Page 23 of Reckless
“Oh,” she said.
“Yep.”
She lowered the plate slowly.“I thought you two were working things out?”
I stared at her.“Your idea of working anything out and mine are very different.”
“Oh no.We wanted you to be happy,” she repeated faintly.
I started toward the front door.“I’m leaving.”
“What?No.You can’t leave.That makes it weird.”
“It is weird, Hope.”
“Yes, but if you leave right now it becomes weird-weird.”
I stopped with my hand on the foyer table and looked at her.“He told his entire family I’m with him.”
She winced.“I know.”
“No.I don’t think you do.”
Her mouth opened, closed.“Okay.Tell me.”
I pressed my fingers to my forehead.“I cannot stay here and let your friend group romance addiction with these billionaire men swallow me whole.I’m not doing it.”
Hope set the desserts down and came closer.“It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
I laughed once.“That sentence has never once been true in the history of romance for any of you so why would I be different.”
“Okay, yes, but-”
“No.”
She reached for my arm.“Kelly-”
“I need to go before Maman gets me alone and starts asking whether I drink my tea with one sugar cube or two, because I know what comes after that.It’s wedding china.Or grandchildren.Or both.”
Hope choked on a laugh she clearly shouldn’t have found funny.
I glared at her.
“Sorry,” she said, not looking sorry enough.“I’m sorry.I get it.The pressure is a lot.I introduced everyone to everyone.”
“That is not comforting.”
“I know, but you do like him.It’s clear.”
The front door opened before I could answer.
Britney stepped into the foyer from outside, Michael right behind her.One look at my face and her whole expression sharpened.
“There you are,” she said.
“Please don’t say it like I’ve escaped from somewhere.”
“You have.”
