10. Chapter 10
Dane
Having our pictures taken was about as torturous as I imagined it would be. The unforgiving sun’s rays beat down on our jacket-clad backs as we stared at the camera with strained smiles. At least for Logan and me. I can’t speak for Parker or the women in our party.
Every time we readjusted our positions or stood off to the side to let the photographer snap some couple poses with Jamie and Parker, my gaze involuntarily tracked to Daria.
It’s maddening how much my brain wants to stare at her just so it can memorize the way she looks today—like a sun goddess draped in a pink haze, also known as the gauzy gown that looks like it was made to fit her perfect, lithe body.
The soft glow surrounding her with the afternoon sun shimmering on her bare shoulders is such a stark contrast to the venom-laced voice she uses to speak to me.
It seems like no matter what I try to say or do to fix the distorted image she’s created of me in her head, she continues to loathe my existence.
And for reasons I can’t explain, I hate that.
Usually, I could not care less what people think of me. But I don’t want her to hate me. More than anything, I want the two of us to be able to start over. If she could just get past her distrust and see that I’m genuine, maybe we could finally get somewhere.
I thought maybe we were making progress after the whole balloon arch construction. But her stone-cold glances and even cooler touch today are proving me wrong.
“Okay, that wraps it up,” the photographer says, settling her camera strap over her neck. “You’re all free to head to the tent.”
“This is it!” Jamie squeals, clutching Parker’s arm. “Time to party!”
The rest of the small wedding party mimics Jamie’s excitement, though something tells me it’s all for show.
At least, it feels like it’s for show. Maybe that’s because as happy as I am for Parker marrying Jamie, I’m also a little sad that my younger brother found someone to spend his life with before I did.
Aren’t older brothers supposed to get their lives together first?
Aren’t us middle kids the ones who end up responsible and well-rounded because we’ve learned to take care of ourselves?
Maybe all my pre-conceived ideas have been wrong.
Or maybe Parker found Jamie first because he’s always been more open to love than I have.
But he hasn’t been burned by women like I have either.
He and Jamie take the lead toward the tent with the rest of us following behind. Briar sidles up next to Logan, likely knowing we’re going to be introduced by the emcee with our respective escort. Watching them, Daria hangs back before chancing a look at me.
I hold out my arm for her, a polite gesture I hope she doesn’t read into.
Thankfully, she wraps her hand around my upper arm without a snarky response, and we step toward the tent. Her sultry jasmine scented perfume teases my senses as we file in behind Logan and Briar.
Because I’m clearly a glutton for punishment, I lean close to Daria’s ear and ask, “What are you wearing?”
She blinks up at me with wide, questioning brown eyes. “What?”
“Your perfume,” I clarify. “What is it?”
Her lashes flutter as her lips part. “Um. It’s just something new I picked up.”
I dip my chin, unable to keep myself from breathing her in one last time before we separate. “It’s…nice. Not sure if it fits with your salty personality, though. It’s a little too…sweet.” I send her a wink to let her know I’m joking.
Her eyes spark with annoyance as her nails dig deeper into my skin. “You’re just full of compliments, aren’t you, Charles ?” She smiles wickedly when mine falters at the use of my first name. She only uses it when she wants to remind me of the way she thinks I ghosted her.
Still haven’t quite figured that one out, but when I do, she’ll know exactly what happened—the whole truth of it.
Music blasts through the tent, along with the emcee’s voice as he announces our party. Briar and Logan go first, tamely walking toward the table designated for us. The crowd claps dutifully, and an idea forms.
Logan’s too introverted to give the guests a show, and Briar seems that way too. But me? I can give them something to cheer for. If only I could get Daria to play along too…
“I’m going to spin you,” I murmur next to her ear as Logan and Briar find their seats.
“Huh?” She rears back, searching my eyes.
“Just trust me. Follow my lead.”
She scoffs a little laugh, that lovely, annoyed sound she likes to pretend she doesn’t make when something irritates her. “Not sure why you keep telling me to do that after I explicitly told you I wouldn’t be doing that.”
The emcee says our names through the mic, and I step forward with Daria on my arm.
Everyone claps for us like they did for Logan and Briar, but when we reach the center of the wooden dance floor, I take Daria’s hand and give her a twirl.
She leans into the motion like I knew she would, and I spin her back toward me.
With a flourish, I dip her back, letting my body hover closely over hers, our lips precariously close.
The guests go wild, clapping and cheering for our entertaining little display.
