Adjournment (The Fate Series) (35 page)

“Yes, I have a brother, Nathan, as well. We work very hard to keep my family out of the spotlight.” He shifts his eyes to me, his face unreadable. “I’m sure you, being a Chandler, can understand that,” he finishes.

I don’t say anything, he’s right I do.  

“Who is Mason?” Lexi asks.

I send her a look that says stop asking questions.

“Don’t ask,” they all moan.

“That’s a story for when you have more time,” Mea sighs. She stops when she gets next to Josh, linking her fingers with his. See what happens when you spend almost ten years away from people. You miss everything.

“Josh, leave the poor girl alone, look at her face. She looks like she’s in shock.” Mea smiles.

Blinking rapidly, I try to see all the pieces in front of me, but I don’t think I can believe them.

“To answer your question yes, I have one.” He laughs. “But you see, it’s worthless because someone has a party and well that’s that,” Josh admits.

They all act like it’s nothing.

“I’m actually surprised you girls never thought to get one against the guys.” Mea laughs.

It’s only because we never thought to do it.

“How long have you all known each other?” I ask.

“We all met in college.” Morgan’s eyes drop for a second.

“It was Fate, actually. I know it sounds crazy but I ended up with nowhere to stay, and I didn’t know anyone. I was completely alone, then I was blessed enough to meet Josh. He introduced me to Morgan and Molly the day I moved in with them. Like I said Fate… it just so happened they had a spare room.” She wraps her arms around Josh.

I can feel the color drain from my face. My heart slows to a deep rhythmic beat. There was only one year that my sisters had a spare room available.

The year I backed out.

“If it wasn’t for these guys making me look so good I would have never won her over,” Josh admits.

The blood pounds through my head.

“You want to sit down, Pet?” Simon whispers to me.

My head is mentally shaking no but I have no idea if it’s actually moving. It’s funny the way Fate gives and takes. In order for someone to receive something someone else has to lose something.

A sharp pain stabs at my chest at what I lost.

“That’s enough about the past. Ladies, as we were saying, shall we dance?” Simon holds his hand out to take mine.

For the first time all night I think I would rather dance with Simon than stand here and be reminded of what happened. You see your decisions never just affect you. No, they impact everyone, even people you don’t know.

Opening my mouth to reply, a voice interrupts me. Simon’s eyes widen, his body goes stiff, and I’m brought back. No longer rifling through my mind’s “what if” files, my lips curl with evil delight.

“Wipe that look off your face, Pet,” he growls at me. I can’t stop the small laugh that comes out.

“I don’t have a look, this is just my face.” I wrinkle my nose at him. I turn to her, beaming with delight suddenly. “Pricilla! I was wondering how long it would be until you came back.”

Simon yanks me into his side, his arm coiled around my lower back. He holds me here as though I’m a shield.

“I’m actually shocked you came back. If that was me, well I would have died from embarrassment.” She gives me a half-ass dirty look.

I say half-assed because she doesn’t look scary… she looks like she’s having a stroke. 

“We could only hope,” I repeat her words from earlier.

She holds my glare, her chest heaving with anger. She looks like a rabid animal. Letting out her famous fake laugh she looks past us.

I hate this women. It doesn’t matter how many years go by, I will always want to push her ass into the pool.

“Everything okay, Pet?” Simon leans down to ask.

“It’s fine, why?” I look back at him, chewing at the side of my lip.

He studies me for a moment but the smile that is smeared across my face becomes contagious and he gives up on whatever search he is on.

“I just wanted to check, that’s all.” His hand loosens a smidge but he doesn’t let go of me.

“And you boys, I didn’t think it was possible to be even more handsome, guess you showed me.” She leans in front of us to gush over Dean.

I don’t know how long I can keep my mouth shut. I watch Molly’s back go up the more Pricilla touches him. I need a diversion. Scanning the room I can feel rusted wheels in my head begin to spin a plan together.

“Dean, what were you saying about a dance?” Molly’s jaw tightens as she watches Pricilla’s hands on Dean.

“Yes, Dean… tell me what that was,” she purrs.

“That was Simon!” I blurt out.

Ask and I shall receive! 

His fingers dig into my side; I pry at his tightening grip to release myself.

