Page 97 of The Confidant

Of course, Sophia didn’t tell me. I’d be jealous and move back home to steal her man or something. Whatever excuse they can come up with to keep me away is good for them.

Why the hell invite me to this place at all? Through some kind of hoodoo, at that. What a waste of everyone’s time.

There’s a pause as if I’m supposed to fill up the silence. I would have if this had been months ago. I would have been throwing a fit. I’m good with watching them stew in their awkwardness instead. I actually get a kick out of it. Who knew staying quiet would make them focus on their own idiotic assumptions?

Brad glances at me, bewildered. “I thought you said you told your whole family.”

My lips twitch into a bitter smirk. She pretty well did, Brad. I’m not one of them.

Sophia winces and looks at Daniella, the oldest, for help.

“That means I’m next to find my One.” Daniella gives Maman a huge, excited grin. Maman doesn’t hesitate to agree. They start chattering about ways to meet her unicorn of a man, getting sidetracked.

“Unless Addie beats you to it.” Sophia gives me a hopeful smile.

The sight of it makes a feeling of helpless rage stir. None of them thinks I’ll have a soulmate. Why continue pretending? This fake-as-hell pandering is pointless.

Her bid to gain my forgiveness with lies earns her a disgusted look from me. I register her shock at my reaction and shake my head, turning my eyes back to the table.

“We’re just glossing over everything?” Suzette asks in horror. Her disbelief at my lack of theatrics has her staring at me with wide eyes. “No being pissed off and making her apologize for being an ass?”

Like she would apologize for anything. Maman will back her up no matter what if I open my mouth. It will somehow end up with me apologizing for losing my cool.

“Suzette,” Maman gives her a stern glare that has her wilting in her seat. “You know why she didn’t say anything.”

“Isure as hell don’t,” Asher spits through gritted teeth.

“You’re just out of the loop, baby,” Maman raises an amused brow at him. “Maybe if you called more, that wouldn’t happen.”

“I’m sitting right in front of you now, Maman. Fill me in.” The way he says it sounds ominous.

“I don’t want to embarrass anyone.” She gives Tera a pointed look.

She has a trump card against Asher, and she isn’t afraid to use it. That doesn’t bode well for him.

It looks like if I had kept my mouth shut years ago, I would have figured things out a lot faster. All this sweet tea is spilling out as they defend themselves without my interference.

Asher opens his mouth, his expression frigid, when Joseph interrupts.

“Slow down, son.” He holds out a hand, his attention on Sophia. “You didn’t tell your sister about Brad? That’s one of the rudest things I’ve ever heard, Sophia.”

“I didn’t want her to be upset, Pa,” Sophia says, staring at him with wide eyes. No one wants to make Joseph mad at them.

They call him Pa without reserve. A father they chose without hesitation, and he chose them back with ease. I never had the right to call him that.

I’m relieved about it now instead of hurt. He’s on the outskirts of my life and always has been. His loss isn’t as painful as it could have been otherwise. He’s just a man who married a woman with kids to feed. Not my business anymore.

“Addie would never be upset at you finding happiness,” Asher protests with a boatload of disbelief that surprises me.

Let this show carry on. I’ll sit back and watch for once.

No one says anything back to him. His eyes wander around the table until they land on me, still staring at nothing. I don’t bother touching the menu. I’m not interested in eating around these people. I might puke at the hypocrisy.

“Only you would think that. Becauseyouget all the positives from her while we get the dramatic crap,” Daniella remarks with a roll of her eyes and gestures at my relaxed form like I’m committing a crime.

Asher straightens in his seat, his expression going from fiery to cold in a snap.

“We’ve been hiding a few things from you, Ash,” Sophia admits, her eyes moving to me with an apology written in them.

---