AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The second the cool night air touches my sweaty skin, I sigh with relief, relaxing just slightly. No one’s eyes are fixed on my every move. No one is waiting for the chance to reprimand me for slouching. No one pinching me for every silly little mistake. As if having a neutral look on my face is somehow an insult to my future mother-in-law. My current step-aunt.
On nights like tonight, I start rethinking every decision I’ve ever made. If I’m honest, I’ve been rethinking my life a lot lately. I agreed to marry Thad when I was seventeen.
My mother begged. My stepfather threatened. I caved.
I bite my lip, trying to hold back the tears that have resurfaced now that I’m alone. Why does Thad have to talk down to me like I’m stupid? He makes me feel so small… I blink as I hear someone approaching and look up. For a brief moment, I panic, thinking maybe it’s Thad coming to scream at me for wandering off. Then I see his face, and my heart races for a different reason.
“Holy shit, Isaiah?” I wipe my tears away quickly and rush over to my stepbrother’s best friend. I haven’t seen him since I was seventeen, but I’d recognize that face anywhere. “What are you doing here?!” I practically tackle him into a hug as I reach him. It’s dark out here, and you could get lost in the shadows. That’s exactly why I ran out here in the first place.
I bury my face in his neck, breathing in his cedar wood scent. My eyes flutter because he smells so damn good. Masculine and clean. Compared to the overbearing cologne Thad wears–that somehow can’t mask his body odor–Isaiah smells like heaven.
“Hey!” he chuckles as he catches me easily, holding me tightly in a hug. Damn, he feels so good. This is only the second time I’ve seen Isaiah in town since he and my stepbrother left five years ago. He doesn’t exactly visit often. Can’t say I blame him.
I’m stuck here, of course. The future bride of my stepfather’s business partner’s son...he also happens to be my step-cousin. Match made in heaven…
“Damn, Sapphire?” he whispers, blue eyes wide as he pushes me back and surveys my body. I blush a bit because I’m wearing the stupidest fucking dress. I didn’t pick this for myself. Thad picked it.
“You’ll wear whatever I tell you to wear, Sapphire, or I’ll make sure your father hears about your defiance.”I shudder at the sound of Thad’s voice in my head. The loose slip of a dress leaves minimal room for imagination. My curves are on display, and I feel like a fucking show pig.
Come on pretty piggy, give us an oink, or we’ll turn you into bacon.
“What are you wearing?” His tone is low and curious, and maybe even a little husky. He hasn’t pulled his eyes away from my body, and heat creeps up my neck. Shit, I had forgotten how sexy my stepbrother’s best friend is. I nibble my lower lip as I stare at him. He must be six-six. Well over eight inches taller than Thad, and maybe ten inches taller than me. Sandy brown hair with sun-kissed streaks lightening the tips, cut short, with a well-kept beard.
His shoulders are strong and wide, stretching the material of the baby blue button-up he’s wearing. It looks like he haphazardly tied on his tie. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off tan skin and a black watch.
“It wasn’t my first choice...” I shrug when I find my voice and then look around to make sure no one has noticed me talking to Isaiah yet. We’re outside the gate of my family's big ass mansion, and chances are, I can’t be seen from any windows, but just in case someone comes looking for me, I need to get out of here. They might not notice I’m missing from the party, given how little attention anyone has paid me all night unless I was being scolded.
“Well, you look beautiful.” The way he easily compliments me makes my cheeks burn, and I just know I’m blushing.
“Can we go to your parents’? Or the pool house?” I ask, hoping I don’t sound as frantic as I feel. Some days I think Thad has a tracker on me just so he can watch my every move, but I know that's just my fear talking. At least, I hope it’s just the fear.
“I’m staying in the guest suite in the pool house. We can go there if you want?” His voice is deep, and it makes my heart race. Deep and rough. Fuck, he sounds nothing like my shrill ass fiancé.
“Yes, please. That would be amazing.” I pause, looking up at him. He’s so familiar and yet so different. He always felt comfortable to be around, but at twenty-three, he’s more muscular and less of a teenager than he once was, making me nervous for the first time since I met him. He towers over me now. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so aggressively eager.” I try to play it off like it’s no big deal. The truth is, I just ran away from my engagement party. The stupid tiny diamond on my left-hand makes me cringe.
“Still living with them, huh?” he asks, nodding at the house behind me, and I flinch. He knows I do. It wasn’t really a question.
“Unfortunately,” I grumble, not wanting to say more. I’m grateful to my parents; I just wish they gave me more freedom. Marrying my step-cousin isn’t exactly ideal, but they need me. They need to keep our families strong. They don’t trust anyone else with Thad.
I shake off the spiral of shitty thoughts swimming in my head. I don’t want to think of all the reasons I have to do this. The reasons I’m marrying a man I can barely stand.
“Well, fuck. Why not call your stepbrother? He’d take you in,” he suggests, but I shake my head.
“I’m not his problem. I’ll figure it out. Come on, I need a drink.” I grab his wrist and start dragging him across the street toward his parents’ house. “So, what are you doing here?” I ask, and he smirks.
“I’m here for an engagement party. Didn’t think I’d bump into the runaway bride before I ever even got inside, though.” He wraps his arm around my waist, gripping my hip with his large hand, as we walk. Fuck, that feels so good. I’m starved for physical contact and affection. Pathetic. Thad refuses to touch me because–and I quote–‘You are just a damn tease! If you aren’t going to put out, then I’m not touching you at all.’Yeah, he’s lovely. I try not to think about it too much. He’ll be better one day.
“Fuck,” I mumble, making him chuckle.
“I guess being late isn’t always so bad, hm?” he teases, and I giggle. Isaiah has never been on time for anything in his life. It’s something he gets a lot of shit for. This time, I’m grateful for that fact.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I say, feeling defensive.
“That you shouldn’t be marrying Thad?” Isaiah offers, and I groan.
My bleach-blonde hair is curled, and the loose pieces tickle my cheek as I shake my head.
“You know how it is. I have to do this.”