“I guess I came back at the perfect time then.” Her thin clutch slaps against my chest, my eyes widen in shock. With her eyes plastered on Simon’s she speaks to me. “Sidney, be a… Pet and grab me something to drink. I’m going to need one when we’re done.” She grins at him. At least that’s what I think she said since everything after the bag hitting me I sort of blacked out for. My throat tightens, strangling me as my fingers dig into the satin material. She grabs his hand pulling him behind her.

I wish it wasn’t so hard to take my shoes off right now.

Testing the weight of her bag in my hand I debate on tossing it at her head.

“But can you hit her and miss Simon?” Lexi verbalizes my thoughts.

My lip curls up again at the thought.

“I have fifty bucks that says you can,” she encourages me.

I really shouldn’t… but if we are playing by Gram’s rules then she took the first shot.

“There isn’t a single one of us stupid enough to take that bet.” Chase laughs.

“I can’t believe Pricilla just did that.” Dean shakes his head.

I can.

“I can’t believe he’s going along with it,” Molly adds.

Well he didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

We all stand in our little group watching as she runs her tramp hands all over his chest. He stands uncomfortably as she once again grinds her body against his.

If I wasn’t so pissed off I would laugh. Damn her. She just had to go and ruin this moment for me.

“Well I can’t believe Sidney is just standing here watching it all.” Josh looks over at me.

Coming out of my fog I turn away from the spectacle she is making of herself and Simon. This is exactly what he wants… he wants me to lose it. Well the joke is on him for thinking I’m that stupid I wouldn’t see it.

“I’m not, I’m going to find Jacob.” Giving Simon one last glance before I leave, I laugh to myself at the irony of all this. Pushing me to be a person I’m not only pushes me to be the person I’ve become. Patting Josh on the shoulder I shrug. “He deserves whatever he gets.” Then I leave the group. Her words begin to turn in my head causing my anger to seep up out of nowhere.

“Get me a drink… pfft, how about I get you a swift kick into the pool,” I mumble, tossing her bag into the water. “Have fun fishing that out, bitch.”

Priding myself in the fact that I stayed in control I strut up the path to the bar on the side terrace.

“Holy hotness! What on earth are you wearing?” Jacob jumps up and circles around me.

“This is Morgan’s doing.” I stick my leg out the part in the side to show it off.

“Yeah it is!” he squeals.

He would fawn over this dress.

Grabbing the back of the iron chair I pull it out as Tyler leans over the table to say something when I sit down.

“Has your date seen you yet?” he whispers like it’s a secret.

“He did, however his leg is currently being humped by some bitch in heat.” I exhale, mentally patting myself on the back for the witty yet accurate comment.

“Not sure I follow.” He squints at me. I tip my head back into the dipped groove of metal where my neck fits perfectly and close my eyes. 

“He is dancing with someone else.” I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. 

“Well… that’s…”

I lift my head up to look at Tyler as he tries to speak.

“That’s what?” I sit up.

“That’s Simon for you.” Jacob rolls his eyes. “I knew he would lose interest when he saw how resilient she is now.”

Tyler and I sit here listening to him rant over Simon when a voice comes over the PA system to announce it’s the last song.

“Last song!” Jacob and Tyler leap up to run down toward the tent.

I love Jacob but I’m thankful they left. I can’t take listening to him complain about Simon any longer. Especially since it wasn’t his choice to dance with her… it was mine. Putting my head against the table I can hear the music that floats through the air, torturing me as I sit here alone. I recognize this song and now I know without a shadow of doubt I shouldn’t have come home. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Tears stinging my eyes, that night begins to replay just as it used to when I allowed it to control me.

“So you would rather sit up here alone than dance.” He pulls the chair next to me out to sit.

Shaking it off I focus on the present, here is where I am… not there.

“I could ask you the same thing… did your dance partner have to go back to work?” I sit up pleased with the fact I stopped the tears before they managed to spring out. I can play this part, I can be the strong women he sees in front of him. I’m used to it, but deep down I’m weak, too weak to face it all, so instead I bury it. I see this now and I wonder if I ever had the strength to deal with it. Some people are born with the ability to have things happen to them and thrive on it, they learn to manipulate it to their benefit. I thought I was one of those people—instead I struggle against it, fighting for control so I don’t crumble from it.

