My face heated as I sat. Trent returned to his seat, placed his hand on my leg beneath the table, and winked. Everyone was engrossed in the menus, so I picked mine up and glanced at the selections. I settled on the chicken alfredo.
“So, Chloe, how are the wedding plans coming along?” Larissa asked.
“Good,” I said and took a sip of water. “Everything’s pretty much done, actually. Well, except for one thing.” I sat straighter in my chair. “I was wondering if you’d be okay with Little Frank being the ring bearer.”
Larissa’s smile widened. “Absolutely,” she said with a nod. “Just let me know what colors you’ve chosen, and I’ll make sure he has everything else he needs.”
“Thank you.” I sighed with relief.
Now that that was handled, all I had to do was talk to Uncle Dean about walking me down the aisle, but I’d do that later, in private.
“They’re having an outdoor wedding, on the mountaintop behind Trent’s house at sunset,” Abby said. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
“Sounds like it,” Larissa said. “You’re her maid of honor?”
Abby nodded.
“And you are…?” Larissa looked at Isach.
“One of Trent’s groomsmen,” Isach said. “And Abby’s boyfriend.”
“That’s nice.” Larissa smiled.
The waitress arrived and took our orders. I was thankful for the momentary reprieve. As excited as I was about my upcoming wedding, I’d had enough talks about wedding plans to last me a lifetime.
“So.” My father folded his arms on the table and pinned me and Trent with a stare. “What’re your plans after the wedding? Are you two going to college? Do either of you have jobs lined up? What about a place to live?”
I groaned. If I had known this was going to turn into an interrogation, I would’ve found a reason to skip this dinner.
Trent gave my leg a reassuring squeeze. “We’re taking a gap year to figure out what we want to do,” he said, the lie rolling smoothly from his mouth. “I have a rather large trust fund, so money’s not an issue for us.”
I stared at him. Why would he announce that to everyone?
“And we do have a place to live,” Trent said, his gaze never wavering from my father’s. “My father gave us a cabin as a wedding gift. It’s about forty-five minutes outside of Keene Valley. I’d be happy to show it to you after dinner.”
Oh yeah, Trent was good at charming people. Would I be able to do that, too, once I became a vampire?
“I’d like that,” Dad said. “And it will give you and me some time to talk.”
My stomach twisted. What on earth could my father possibly want to talk to Trent about privately? So much for a celebratory graduation dinner—this was quickly becoming a disaster.
“I look forward to it,” Trent said with an easy smile.
The conversation shifted to talk of work, Larissa’s newest charity event, Little Frank, politics, and the weather. I tuned them out.
“Is your dad always that intense?” Abby whispered.
I nodded. “Yup.”
“No wonder you hated living with him,” she said.
Laughing, I nudged her, my gaze darting toward my dad to make sure he hadn’t overhead us. He was fully engrossed in a conversation with Uncle Dean about classic cars.
I leaned closer to Trent, savoring the comforting, familiar scent of his cologne. “What do you think my dad wants to talk to you about?” I kept my voice low so no one would hear us.
Trent nuzzled closer to my neck, his lips grazing my earlobe. “Whatever it is, I’m sure I can handle it.”
I sighed, equal parts frustration and contentment, and tilted my head slightly. “You have to tell me everything as soon as you get back,” I said.
“Chloe, baby, relax. Everything’s going to be fine.” His deep, husky voice sent a shiver down my back.
“I really like it when you call me that,” I whispered.
“Yeah?” He eased back and met my gaze.
When he looked at me like that—like I was the only girl in the world, like it was just me and him and we weren’t in a crowded restaurant surrounded by family—it was easy to get lost in the shimmering depths of his cobalt eyes.
“Well, isn’t this quite the surprise.”
My entire body stiffened at the sound of Ivy’s voice. Trent straightened, and Isach’s eyes narrowed. What on earth was Ivy doing here?
“Madisons, Halsteads, and a Zoya sharing a meal. I never thought I’d see the day,” Ivy said.
My father’s head jerked toward Ivy, then slowly toward me. He had no idea Isach was a Zoya. I hadn’t had any reason to tell him, and I honestly didn’t think it mattered. But based on the scowl spreading across my father’s face, it did matter. A lot.
I pushed my chair back and stood. “Ivy, may I have a moment?” I asked, my tone curt.
“Of course,” she said sweetly.
I followed her out of the dining room and into the hallway near the restrooms. “What are you doing here?” I asked. “It’s creepy how you just keep showing up wherever I am.” I crossed my arms.
“What else would you have me do, Chloe? I have a vested interest in you and your well-being. I’m simply making sure everything is still going according to plan,” she said.
Trent rounded the corner, my father right behind him. I groaned. Great. That’s all we needed right now, for those two to gang up on Ivy and cause a scene. Didn’t they realize I could handle this?
“Trenton,” Ivy said, nodding in his direction. “Frank. Good to see you again.”
“What’s going on here, Chloe?” Dad asked, totally ignoring Ivy.
“It’s nothing, Dad. I promise. Everything’s fine,” I said.
“What did she mean about us sharing a meal with a Zoya?” Dad asked, his tone angry.
“She was talking about me,” Isach said. He thrust his hand out toward my father. “Isach Zoya.”
Dad stared at Isach’s hand with utter disgust and refused to shake it. After a moment, Isach let his hand fall back to his side.
“You’re associating with Zoya now, too?” Dad asked me. His words dripped with disdain and disappointment.
“Oh, yeah,
