Page 113 of Lovers' Dance

“You remember—” Matt was in the process of re-introducing me when Aphrodite glided past her parents, mouth curved in a smile.

“Matt, darling, you look dashing tonight, but you always do.” She laughed, leaning forward for a kiss.

I coughed discreetly. Aphrodite better watch herself.

Matt, knowing he was seconds away from being murdered by my hands, moved behind me while wrapping both arms around my waist. Aphrodite’s face hardened for a split second before she was once again beaming like the sun.

“Hello, Louisa. You remember my girlfriend, don’t you?”

“Yes,” she said coolly. “Allison, was it?”

“It’s Madison,” I replied coldly. I could just about picture her and Matt in bed together, all sweaty and groany, touching each other. Argh. I stuck my hand out. Manners, always remember your manners. “We didn’t get a chance to talk at dinner last week.”

She took my hand and we exchanged a limp hand shake. Louisa’s gaze went behind me to Matt. The secretive smile on her face had me seeing red. Man. If only I knew how to throw down like Jenny. I’d once seen my cousin beat the black off this girl who dared call her a welfare skank to her face on the crowded E train.

“People are taking their seats,” Nathan advised, herding Bella over to where Adam stood. I saw Louisa smile at Matt and a blood vessel burst somewhere in my brain.

“Louisa, you are as lovely as your mother,” Grumps said. Louisa leaned down to press a light kiss to his lined cheek.

“Thank you, William. What are you doing here tonight?” she asked.

I zoned out their conversation and stepped away from Matt. Matt, never one to give up, caught my hand in his. When I tried to discreetly tug away, he tightened his hold. Matt started to lead us down the side of the table when Grumps called, “Matthew, I want Ms DuMont next to me tonight. We never got a chance to finish our conversation.”

Matt stood frozen. Adam was grinning with childlike glee, leaning over to whisper something in Nathan’s ear, which caused the blonde man to eye Grumps and me with curious speculation.

“Don’t you dare,” I hissed under my breath. “Don’t even think—”

Matt turned us around, reeking resignation. “Of course, Grumps.”

I had forgotten the way Grumps ruled the Bradley clan. Top dog Grumps. My night was going to shit.

Like the lamb to the slaughter, Matt walked us back to the free seats next to Grumps. Seating me next to his grandfather. Matt took his seat next to me as everyone else sat. At least Aphrodite was sitting with her parents on the other side and nowhere near Matt’s junk.

“Your jewellery is eye catching,” she said suddenly. I touched the necklace tentatively, worried I would lose it somehow.

“Thank you,” I replied. Manners. I was raised to act right.

“A gift from Matt, I assume?” she drawled with a knowing smirk.

I flashed Matt an uncertain smile, before nodding in confirmation. Matt looked upset for some reason. His eyebrows had lowered in a decidedly unhappy manner.

Louisa touched the intricate and impressive diamond necklace around her own neck. “He’s always good at picking jewellery.” Aphrodite smiled sensuously at him from across the table. “Aren’t you, darling? Remember when you surprised me with this piece?”

“No,” Matt said curtly. “It was long ago, Louisa.”

I couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. The expensive jewellery I wore made me feel cheap. Guess my earlier question had been answered. Matt obviously showered all his girlfriends with shiny stuff.

“About six, maybe five months ago, if I recall correctly,” she chastised, while Bella suddenly started up a conversation about cancer research which she valiantly tried to spread around the crowded table.

Matt glared at Louisa. I saw it when I risked a look at him from the corner of my eyes.

“Feels like forever since then, Louisa,” Matt said coldly, before dismissing her with another hard glance and saying to me, “I hope you’re famished, Madi. The food at these events is always sublime.”

Yep, our first date was officially ruined. I did try to put up a brave face though as we listened to the speeches, had too many courses of food, and conversed for a full twenty minutes with Grumps. Surprisingly, he hadn’t verbally pumped me full of lead. Maybe we were at a Mexican standoff at the moment.

Matt was so sweet, it was cavity inducing, and I couldn’t manage more than a weak smile every time he tried to make me laugh or flirted shamelessly with me, causing Bella to laugh and earning him a censorious warning look from Grumps.

He tried, but she was here, her presence a silent and unwelcome reminder of the type of women my man was previously romantically linked with. I wished this night would draw to a close soon.

---