Page 67 of The Tenth Circle
It’s one sin to hide a boyfriend, but a whole other to hide an engagement.
“I don’t even know this guy!” My voice turns frantic. “How could you just spring this on me so fast?”
She reaches for me again, and I pull away just the same, allowing anger to take the wheel.
“I didn’t plan this, Hen. One day it just happened. He offered me a ride to get out of the rain and gave me his jacket to warm up.” There’s a dazzle in her eyes, reminding me of a smitten little girl on the playground. “It was so sweet, swoony. What else could a girl do?”
“I don’t know…say fucking thank you?!”
With a slap to the table I jump out of my seat, ready to storm off and spend the next lifetime screaming into a hundred pillows.
This is utter fucking bullshit.
Selfish stupid bullshit and I’m really motherfucking pissed.
Archer reaches out to stop me but a knock at the door beats him to the punch.
I whip around, eyes narrowing on my mother.
The dress. The hair. TheCoco Chanel.
I don’t want my assumption to make sense, but nothing else does. This blindsiding block of bullshit is hersomewhere to go.
“You’ve gotta be kid?—”
She slides her chair back, rises, and wipes her hands down her dress, as if avoiding my reaction will somehow make it go away.
“That must be Vic now…”
Did she just say…Vic?
As in…the guy I remember giving hera rideto the homecoming dance last year?
As in…
Archer’s to his feet in an instant, his horrified gaze bouncing between the door and us before pulling me into his side.
“I know you’re mad at me, baby.” Mom rubs my back, and I go rigid. “But if it helps, I think you already know his son.”
Puzzle pieces are in the midst of jab-hooking my face when another knock at the door follows with an uppercut.
I could be wrong. It could be a coincidence.
There are a million Victors in the world. Any of which could have given her a ride at some point.
I’d feel relieved if the speed of Archer’s breath wasn’t catching up to mine.
Mom walks toward the door, shaking the nerves from her hands with her head held high. Every step of hers is another rumble under my feet as Archer and I follow.
When she twists the knob to the door, Archer whispers in my ear to keep it together. That I must if who we think’s behind the door is about to walk through it.
Him squeezing my ass painfully hard leaves me no choice but to stand up straight. Hide my fear behind physical pain as Mom opens it wide.
I spot a suit standing there first, charcoal and fitted around a tall body like a glove. Bright blue eyes and a tie to match. The edges of his masculine face are aged and chafed, but with a softness way too similar to be the coincidence I was hoping for.
Then, there’s the girl next to him beaming at me. Thin, beautiful legs peeking through an oversized dress, fishnets, and tall nude boots. With long black hair and a silver nose ring underneath sparkling chestnut eyes.
She’s practically shaking with excitement, the complete opposite of why I’m shaking. Digging my nails into the palm of my hands, I prepare myself for the blast of winter I know is coming.
