The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (115)
“Four Archer,” I returned.
He didn’t bother with a handshake or even a smile before stepping aside and inviting us in, and even then, it seemed reluctant. We followed him into the living room where everyone waited. Rosalyn was chatting with who I assumed was Barbie’s mother while Thomas sipped from his drink and stared into the lit fireplace. Unable to resist his pull, I glanced to the side of the room where Ever sat broodingly on a love seat next to Barbie. I couldn’t help but notice how complete they looked together.
I felt bile rising as I became flushed. I needed a way out of this.
Of course, Rosalyn chose that moment to notice me. “Four, you look beautiful.” Her ill-timed compliment put every set of eyes in the room on me. “Come and meet Melissa, dear.”
I couldn’t even begin to describe how much I didn’t want that. Jamie placed his hand on my lower back and gently nudged me forward when I would have stayed in place. I couldn’t do this. No way, no how.
A few steps and I was standing next to a beaming Rosalyn, who pled with her eyes for me not to embarrass her.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Melissa primly greeted. “Four, is it?”
“Yes.” I then proceeded, ineloquently, to string together a sentence. “Um…thank you…for…um…inviting me to your home.”
“We’re glad you could come. Your mother was just telling me how dedicated you are to your studies.”
I fought to keep my face schooled. I guess Rosalyn had been covering her ass in case I was a no-show.
One of the staff announced that dinner was ready to be served, so we all moved into the dining room. I was glad to end the small talk, though I had a feeling the worst was yet to come. It was hard keeping my eyes off Ever, especially when he did such a great job ignoring me. Elliot sat at the head of the table with Thomas and Ever on his left and right. Melissa dined at the other end with Rosalyn on her right and Jamie on her left, which left me sitting across from Barbie and her sandwiched between Ever and Jamie.
We were served salmon, wild rice, and asparagus. Barbie, as if a little carb would actually kill her, was served only salmon and asparagus. I forced myself to eat even though my appetite was non-existent. Elliot and Thomas discussed portfolios, although Elliot’s questions were borderline intrusive, but what did I know? Thomas didn’t seem to mind. Rosalyn and Melissa talked about the latest fashions. Jamie remained remarkably silent as dinner progressed. I was also content to poke around my plate in silence, but I found it strange that Ever and Barbette didn’t speak and barely looked at each other. Barbie seemed resigned while Ever showed no emotion at all.
“So, Elliot, while I appreciate the invitation, I was curious as to the nature.”
Jamie finally lifted his head from his plate, and Melissa clapped excitedly.
“Ah.” Elliot nodded good-naturedly. “It seems my daughter and your son have great news to share.”
Thomas turned to his son, and I think we all held our breath as we waited to hear the news. Ever, however, only had eyes for me when he broke me for the second time today.
“I asked Barbette to marry me.”
JAMIE WAS BEATING THE SHIT out of me, and I took each of those blows without returning a single one. I deserved them. It took Thomas and Elliot to pull him off me, and by then, I was pretty sure he’d broken my nose. While Thomas kept Jamie restrained, I staggered to my feet and just…walked away. I drove myself to the hospital to get my nose looked at—luckily it wasn’t broken—and my lip stitched before driving out to Vaughn’s to crash.
“Jamie really fucked you up,” Vaughn commented with a shake of his head.
I closed my eyes so I couldn’t see the disappointment in his. I knew Vaughn would have tried to talk me out of betraying Jamie any more than I already had, so I’d kept my decision to marry Barbie to myself. Bee’s parents had been waiting for me to pop the question since I entered the farce of a relationship four years ago.
“Are you and Bee really going to do this? You don’t love each other. Anyone with eyes can see that.”
“She doesn’t have a choice, and I—”
“You’re what?” Vaughn prodded.
I’m self-destructing. “I don’t know anymore.”
The Montgomerys were broke.
Using Barbette to increase the family’s wealth had always been Elliot’s plan from the moment her beauty was realized. Now that their ship was sinking, he was hell-bent on selling his daughter to the highest bidder. It didn’t matter if the suitor was decrepit or cruel as long as their offer pulled the Montgomerys out of the hole Elliot had dug them into and kept them wealthy. Believing I was firmly in his daughter’s snare had been what kept him from selling her to one of his golfing buddies.
Bee, Vaughn, and I had been thick as thieves for as long as I could remember. We had never known another girl who ran as fast, fought as hard, and challenged as fearlessly. She had been just another one of the boys until Jamie blew into town one summer and reminded us all that underneath the red ball cap and baggy clothes was still a girl.
The day she met Jameson Buchanan was the first time we’d ever seen her blush, and Jamie, despite his arrogance, couldn’t stay away. They were best friends by the end of the summer. I was there when Bee made Jamie promise to return the next summer. She even cried a little when my uncle drove away and threatened to break my nose if I told anyone.