“So, how was the fitting?” My mother oozed happiness, taking a drink of her white wine.
Ever since we got to the restaurant, Brad hasn’t looked at me, let alone, breathed in my direction. To say it didn’t burn me up would be a lie. He was the one that walked into that conversation saying he wanted me, and that I was his. It seemed only fair that I call him out on his shit. On the other hand, though, his complete lack of interest was pissing me off. There were a couple times I thought about junk punching him just so I could get his attention. But then I would have to explain myself, so I refrained.
I chuckled. “It went fine. In all honesty, I was not … impressed. Yeah, that’s the word I’m looking for.”
I was such a bitch, but damn, I wanted to get his attention. I glance at him from the corner of my eye, seeing that he was talking to Henry his face a blank mask. But his hand had fisted on the top of the table when I said that. Ha. I’ve got you now. Teach you to lie to me.
“Not impressed? You didn’t like your dress, dear?” She frowned, leaning back in her seat.
I smiled. I knew I had to word this just so, so I didn’t hurt her feelings. Taking a sip of my soda, I sat there contemplating, then just came out with it. “No, the dress was very lovely. I promise. Just being in the dressing room was a nuisance. Besides being in the dress, I was unimpressed with the rest of the visit there,” I assured her.
Her smile lit her face up. “I’m glad you like the dress, hon. I was worried you wouldn’t.”
I waved her fear away. “It was gorgeous.”
I was taking a drink from my goblet when I felt a hand on my thigh, gripping tightly. I smiled behind the rim of my glass. Score one for me. I appeared natural as if nothing were wrong, picked up my fork and knife, and I proceeded to peel the Italian sausage on my plate. I laughed on the inside when the hand on my thigh removed itself of its own accord. That meant he remembered what I told him in the kitchen last night.
Good boy.
He needed to remember that I was not just another passing fancy for him, someone for him to mess around with. We were to be brother and sister in a few days; nothing between us could come to pass. But that didn’t mean that I deserved his lies. Lies he thought he was getting away with.
“So, Henry, where are you taking my mother for your honeymoon?” I chanced a glance at Brad, finding him texting on his phone under the table.
Henry’s eyes lit up. “As if I would tell you with your mother at the same table.”
My mother grumbled on the other end of the table, I snickered. “Henry, darling. I’m going to find out sooner or later where we’re going. I’ll know how to pack if you just tell me,” she stated in a sugary tone.
He chuckled. “Nice try, sweetheart.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “But you’re still not getting it out of me.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and I couldn’t resist laughing. My mother acted like a teenager when she was with Henry. It was a fulfilling sight to see. Her smile absolutely lit her face up when he was around. I was over the moon happy for the both of them. But I couldn’t help sitting here, envious of what they had. I wanted it. I wanted a man that would dote on me, make me feel like I was the only woman on the face of the earth, made just for him.
I excused myself from the table, tears brimming my eyes. Being around them for any long period of time was too much. I would look at them and see all the things that I missed out on, that I was currently missing out on. It wasn’t fair to be that way, but I couldn’t help it. Just being here made the memories wash over me, caging me within its grip. I couldn’t allow it to take me fully. If I stood any chance of being the same after I left here, I needed to learn how to turn the other cheek. Not let their love get me down.
I was washing my hands when the door to the restroom opened. I put a fake smile on my face before greeting them on my way out. However, when I heard the lock turn my heart was in my throat. I turned toward the intruder seeing none other than Brad, a scowl on his face. I rolled my eyes, throwing away the paper towel. I didn’t have time for any of this. I went to walk past him, but he grabbed my elbow, forcing me to stop and look at him. When I did, his eyes seemed to be blazing a bright blue with barely leashed fury.
“What the fuck was that?” he growled, taking his hand from my elbow.
I feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know damn well what I am talking about, Claire. You damn near let it slip to our parents that we had sex,” he ranted, running his hands through his hair.
“If you remember correctly, I said I was not impressed. So if you made the connection of that with us having sex, what’s that say about you?” I quirked my eyebrow, putting my hands on my hips.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
He was pacing the bathroom now, not registering what I said. But when he did, his look was beyond comical. I couldn’t contain the laughter, I bent over pointing a finger at him. I had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. He looked like someone just stole his freaking cookie. His lips were in a pout only a petulant child would use and his arms were crossed over his chest.
“I don’t know if I like the new Claire or not. I liked you way better when you would trip over yourself to get my attention,” he snapped.
“Well, we don’t always get what we want,” I shot back.
He opened his mouth to say something, but didn’t get it out before someone was at the door wanting in. My eyes snapped back to his in shock. What the fuck were we going to do? There was no way that I could get him out of here without anyone seeing. Hell, someone was at the door right now. He put a hand over his mouth, anger vanishing as he began laughing. I had to make a snap decision. Thank God he was right beside the first stall. I unlocked the door, then bolted for him, pushing him in the stall with me. He fell over the toilet and I fell on top of him as I shut the door and locked it.
We heard a group of girls enter the bathroom not even a second later, laughing and giggling. We were so fucked if they found us in here. More than fucked, we’d be freaking dead. Coffins for two, please.
My nerves were balled up tight in my stomach, I felt like I was going to be sick. I started fidgeting on Brad’s lap. If this whole situation wasn’t painful enough, Brad’s big friend chose that moment to start poking me on the ass.
“Oh my God, Brad, you choose now to get hard. Seriously?” I whisper-yelled at him.
“It’s not like I can control it,” he snapped, shifting on the toilet. “The motherfucker has a mind of its own.”
“Holy fuck, that’s only making it worse. Tame the damn thing.”
“There’s no taming this bad boy, sweetie. Trust me. No one, and I repeat no one, can tame a fucking king,” he chuckled.
I scoffed. “You’re so full of yourself.”
He leaned forward, breath caressing the side of my neck. “That’s not what you were screaming earlier today.”