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He wanted a war?
Well, two could play at that game.
“The dresses,” Mom said hopefully, drawing my gaze.
I forced a smile. “Let’s do it.”
She clapped her hands like an excited schoolgirl, her eyes shining and bright as she laughed.“I knew you’d be excited.”
She pulled out pink chiffon and gold satin, handing them to me one after another. I grabbed them, walked up the stairs to try them on one after another and parade them in front of her, and every time I stepped down the stairs, I looked at Tobias’ door.
We settled on a rose colored strapless dress that accentuated my waist and off-white heels.
“Amazing,” Mom beamed as I walked toward her.
The front door opened right as I stepped into the hallway.
“Wow,” Nick murmured, drawing mom’s gaze.
“I know, right? Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Mom stepped closer, grabbed my hair, and drew it away from the ugly birthmark, then coiled the strands on top of my head.
“Mom.” I yanked my hair from her hold, embarrassed.
“I think you look beautiful, Ryth,” Nick said, his tone careful.
“I think so, too, Nick.” Mom rested her hands on her hips and stared at me. “Thank you for noticing. My daughter is always so incredibly shy.”
She didn’t see the way his gaze drifted over my body, lingering on my breasts, before dropping to below my waist as though he was remembering what I’d done in his car. “I'd better leave you ladies to it.” His voice was husky as he turned toward the stairs.
I followed him as he took the stairs two at a time, leaving us in a rush, like it affected him seeing me like this. I scowled, then forced my gaze back to mom, who was packing the rest of the dresses into their bags.
“Saturday,” she said with a smile.
“Mom.” I stepped closer, still hearing Tobias’ warning in my head. “Are you sure you want to do this so soon? I mean, I get you wanting security. But you don’t have to marry to get it.”
Mom straightened, then turned to me with a look of pained confusion. “Marry to get it?” She came closer. "Honey, this isn’t a marriage of convenience and I’m not marrying Creed because of some misguided sense of appreciation. I’m marrying him because I love him and he loves me.”
But why so soon?I wanted to ask her, but the moment I opened my mouth to speak, the front door opened and Creed walked in. He took one look at me in my dress, then smiled as he made his way to mom. “You two look like you’re having fun.”
She kissed him hard, making me turn my head away, embarrassed.
“How about you ladies get dressed up and I’ll take you out for dinner?“ Creed suggested cheerfully.
“Yes, I’d love that,“ Mom agreed, then glanced my way. “I’ll just get dressed.”
“Honey, you’re perfect as you are.” Creed only had eyes for her.
Mom glance toward me. “What do you say, kid?”
“I can’t, I’ve got that assignment I have to get done, but you guys go ahead. Have a nice night,” I smiled, wincing with the ache in my breast, and stepped backwards.
“Then I’ll just grab my purse.” Mom headed for her bag, hidden underneath the bags of dresses, glancing my way as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Don’t wait up!”
“Oh, I won’t.”
I waited for them to leave, waited for the click of the front door closing and the echo of the Mercedes engine before I turned and strode for the stairs. I wanted to bang on his door, I wanted to scream in his face. I wanted to slap him and keep on slapping him until he felt the kind of pain I felt. I didn’t know why he hated me so much. I couldn’t comprehend hating somebody like he did.
His rage was fixated on me, like it was all he saw and all he wanted to see. I slapped my feet on the stairs as I climbed. What I needed to do was channel my anger into getting that assignment finished. I need to pass this year, needed to figure out what my next step was…now that my life had turned upside down. I needed a plan. Because staying here wasn’t an option.
