Fire and Ice: A New Adult Erotic Romance Read Online Free

puddle at the base of the altar.
    “Hey, there,” he whispers. “You okay?”
    I gulp. I nod. I am extremely unladylike. To my credit, I manage to not grin like a chimpanzee.
    “You have no idea,” I say.
    “Maybe not, but I think I’m starting to see.”
    “She has a life,” I say. “Her life, all her own. They can have babies or travel the world or do anything. But it’s all hers, all theirs.”
    “And not yours.”
    “That’s the point,” I say, wondering if being this earnest comes across as being not earnest at all.
    He pushes at a curl that’s been tickling my eyebrow. He smoothes it and the lines that I’m sure mar my brow. “What about your life, Peri?”
    I can’t hold his gaze. It’s too strong, too intense, too sincere. My stomach clenches. I had a life once, the one Athena built for me. And when I stepped from her shadow and tried to build my own, the pieces crumbled and slipped through my fingers. I shake my head as if this can shake off his question.
    George still has my arm tucked in his when we reach the receiving line. That’s when my splendid bubble of isolation bursts. I must paint a smile (but not a chimpanzee one) on my face. I must make small talk, and not-so-small talk. I must field questions about my life with Athena and our lives now apart.
    I will have to shake Caleb’s hand. I will have to touch him. I will have to remember. Three things I do not want to do.
    George gives my hand a squeeze. I lift my chin. I will not let Caleb ruin Athena’s day. And while I’m at it, I wonder if I can stop him from ruining my life.
     
    * * *
     
    “Surprised to see me?”
    It’s the sort of line that begs for a sarcastic reply. But I’m inept at this too, the witty banter with the ex. Besides, I’m amazed that the first thing Caleb says to me in more than six months revolves around him. Truly, there is something remarkable in that level of narcissism.
    “Actually, yeah,” I say, “since you hate Athena.”
    “Oh, please. When have I ever said I hated her?”
    That’s just it. He hasn’t. He never says anything outright, not if he can help it. And when you accuse him, he’ll demand proof.
    “I thought we could be adult about this,” he adds.
    Adult? Really? “This?” I say. “Which part of it? The part where you show up to ruin my sister’s wedding? The part where you lied to all our friends? The part where I find you in bed with another woman, on the sheets that I bought for us?”
    Two spots of color stain Caleb’s cheeks, but otherwise, his skin has taken on a gray hue. The receiving line goes silent, the bridesmaids and groomsmen peer down the line at me. I am the one ruining my sister’s wedding.
    George reaches a hand forward, yanking Caleb from his spot in front of me. “George Connolly,” he says. “Known David for years. In fact, he used to beat me up and steal my lunch money.”
    Inane chatter, but I see what it’s doing, what he’s doing—pulling everyone’s attention away from me. And he continues to pull Caleb, past Uncle Jaffrey, David’s family, and even Athena and David, and straight into the dining area. He has rescued us all.
    “Honey.” Miriam’s voice floats down the line of bridesmaids and groomsmen. “I hope you’re planning on doing something about that.”
    I don’t know if she means George, or Caleb, or both.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    AT THE HEAD TABLE, I sit next to Athena. It’s not the traditional seating arrangement, but then, we lack the requisite family members to pull that off. David’s grandmother has taken charge of Uncle Jaffrey, ensuring his glass is filled with only water. They sit quietly together, the two oldest people here.
    I tip my head back and whisper, for at least the fifth time, “I’m sorry.”
    “God, would you stop.” Athena holds a champagne glass, but like me, hasn’t taken a sip. “Besides, what’s a wedding without a little drama?”
    “Decent? Perfect? Not ruined?”
    She snorts