Chapter 13 #2
Audrey had noticed that, although she wouldn’t say he was completely removed from everything.
And both Yasmine and Mason seemed reserved to her, so why was it bad for Yasmine if he was also reserved?
She didn’t know why she felt the urge to defend Mason; it wasn’t like anyone was saying anything bad, exactly.
But she also didn’t know either Mason or Yasmine as well as Claudia, Naomi, and Ashley did.
“Do you think she’ll really go through with it?” Naomi asked. “Maybe they’ll just talk about it. They’ve already announced the whole engagement thing to all of us. It makes it a lot harder to back out now.”
“I just don’t understand why they didn’t test their chemistry before deciding marriage would work.” Claudia shook her head. “I guess that’s what they’re doing now, but it feels a little late.”
As much as Audrey wanted to defend Mason and say that he was a good match for Yasmine—for any woman, really—her stomach flipped over at the thought of them testing their chemistry. Doing the things that she was seeing on the floor below.
“You know how Yasmine gets. She probably thought it would work out. Check all the boxes and everything should run smoothly.” Ashley sighed.
“If only it was that easy. I don’t know what to hope for.
I don’t want another relationship not to work out, especially now that she’s engaged, but at the same time, can you imagine marrying someone who you have no chemistry with? ”
“Especially since she said kissing him was like kissing her brother.” Claudia shuddered. “And not in the Cersei and Jaime way.”
“Oh, bleh.” Naomi made a gagging noise.
“Who?” Audrey asked, frowning. All three women turned to stare at her.
“You haven’t seen Game of Thrones?”
“Or read them?” Naomi asked, right on the heels of Claudia’s question.
“Um, no.” Definitely not the kind of television or books her mother would approve of.
Just like romances. In fact, Audrey was starting to realize exactly how many things she’d missed out on that she actually liked because she was trying to do the things her mother approved of.
“I guess I’ll add that to the list of things I need to do. ”
“Absolutely.” Claudia beamed at her, eagerness lighting up her eyes with anticipation. “We’re going to have so much fun. There are so many things that you get to experience for the first time.”
“And she gets to live vicariously through you as you do,” Ashley teased. “Just watch out, she’ll have you watching Lord of the Rings next.”
“I haven’t seen those movies either, though I did read The Hobbit for school,” Audrey admitted.
“You poor deprived baby,” Claudia put her arm around Audrey’s shoulders, making her laugh. “Don’t worry. I’m making a mental list in my head of all the fun things we’re going to do.”
“Fun, nerdy things.” Ashley snickered.
“You enjoyed them, don’t lie.”
“I did say they’re fun. I don’t mind being a nerd.”
Naomi leaned over the balcony railing again, looking down at the activities below before glancing back at them.
“Do you want to go downstairs?” she asked, directing the question at Audrey. “We could get a closer look at everything.”
“Um…” No. She didn’t. Not really. Because downstairs was where Mason and Yasmine were. Doing… something. Maybe breaking up. But maybe trying to make the chemistry work between them.
Which was something she really didn’t want to think about, much less face head-on. How would she feel if they walked out of the room, disheveled and smiling?
Jealous.
Envious.
Like crying.
Definitely not anything she wanted any of the people here to witness her feeling because she had no right to it. So, she had a crush on Mason. He was taken. Even if he and Yasmine broke things off tonight, she couldn’t justify acting on her crush right after they broke up, if ever.
She liked Yasmine. They were becoming friends. And she was becoming friends with all of Yasmine’s friends.
Ruining that by dating Yasmine’s ex wasn’t something she was willing to do. No matter how attracted she was to him.
“We don’t have to,” Naomi reassured her. “That can wait ‘til next time, if you’re interested. I just wanted you to know it’s an option.”
“I think I’m more comfortable up here for right now, if that’s okay.” Audrey smiled weakly. It would be easier to hide her reaction up here if Yasmine and Mason appeared any time soon.
Though her goal was to stay long enough not to arouse suspicion, then leave before they came out. Either way. Because she didn’t want to look devastated if they were happy or happy if they had broken up.
“It’s absolutely okay,” Claudia reassured her, while Naomi and Ashley nodded in encouragement.
“This is a lot to take in, even if you’re interested.
If you decide you want to go down, we can go down.
If you want to stay up here tonight, we can stay up here.
And if you see someone you want to talk to, we can introduce you. Whatever you want.”
“Thanks.” She wished Claudia’s reassurance made her feel better, but unfortunately, the thing she wanted was the one thing none of them could offer her.
Because he was one level down in a private room with the woman he was going to marry.