Page 12 of His Relentless Angel

Any victory I felt at gaining Isaiah’s focus goes flying out the window when I return to the table to find a gorgeous older woman with umber skin and nearly pitch-black hair hugging Isaiah’s shoulders. As soon as I take my seat, Shayla, Mom, and Autumn’s eyes all dart toward me. I give them a weak smile and take a sip of my new drink, which isn’t nearly as strong as the first—probably on Dad’s orders. I won’t plaster on a brilliant smile as I would have done when I was younger to cover the hurt, but I also won’t let them see my despair as I act like I’m studying the short dessert menu.

The despair deepens when Isaiah smiles charmingly at the woman above the menu and gets up to find an empty chair to bring to the table, situating it closely to his side between him and Dad. He settles his arm around the back of her chair, and I bristle. He’s not touching her, but a flick of his wrist, and he could.

He claps James on the shoulder, who is seated opposite of Dad. “You remember Jai? Not sure if we’d met yet when she and I were together.”

My stomach bottoms out. Together. So, the woman in the stunning gold cocktail dress that matches the outer rings of her eyes isn’t just a friend or colleague. They have history, and judging by the way she leans into Isaiah’s shoulder, waving to everyone as we go around the table introducing ourselves—everyone except me since I bring my drink to my lips so they’ll skip me—I get the feeling she wants to be more than just a memory.

Isaiah is doing a great job carving out my heart every time he smiles at Jai or leans in, whispering in her ear as she scoots her chair closer and closer to his side. I wish I knew of a way to help him along, if only to speed up the process and end the hurt sooner.

Dad has a sharp eye, and he notices my silent reaction. Notices how my cheeks flush bright red like they do when I get upset. Notices the way my chin quivers after I knock back half of my drink in one gulp. Notices how I slump lower in my seat, trying to hide behind the menu as I stare at it without seeing any of the words. Instead of shaking his head at me or pinching the bridge of his nose, Dad sits back in his chair and crosses his meaty arms over his white button-down with an embroidered Longhorn logo on the pocket while he watches Isaiah and how friendly he is with Jai.

“How are you liking the new apartment? It’s a lot bigger than your dorm room. And, yay, no more roommates! Bet it’s nice having a place all to yourself,” Shayla rambles from my left, trying to distract me by pulling me into a conversation.

“Yeah, it’s nice,” is all I say. After graduation, I moved into my own apartment instead of back in with my parents. I chose one on the opposite side of town from Isaiah’s old complex simply so memories of that night won’t slam into me every time I drive past it.

Shayla looks helplessly at Mom on my right. Mom asks, “How are you liking the new job? Have you met anyone special at work?” Shayla groans and looks to Autumn, sitting between Mom and Dad, who slaps a hand to her forehead.

“Sure, Mom. There are a ton of men to choose from,” I say with a bit of sarcasm.

She winces.

My boss, Starlight, has a popular online boutique selling custom cosplay dresses, corsets, fairy wings, and more. The other two seamstresses and I work exclusively out of her studio behind her house without any in-person customers, so I can go days without seeing a man unless I’m out running errands.

Softening my tone, I tell her honestly, “I love it. We’ve already started on the dresses for the Renaissance Festival next year since she finally saved enough money to get her own stall. She said she really likes some of the designs I’ve come up with, so I can work the festival with her. See how people respond to them. If they like them, then she might let me have more creative control the year after next.”

“That’s amazing! I know people are going to love them. I should take a look at what you come up with since I’ll need a new dress when I’m no longer pregnant.” Shayla says it with a bit of her own sarcasm, her brows raised in question at James. “Right?”

James palms the top of her belly over her white maternity sundress since she’s currently heavily pregnant with their fourth biological child together, even though their third was a girl, and Shayla had said they could stop. He protests in a low voice, “You promised this would be the last one. I’m going to hold you to it so you don’t send me to an early grave watching you give birth again.”

Shayla rolls her eyes. “You say that every time.”

“I mean it every time.”

“Oh, please. You love them.”

“You know I do. Y’all are my whole world. But watching you go through all that pain…” James brings her hand to his heart over his black button-down while they stare at each other without blinking. “It doesn’t get any easier. I can’t stand it, angel.”

And fuck if that doesn’t hurt too.

Everyone thinks I’m crazy and obsessive, but they’re pots calling the kettle black. James and Shayla are just as obsessed with each other, the same as Mom and Dad, who refuse to acknowledge it. They get to have their huge families and happily ever afters, but I never will.

I look away when James brings Shayla in close for a kiss when he slips his hand up to her jaw, unable to bear witness to their love when the man I love with every fiber of my being is giggling with a woman who is practically on top of his lap directly across from me.

After picking at my chocolate lava cake and Dad settles the bill as part of Autumn’s graduation present, my parents and little sister stand up and stall momentarily.

Mom slides her hand down my bare arm and asks, “Want to ride back with us to the hotel?”

I shake my head. “No thanks. I’m going to hang out with James and Shayla a little longer.”

She bends down to whisper, “Are you sure that’s wise, sweetheart?” She stops before her eyes reach the end of the table where Jai is slapping Isaiah’s shoulder playfully.

“Mmhmm. One more drink, and I’ll head back.”

Mom cups my cheeks and uses her thumb to wipe away a stray tear that falls without my permission and kisses my temple. “Ok…if you’re sure.”

“Yup.”

Dad drops a kiss to the top of my head. “Have fun, kiddo. Don’t stay out too late.”

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