Begin Again (Again #1)(58)

For an hour, the chairs of this year’s charitable organization gave their welcoming speeches, but I hardly heard a word. First of all, people from my old life kept on coming over to us, fawning over me and eyeing Kaden with curiosity. And secondly, Kaden was doing everything he could to make this experience bearable. What did make me laugh was how he invented the wildest possible scandals involving some of the guests.

“That guy over there is Alexander McTalman,” he said, nodding toward an older man who was unknown to me. He was incredibly tall, wore a plaid suit and was unobtrusively scratching his crotch. “He’s a Scottish Lord who’s upset that he can’t wear a kilt today. You can see, he feels kind of cramped.”

“Your imagination is incredible,” I said with my mouth full. We’d collected a mountain of snacks on our table, since we were too hungry to wait for the real food.

“That woman over there is Sabrina Miller-Fishbury. She’s president of the golf club for underage criminals, and she’s having an affair with Lord McTalman.” Her hair was combed back so tightly that her face seemed stretched. A kind of natural face-lift that might work for my mother as an alternative to the massive amounts of Botox she had injected into her. “But Mrs. Miller-Fishbury is stuck in an unhappy marriage with Mr. Fishbury, whose hair growth cream stopped working.”

Kaden was looking at a pretty short guy who had plopped a toupee over the remnants of his real hair. I laughed aloud and covered my mouth, hoping no one had noticed.

“Your turn,” said Kaden with a happy grin.

He was making the best of our situation and didn’t complain once. So I didn’t mind taking part in his silly game. Looking around for my next victim, an invented story was on my lips when—

I saw him.

And my heart stopped.

The way he held himself, his straight, strong profile. His wavy brown hair, with a few gray streaks. I would have recognized Russell Anderson anywhere.

I couldn’t breathe, and started to black out. I grabbed the table to keep from falling.

Our eyes met. For a moment, he looked surprised; then a delighted smile spread across his face.

I felt sick.

He shook the hand of the person he was talking to, then turned and walked toward us.

I might throw up any second.

“Allie?” Kaden asked, but his words didn’t reach me.

He came closer. And then he was standing in front of me. His bitter aftershave penetrated my nostrils, making me nauseated.

“Crystal.”

What I wanted to do was spit in his face, punch and kick him. But as usual I was paralyzed in his presence. He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek, keeping his mouth close to my ear. “How lovely to see you,” his warm, moist breath made my stomach curdle.

I pressed my lips together. Without reciprocating, I stared straight ahead, hands clenched, trying to avoid his arrogant smile. Or how his eyes wandered greedily over my body, as usual.

“College life has been good for you, I see,” he announced, pleased.

I folded my arms across my chest, as if I could shield myself from his hungry gaze. Kaden took a step closer to me and placed his hand on my back.

“And who do we have here?” Anderson asked, his voice dripping with disapproval.

This tore me out of my trance, and I looked up.

“This is my boyfriend, Kaden White.” I didn’t even know how I managed to get those words out so firmly. Autopilot must have kicked in. “Kaden, this is—”

“Russell Anderson. An old friend of the family,” Anderson interrupted, and nodded to Kaden instead of shaking hands.

Kaden tensed beside me, drawing me a bit closer to give me support, without knowing who this man was let alone what his presence triggered in me.

Just then the loudspeakers crackled with the sound of my mother’s voice. She talked about the organization that would get this year’s donations, and how much this meant to her.

But my eyes were still on Anderson. How could he have the impudence to appear here? To talk to me, touch me? In my parents’ house!

How could they even let him in, after everything he’d done to me?

“And I’m especially pleased,” my mother continued in her cheery speech voice, “that I have the honor of recognizing a remarkable person today. Not only has he supported the foundation through his commitment—he’s also been a friend of the family for a long time.” She paused for effect. “Ladies and gentlemen, please give a hand to this year’s top donor … you already know him! Russell—where are you hiding?”

My mouth dropped open.

Anderson turned toward me and winked. He let his hand drift across my hip as he whispered, “Nice to see you again, Crystal. Maybe we can free up some time for each other later on.”

Then he turned, straightened his tie, and, smiling brightly, made his way through the throng of guests to join my mother at the podium.

My legs were about to give way; I reached for Kaden’s arm.

“Get me out of here,” I gasped. “Please, get me out of here!”

Kaden shifted gears, put his arm around me and pushed me firmly toward the front door. Anderson’s oily slick voice followed us the whole way. He felt honored, and he would accept the recognition in the name of all those in need …

My stomach cramped. Once outside, I inhaled the fresh air as if I’d been drowning. Kaden led me across the driveway and away from the property, ignoring the dismayed looks of other guests.