AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I knew he was talking about our mother .
“And that asshole she married. Telling you should leave before you got everyone else sick more than likely they gave you food poisoning.”
I made an agreeable sound in the back of my throat, not daring myself to speak. We’d already had to stop twice.
“She probably did it on purpose, trying to poison me and got you instead.” I could feel his eyes on me. But I didn't open mine. Truth was, I'd felt ill yesterday, just a little, and had put it down to Dion's cold goodbye.
Things hadn't been bad between us since I’d mentioned not spending the big day with him but they hadn't been great either. He didn't light up when he saw me anymore. His kisses were still amazing, and he made love to me like his life depended on it, but things had changed. Neither one of us mentioned the fact I had said I loved him and he had totally ignored me.
It might as well have not happened.
“I’ll be glad when we get back to Dion's. I need a fucking drink.” Silence wrapped around us. “Are you looking forward to getting home, huh?”
“Yeah sure.” My stomach rolled. “I just…” I couldn't finish.
“Is everything ok between you and Dion?” Louis' voice was level. “I mean tell me to mind my own business, but I kind of expected more of a show when you said goodbye and then he didn't show up.” Out of the corner of his eye, he eyed me. “I thought you were going to invite him?”
“I did.”
“Oh.”
Yeah, oh indeed. I had thought he would show up as well. Like they always did in the romantic movies I had binged on. But he hadn't. And I had to be ok with that.
“Is everything ok between you two Lola?” He asked again.
“Yeah, everything is fine, I think.” I couldn't admit to him that something felt off already. Dion was lead singer of Louis band but he was my big brother and in a pinch he would take my side. Smiling, I turned to him. “Yeah, everything is great,” I lied. I would not put my relationship troubles on my brother's shoulders. Hell, I wasn't even sure I had relationship problems or whether it was all in my mind. We had moved in together so quickly that the bloom was bound to wear off quickly.
“As long as it is, Lola.” Louis sounded like he didn't believe me.
“Yeah it is. Everything is perfect.”
* * *
Perfect.
That's what I had said. And boy, what a lie that had been.
Dion's Christmas get together was in full swing when we stepped out of the elevator. The place was full of people I knew and some I didn't, all talking and laughing amongst themselves. Everyone was dolled up in their finest with glasses of champagne in their hands.
When Dion had told me he was hosting Christmas for his friends, I had thought he had meant the band and the team that surrounded them. Not every single person he knew.
The spacious apartment was packed.
“Louis.” Tate appeared in front of us like a giant blond bear. “And the good–looking one of the family, hey, Lola.” He enveloped me in a hug that cracked my ribs and threatened to send me running to the bathroom again. “Where have you been? We’ve missed you. Dion especially has been…” Tate moved in front of me again, and I frowned. “Well he’s been Dion but he's going to be glad you are here finally.”
“Son of a bitch.” Louis at my side stiffened and I followed his line of sight.
Dion was right there. My heart leapt at how handsome he looked, and the wide smile on his face. Until I saw who he was smiling at.
Isla was there. Her willowy form appeared completely unaffected by her recent pregnancy and birth. She was just as model gorgeous, just as awe–inspiring as she had always been. They were both looking down at the blue wrapped baby in Dion's hands.
And he looked ecstatic. Over the moon to be holding his ex–girlfriend's baby in his arms, like it was his kid and not someone else's.
They looked so comfortable with each other.
How was I meant to compete with that? Glancing down at myself, I frowned. My wool dress and boots felt frumpy and not cute. My body wasn't slim and perfect. I had rolls and cellulite. My face wasn't covered in makeup and my hair wasn't perfectly styled.
How could I ever compare to her?