His eyes watch me for a moment before he speaks. “Dance with me.” He stands, holding his hand out for mine.

“I’m no longer in a dancing mood.” I exhale. This moment he’s recreated, it’s all too familiar. Too much for me to relive, I need this to end. I need to get back to my life before he succeeds, and I’m left to face it all alone… again.

“I didn’t ask.” His voice is solid, demanding.

“Fine. I will dance with you, but I’m doing it out of protest and also so you will leave me alone.” I make sure he sees me roll my eyes as I stand up. “I need to take my shoes off, I can’t walk back down there in these.” I grab onto his arm to balance myself then bend over to remove my shoes.

“We aren’t going back down there.”

My head snaps up confusion written all over my face.

“We aren’t?” I slowly stand back up.

He gives the bartender a look, and within seconds we’re alone.

Releasing a laugh the tension in my body starts to ease.

“Smooth,” I tease. He pulls me in, my breath catching from the sudden closeness. I wrap my arms loosely around his neck, he drags the tips of his fingers down my arms and sides before sliding his hands onto my bare back, leaving me breathless and nostalgic against him. When his hands meet my hairline his fingers lace through the back of my hair, pulling my head back so I’m left with nowhere to look but at him.

“As I was saying earlier, this is by far my favorite dress.” He breathes against my collar causing little bumps to quickly cover my skin.

“You don’t say,” I pant.

“I did, you didn’t think I was going to let someone else dance with you in this dress… to our song.” He smiles against my skin before leaving a light trail of kisses as we sway back and forth to music that floats around us. My heart clenches for a moment, debating whether or not to beat faster or stop altogether.

“I—I didn’t think I was going to dance with anyone never mind to this song.” I swallow hard, my throat dry from my rapid breathing. Instinctively my fingers wind through his hair, I dip my head back further into his hands. My throat tightens with emotion but I have to stop this.

“I can’t do this.” My voice trembles.

“Because of Brett? Or because of you?” He runs his tongue up the length of my throat leaving a tender kiss against my chin.

“Who?” My head spins with lust. Then it’s clear what he said.

“Oh, I—well I’m not that sort of girl” I clear my throat. I’m not technically lying to him since I haven’t actually admitted to it, so I can get away with vague answers now.

He doesn’t listen, instead he pushes further.

“I wouldn’t be here if you were.” His fingers run along my jaw.

What does that mean?

“Have you ever wondered what this would feel like?” His breath sweeps across my skin. His one hand cupping my face while the other slowly glides up my back. My breath is rough with each inhale, my chest brushes against his causing my skin to burn with the need to be touched. With my heart slamming into my chest, I try to speak.

“I haven’t,” I lie, closing my eyes.

If I can’t see him I won’t give in.

“You are a terrible liar.” His voice is slow and deep, and he grips tighter against my back.

Keeping my eyes closed I feel the war beginning between my heart and my head. “So you’ve never been curious what it would feel like to have my lips pressed against yours?” He whispers against my lips, and I swear he can see them pulse with desire.       

If I’m being honest with myself… then of course I have.

“I can’t recall at the moment,” I manage to get out, squeezing my eyes tighter. “Whatever you are trying to achieve it won’t work, that girl, the one you are so desperate to have? She wasn’t the type of girl to cheat either.”

Still not a lie.

I open my eyes, determination filling them. I know he won’t push me to do this if he continues to think I am with someone. I watch a battle begin in his eyes. My heart regaining normal speed I begin to push him away but he doesn’t budge. His eyes drop back to my mouth when he begins to speak.

“I’ve spent years wondering what it would feel like to savor those lips.” My eyes widen, and my breath stutters. I stand here unable to speak or move when his thumb glides over my bottom lip. “…to feel them cover mine, consuming me completely. I have kissed countless women trying to feel close to what I’ve imagined it to be like, but none of them could ever compare.” His eyes smile at my mouth, and I swear he can see them beat with anticipation. He looks back into my eyes. “He can’t possibly be your boyfriend, Pet. Because he couldn’t be so familiar with feeling you pressed against him that he would pull away so quickly and not have to linger for a moment.” His lips brush against mine as he speaks.