Page 6 of Voices in the Stars
“Obviously. Anything would’ve been an improvement from the pig you would’ve married, farm girl.” His face screwed into a smirk.
“An actual pig would be better than some asshole who thinks everyone is below him,” I seethed, my words coming out as a hiss between clenched teeth.
I let my own smirk spread as I watched his smug demeanor drop with his arms. My heart pounded in time with his steps toward me. Itried to step back. Sharp branches poked through the back of my dress. I winced as he got close enough the stench of the tea he drank wafted over to me.
“You little?—”
“Everything okay here?”
My shoulders sagged with my breath of relief. Adrian stopped in his tracks. His eyes were frozen glaciers as they pierced me. Anger pulsed off of him in heated waves.
“Yeah, Josi, everything’s fine,” I answered.
Our stares stayed locked in a challenge to see who would back down first. I knew he would never risk ruining that perfect reputation his mother helped him craft. Even Josi seeing this side of him was enough to risk that. We both knew it. He straightened his shoulders, smoothing out the fly away hairs until they were tucked back against the grease in his hair. He flashed my sister a blinding smile as he walked out of the clearing.
I leaned my head back. Branches were tugging at my carefully styled hair, but I couldn’t move at the moment. My body trembled as I stared up at the bright sky. It could’ve been such a nice day.
“I’m fine,” I reassured her as she rushed to my side.
I glanced at her in time to see her relief turn into a disappointed scowl. I held my breath. Depending on how much she heard, a lecture was certainly coming next.
“Did you really tell him you’d rather marry a pig?” she asked, confirming my thoughts.
“Sort of,” I admitted with a shrug before she grabbed my arm. “Though I’d settle for Prince Charming if you know where he is.”
My response had its intended effect as she laughed instead of continuing her sentence.
“Mom’s gonna kill you,” she warned instead as we started walking back to the party.
I grimaced, dread resettling as a pit in my stomach with a quick glance at Josi. Something twisted in my stomach as her ring glittered in the sun. She met Ben a few years ago. He courted her, she quickly fell in love, and now they were going to be married. Even with the choice of picking a fiancé ripped away from her, she was happy. If only it could’ve been like that for both of us.
As we broke through the hedges, noise from the party flooded my ears. I didn’t realize how quiet it had been until we were thrown back into the crowd. Unease filled me as I looked around the garden party. No one gave me any weird stares, just the normal, judgement-filled ones.
My gaze snagged on my mother. She was standing off toward those who were sitting. From the distance, her age was more apparent as wrinkles danced around the corners of her lips while she talked. The gray in her hair sparkled as the sun hit it. She waved at anyone who looked at her. Her face screamed warm and welcoming, everything her eyes lacked. This was the new her. The one who flourished in this new lifestyle she created. One filled with parties and servants. It was a drastic change for the rest of us that she embraced every moment of.
Her own gaze scanned over the party. It stopped once we made eye contact. Hers narrowed to a disappointed squint as she looked between me and Josi. Her face pulled tight into a scowl as she stalked toward me. The lack of Adrian by my side caught her attention quicker than I had hoped.
“Better run while you can,” I whispered to my sister, not letting the smile drop from my face.
Josi squeezed my shoulder before walking away. Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders, standing at my full height before moving to meet my fate head on. There was no use trying to delay the inevitable. At least the crowd would be a barrier between me and the full force of her anger.
I only took a few steps before another hand on my shoulder stopped me. My breath huffed out of me. Part in irritation, but mostly in gratefulness at another wall between me and my mother.
“Josi.” I turned with a sigh; I appreciated the concern, but she should’ve known better than anyone that this anger would only get worse if she stayed by my side.
“Not quite.” My dad smiled at me.
I stiffened as I looked up at his smiling face. My heart clenched as I was thrown back into the argument he had with my mother this morning. I tried to keep my breathing even. He fought for me; there was nothing to be scared of right now. He had the same black hair as everyone else in the family that was such a stark contrast to my blondehair. His was now combed over to one side. I scrunched my nose against the laugh that threatened to spill out.
“Don’t give me that look,” he grumbled.
“I can’t help it.” I let out a small chuckle. “You look ridiculous.”
“Don’t remind me.”
Biting my cheek, I fought down the rest of my laughter. He didn’t deserve any more humiliation. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who got forced into the horrible world of dress-up today. He was wearing a bright yellow suit that I guessed was supposed to match my mother’s pale yellow dress. Where my mother’s made her shine, his suit drowned out the color of his hair and reflected a light that made him look sick.
My chin trembled as I looked over him. He tried his hardest to be there for me. When my mother and I fought, he always tried to calm us down. To keep us from screaming at each other. He was always on her side, though. Telling me to just go along with what she said to make everyone’s life easier.
