I’d seen pictures of Eden’s older sister online, and I knew she was awfully pretty… little did I knowhowpretty she was.
I swallowed thickly as my eyes involuntarily wandered down her perfect body. Skinny legs, flat stomach—She didn’t even look slightly pregnant.
Brooke’s smile was so radiant, it lit up everyone’s face as she walked toward the table where we were all seated. She exuded confidence with every step. Her curly, blonde hair framed her face so beautifully, I could’ve cried at how perfectly it was styled.
Her husband was close behind. He was tall and, much like his wife, put on a smile that could’ve blinded people.
Reece wrapped an arm around Brooke’s waist, pulling her close as they joined us at the table. “Just because you finished your makeuptwoseconds before I was fully dressed, doesn’t mean I took longer to get ready,mi princesa.”
“Uh, yes, it does,” Brooke replied, laughing before she went to hug her parents.
“Married life, am I—” Reece cut himself off when his eyes landed on me. Suddenly, his smile faded into a look of surprise, though I wasn’t sure why.
Well, my head was trying to tell me he was judging me. That he thought Eden could’ve donesomuch better than me, which he would’ve been right about.
Eden deserved someone who fit in with his family. If I looked around, I felt like an alien at a fashion show.
Everyone in his family was gorgeous. Super dressed up in probably expensive as fuck clothing, wearing brands I was too poor to even know. They were all so nice, too, but, God, they all made me stick out like a sore thumb.
And everyone else at the table was just as beautiful as the Desrosiers-Kings. If someone told me they were all models, I wouldn’t have doubted it for a second.
Then there was me.
While I was dressed up, thanks to Eden andhismoney, I still felt so out of place.
This right here was a crowd I didn’t belong in.
I wasn’t half as pretty as they were.
I couldn’t relate to anything they were talking about. Whether it was hockey, figure skating, any other sports, or their super relaxing vacations at whatever rich resort, in countries or islands I’d never heard of. I couldn’t even relate to their family dynamics because, in my family, we didn’t ever sit down together to have a meal.
“You must be Alana,” Reece spoke, holding out his hand to me.
As I reached out to shake his hand, Brooke gasped loudly.
“Wait, youactuallybrought her?” Brooke rushed to the other side of the table, tapping her brother on his head before she squeezed between us on the bench.
“Hello, Eden, my dearest brother. I’ve missed yousooooomuch. God, I’m so glad to see you again. I don’t know how I survived the past two weeks without seeing your beautiful face,” Eden spoke, mocking a high-pitched voice. “And, oh, my, I haven’t even called you because I was too busy screwing my husband from left to right. Just kidding, but I still forgot to call.” Then his voice lowered again. “Don’t be so dramatic, Brooke. But I’m glad to hear you missed me.”
Everyone at the table started to laugh as Brooke pushed her hand into Eden’s face, still keeping her eyes on me. “Oh, hush, Satan’s spawn,” Brooke said, giving her brother a playful shove. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Alana. My sister has told mesomuch about you.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what Nova could’ve possibly told her about me. We spent a couple of hours together weeks ago, but we hadn’t really delved deep into personal details as we were focused on shopping.
I gave a polite smile, trying to hide the discomfort that had settled in the pit of my stomach.
Before I could say anything, she continued. “You are so pretty. I mean, I saw pictures, but… wow.”
She must’ve been lying. It was the nice thing to do. “Thank you,” I managed to reply anyway, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“Can I get mygirlfriendback now?” Eden asked. Then he looked past me at his brother-in-law. “Please take your wife away from my future one.”
It tookeverythingin me not to look shocked or appear even slightly surprised by Eden’s comment.
My future one.
Eden and I had no future.
“Only because you asked so nicely,” Reece replied before he walked behind Brooke. He wrapped his arms around his wife, lifting her and carrying her away from us.
