Page 46 of Plus-Size Sold Mate
“Yes. At least, better than I expected,” Luke says casually.
Facing him fully, I murmur, “Your dad didn’t lift his glass with the others.”
“I know, but he was still there,” he says, trying to school his expression, though the slight tightening in the connection gives him away. “It’s a start.”
I shake my head incredulously, trying to push away his attempt to normalize all of this. “You’re making it sound like this is something we’ll just laugh about one day. Like nothing is wrong.”
“That’s not what I’m doing,” he murmurs, looking me over now like he’s trying to gauge where this is heading.
“That’s what it feels like.”
Luke pauses while he continues to study me, gaze narrowing fractionally. “You didn’t like dinner.”
I huff out a breath, leaning back against the counter behind me. “I didn’t say that.”
“But you didn’t. You’re not exactly happy right now.”
“Maybe I’m not,” I say lamely, both wanting to resist whatever this facade is he’s trying to maintain and not wanting to get into it right now. “…I’m not used to it.”
He takes a moment, looking more curious now. “Not used to what?”
Embarrassment crawls up my spine as I cross my arms over my chest. “Being included.”
The admission feels more vulnerable and raw than I want to contend with, but it comes out too quickly for me to prevent, and immediately, his expression shifts.
“I was never included in family dinners even before Wraith Peak, and most people just avoided me altogether. So tonight was strange for me,” I add, feeling uncomfortable.
“Strange bad?”
“Strange…unfamiliar,” I mumble.
Luke nods slowly, like it makes more sense to him now. “You did well anyway.”
“I wasn’t performing,” I return sharply, gaze hardening a bit more. “But it felt like you were.”
Something moves through his gaze, as if realizing where I’m taking this and resisting the urge to give in to his own frustrations. “I was making it clear that you’re part of this, regardless of what anyone might think. I wanted to include you.”
“And I didn’t agree to that.”
He takes a breath. “You’re my mate, Sera.”
I bristle. “It’s not like I could forget. You bring it up like it explains everything, as if it absolves you of everything.”
Luke holds my gaze, but allows the silence to linger between us before he speaks up again, tone softer than expected. “I know it doesn’t, and I’m not going to pretend it does.”
Something in me doesn’t want to accept that answer despite how the tether pulls again with uneasiness, reacting fastto the rising tension. Then, I take a step back first, not wanting to spend another night fighting with him.
“I’m going to bed.”
Despite the expression on his face silently telling me he doesn’t want this conversation to end here, he holds himself back and nods. “Okay.”
To not lose my conviction, I don’t look back at him as I leave the kitchen, heading down the hall toward the spare bedroom.
A few moments later, the doorknob feels cool beneath my palm, but his voice cuts through the silence before I can even open the door.
“What are you doing?”
Freezing on the spot, I turn slowly to find him at the far end with confusion scribbled on his face, and if I look hard enough, a tinge of betrayal too.
