AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Emotions clog my throat and, instead of texting Tierra to let her know I’m here, I take a seat in the waiting area and try to catch my breath.
Most days, I can pretend I’m okay.
But today, I can’t seem to escape this grey cloud hovering over my head.
Darkness pulses in my chest.
Sucks the breath right out of my lungs.
Maybe I’m tired—I’ve been working on that Jensen deal for two days on three hours of sleep.
Maybe I’m hungry—I turned down my assistant’s offer to buy me lunch.
Maybe I just need to break my two-time only rule and call Svena.
Or not.
My thoughts whir.
Storm.
Crash.
I’m about to head back to the car and just breathe in privacy for a minute when the door bursts open.
A woman charges in. She’s got long black hair pulled into a ponytail. Skin the color of sun-kissed mocha with rich, red undertones. Lush lips.
Her dark eyes ram over the posters on the wall. They’re couples, all happily embracing in their bridal gowns and tuxes. All glittering eyes, bright smiles and ’you want this happily ever after, don’t you’ gleams.
She snarls at them.
At the pictures.
At what they mean.
Then her eyes shift.
Land on me.
Burrow into me.
My breath catches in my throat as she stalks my way.
Four
Asia
I see this guy sitting in the waiting room of Make It Marriage. He seems nervous. Almost… unsettled. It reminds me of how I looked waiting for my first consultation.
My mind trips, swapping out his broad-shouldered physique for my slim build.
I blink.
That is me. Sitting there.
Two years ago.
My head down and my chest heaving. My fingers tapping against my cell phone as I struggle to hide how nervous I am about scooping up my totally non-existent love life and offering it to a stranger to mold and perfect.