“See?” I whisper, just loud enough for her to hear me. “Trusting me wasn’t all that hard now, was it?”
I right her back to a standing position and lead us toward the table when her barely uttered murmur reaches my ears. “Unfortunately for me, it’s too soon to tell.”
I fight back a sigh and pull Daria’s chair out for her. She mumbles a quick thanks, then drops into the seat, and I take the one beside her.
It’s unfortunate that we’re practically strapped to each other’s side for the duration of the night.
With Parker and Jamie seated at the center of the table, separating each of the couples, my only hopes for conversation while we eat is my newly married brother, who can’t tear his eyes away from his wife for two seconds, or Daria—the girl who’d rather glare daggers at me than speak two words to me.
And let’s not even pretend that I’m able to keep myself from inhaling deeply every time she leans the slightest bit closer. The woman smells like the girl of my dreams.
“This ought to be fun,” she says, voice dripping with a heavy dose of her usual sarcasm.
Before I can respond, the emcee says the meal will be served shortly and asks everyone to remain in their seats. But of course, that doesn’t stop Alexandra Kent. Mom walks right over to our table, purpose fueling her stride.
“You all look perfect!” she trills as well as signs. “Just beautiful.” Leaning completely over the table and squashing the centerpiece, she grabs Parker’s face and plants a kiss on each cheek. “My handsome baby boy, all grown up!”
“He’s been grown for a while, Mom,” I say. “It’s his wedding day, not his sweet sixteen.”
She turns the full force of her narrowed gaze on me before twisting back to kiss and hug Jamie. After making her way down to the opposite side of the table, she saunters back toward my end. “You look handsome tonight too, Dane. Even if your attitude is gunoi .”
I wince at her harsh reprimand even as she kisses each of my cheeks. “My attitude is fine,” I hedge. “Just think it’s time to stop babying Parker.”
“Baby him? Who babies him? I just said he’s all grown up. And he is, leaving us for good!” As is usual with my mom and her dramatics, she flicks her fingers like she’s shooing him away.
“Mom, he literally only lives ten minutes from you now.”
“Ack,” she says, waving me off. “Doesn’t matter. What matters is that now it’s your turn.”
I tilt my head. “Wouldn’t it be Logan’s turn? You know…since he’s the oldest?”
She lifts her nose in the air, glancing down at my older brother.
“No. Not Logan. You.” Then, as if an idea sparks in her mind, she swivels toward Daria with a perfectly poised smile.
“And it’s so good to see you again, fata minunata .
” Taking Daria’s hands in hers, she motions toward me with a quick jerk of her chin.
“I hope my son is treating you well, eh?”
“Oh, ah, he’s…fine.” Daria sends Mom a tight-lipped smile. Unfortunately, she’s not schooled in the ways of Alexandra Kent and has no idea she just sentenced me to death.
Mom slowly connects her hardened gaze with mine. “You have disrespected this woman?” Again, that dark eyebrow lifts, disappearing under her wild, dark curls. “What did you do?” Turning back to Daria, she repeats, “What did he do?”
“Mom,” I groan, running a hand down the side of my face. “I didn’t do anything. She just means that we’re not here together—like as a couple .”
Mom blinks at me, slowly cocking her head to the side. “But she is beautiful. Smart, capable. What is wrong with this one?” She tosses her hand at Daria like she’s something expendable I just tossed aside.
Anger boils inside me faster than it has any right to. All Mom’s doing is fueling the flames of Daria’s poor opinion of me. Tamping it down, I send Daria a meaningful look.
“Nothing,” I say honestly, hoping she hears the truth in my words. “Nothing is wrong with her, Mom. She’s perfect.”
Daria’s brown eyes widen the slightest bit, but she doesn’t say a word.
“Then what’s the matter?” Mom trills. “Dance. Talk. Flirt. Be a couple!” With that final declaration, Mom snaps her fingers in the air and floats off to where Dad waits, looking an awful lot like Logan—quiet and wishing he was somewhere else.
Probably seated in front of the TV at home watching a game.
Daria leans closer, bringing her perfect, deliciously scented skin into my line of sight. “Your mom is—”
“A lot to handle,” I finish for her.
“I was going to say fun . Your mom is fun. Yes, she’s a lot, but I kind of love her.”
A startled chuckle leaves me as I sit back. “Hard not to love her, I guess. She cares about us. Maybe a little too much sometimes.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” she says, a wistful look in her eyes as she fiddles with the folded napkin in front of her.