled back and he got lost for a moment. He loved her smile. It was light, sunshine, warm and cheery. He’d been drawn to that from the first moment he saw her.
“Maybe I took some pictures on my phone, too,” she said suddenly, looking around her. “Oh wait, I don’t have my purse. Oh no. I hope it’s at your place.”
“It probably is,” Cort reassured her, although who knew, with the night they had? He patted his own pocket, remembering his phone was in his jeans.
He dug it out and pressed the sequence of buttons to get him to his camera.
“I don’t have any,” he said, not surprised. He didn’t use his phone for much but phone calls and the occasional text. He noticed he didn’t have any of those either. He wondered what the other guys had found out. Probably as little as they had.
He set the phone on the bar as he reached for his drink again.
“We really had a great time with you all last night,” Betty said, her attention no longer on her camera. She shifted so she was smiling at both of them. “You two are just the cutest couple. Ed and I can’t wait to see your bands play.”
How weird to know that these people, these strangers, didn’t see them as strangers. And why should they? Betty and Ed had been a part of their wedding. That was bonding.
Cort wanted to ask where they’d been married but couldn’t bring himself to admit he had no idea. Especially since this woman seemed to consider them the romance of the century. William and Kate had nothing on Cort and Katie and their forgotten wedding.
“And your story is just so romantic,” Betty said with a sigh, backing up his theory. The older woman took a sip of her drink, her expression dreamy.
What story?
Cort glanced at Katie.
“It is romantic,” Katie said. “But what especially about our story did you find romantic?”
Betty made a face like it should be obvious, which for people without complete memory loss, it probably would be.
“Well, that Cort saved your life,” Betty said, shaking her head.
“Oh right,” Katie said. Cort could tell that comment didn’t trigger any memories. Nor for him.
But Cort couldn’t help find the comment rather ironic, since he knew he was still the prime candidate for actually taking her life. Sure, he gave her a new, immortal existence, but still, to cross her over, Cort had to have drained her mortal life.
Katie glanced at him, but then refocused on Betty. “It is so romantic. Do you mind telling us the story?”
When Betty made a confused face, Katie added, “Both Cort and I actually love hearing it, too.”
Katie smiled then so radiant and so sincere, that Cort almost believed her. They did love hearing the story.
“Well, I have to admit that when you shared it with me, I might have been a little tipsy,” Betty said, a little embarrassed, which she hardly needed to be with them, “but you did tell us that Katie had a terrible accident and Cort saved her. You even gave her your own blood to rescue her.”
Gave her his own blood. Cort would have had to give her his own blood to transform her into a vampire. Another indication he was the biter—which he’d suspected right from the start anyway.
But Katie had had a terrible accident?
“A terrible accident,” Katie said, her tone pondering, their thoughts synched.
Then Katie seemed to realize how she sounded, because she nodded, and said definitely, “Yes, it was a terrible accident.”
“It sounded horrific,” Betty said, reaching out to pat Katie’s hand, although she looked almost as puzzled as they did. “Although, you didn’t really tell us exactly what happened. Aside from Cort being your hero.”
Cort could tell Betty wanted more details.
Oh, if only we knew, Betty.
“I don’t actually like to talk about that part,” Katie said, offering Betty a sad smile. “It’s—it’s difficult, you know, to remember that part.”
Very difficult. Damned near impossible.
“I can only imagine,” Betty said, sympathetically patting Katie’s hand again. “But thankfully Cort was there.”
“Yes. Thankfully.”
Katie couldn’t be feeling nearly as grateful as she managed to sound. How could she be pleased about being a vampire against her will? And at his hands—or rather his fangs? It was a wonder she didn’t hate him.
Hell, maybe she did. Cort suspected it would be hard to tell if the sweet, sunny Katie hated anyone. Not a comforting thought at this moment.
Beside him the bird shuffled around, and he thought he heard the awful creature say something about slapping some fat. Or maybe riding a wave. He wasn’t really sure. He was too busy watching Katie, trying to read her expression. The real one beyond her fake smile.
She must have sensed his intent look, because she turned to him, regarding him back. Looking directly into her eyes, he could see all those emotions still there.
He opened his mouth to say they should leave, when he heard a loud clatter next to him. He looked around, trying to figure out what caused the noise.