Chapter 18

Later at the party, a group of caterers arranged a buffet. I dragged Nicole closer to get a better look.

Arranged on a set of two tables were an assortment of meats, cheeses, pasta, salads, and dressings. A third table was entirely deserts, cakes and cookies and even ice cream, set in the base of a wolf ice sculpture.

“It all looks delicious,” Nicole said.

I agreed… until my stomach violently lurched. Too many smells assaulted my nose. They all would have been fine individually, but together… I covered my mouth with my hand.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” I said to Nicole, but she had already moved into the line for the buffet.

I rushed away, pushing through the crowd, and into the ladies’ room. I flew into a stall, crumpled in front of a toilet, and emptied the meager remnants of my stomach.

Afterwards, exhausted, I plopped down onto the floor and slumped against the side of the stall.

This had to be a reaction from being pregnant. I’d never been overwhelmed by food before.

Knowing that didn’t make it easier.

After a while, I pushed myself up again and made my way to the sinks to clean my hands and then wash out my mouth.

I wasn’t ready to go home yet, but I didn’t want to go anywhere near the food. So I found an empty seat near the door of the lounge and dropped myself into it.

A moment later, someone took the seat next to mine. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find it was Asher, but still my heart leapt at the sight of him.

He was so handsome, with a tight v-neck t-shirt and dark slacks. The sleeves of his shirt ended just above the hard curve of his well-muscled biceps. He wore a watch around one wrist, and his long fingers curved over the edge of his knees.

I glanced up at his mouth, and blushed about our earlier indirect kiss. What would it be like to actually feel his lips on mine?

Stop, I chastised myself. He was my brother’s friend. I shouldn’t be thinking of him in such an inappropriate way, no matter how hot he was.

Focusing, I opened my mouth to finally thank him for saving me earlier, but he cut me off before I even began.

“You aren’t eating,” he said, flat. “Why?”

I closed my mouth. He was always so demanding. I didn’t feel like thanking him anymore.

He stared at me, awaiting an answer.

I sighed. “I don’t feel like eating right now.” I wasn’t about to tell him I’d been sick.

“Are you dieting?”

I jerked upright. “What?”

His eyes narrowed, studying me. A frown curled his lips downward. “It’s normal to gain weight in your state. If you diet, you are hurting the ba—”

“Shh!” I held out both hands to stop him. Looking around, no one seemed to have overheard. Even so, it was dangerous to say such things so openly.

His gaze frosted over. “No one is listening.” Of course, he already knew that. There wasn’t any question that he wouldn’t endanger me.

No, the only one to doubt, in his eyes, was me.

“You should know better than this,” he said. “You promised me you would be careful. None of this is careful. You risk both of you, and for what? Vanity?”

How quick he was to assume me guilty!

My earlier affection for him crumbled under the weight of such cold words. He always assumed the worst in me!

“Think what you want,” I snapped, tears welling. I fiercely blinked them back. “You think of me just as a mom, but I’m also a girl.” A girl with feelings he handled so callously!

He couldn’t keep playing with my heart.

I couldn’t keep letting him.

So I abruptly stood and ran away.

I stormed back into the party, weaving through the crowd, searching for Nicole.

I found her in a game room off the main lounge. Arcade games lined the walls. Some people hovered around them, though most of the crowd was circled around a dance machine in the center of the room.

Nicole spotted me at once and motioned me toward the dance machine. She picked a song, and smiled at me.

“Ready to impress?” she asked.

Was I ever. Dancing was the perfect way to work off all the stress I’d gathered.

Infuriating, overbearing Asher.

The music started, and I lost myself to the rhythm.

Following the lights dictated on the dance floor and the screen, I added in my own flourish, swaying my hips and moving my arms. When I added a spin, I noticed that watching crowd had doubled in size. A few people cheered my name.

When the song ended and I caught my breath, even Nicole had joined in the applause. The screen in front of me flashed in celebration. I’d gotten a new high score.

Blushing, I stepped down from the machine, so a new pair could have their turn.

“Way to go, Cynthia!” someone said, jostling my shoulder.

“Nice job, Cynthia!” said another.

I had no idea so many people knew my name.

“Hey,” Nicole stopped me before I could distance myself too far from the dance machine. “How about a real dance-off?”

A twinkle of competition sparked in her eyes, though her easy smile took the edge off it.

I could tell she offered a friendly competition for the sake of fun. I was so used to people trying to put me down, that this was a new concept to me. Was this what friendship looked like?

I wanted to find out more.

So I said, “You’re on.”

Without the constraint of the machine, we let loose with our own personal dance moves.

I felt free. How long had it been since I danced for the joy of it, and not just for the cheerleading squad? Far too long.

The music fully engulfed me. I danced like no one was watching, letting the music draw movements from me that I had not thought of in years.

I laughed as I spun once, happiness overtaking me.

Nicole joined in.

In the end, we fell in sync with each other, falling into one of our cheerleading routines. Afterwards, giggling, we pulled each other into a hug.

I felt as carefree as a kid.

“That was amazing!” Nicole said, and I agreed.

When we pulled apart, a guy stepped toward me. A light blush dusted his cheeks. He shifted from foot to foot like he was nervous about something.

“Can I have your number?” he asked me. “Or we could trade socials?”

I blinked. “For what?”

It couldn’t be what it looked like, especially in front of all these people. Guys didn’t just ask me out. Even Joseph had kept me a secret.

Nicole nudged me with her elbow. “This boy wants to date you,” she whispered in my ear.

I leaned back, surprised. Could it actually be that simple?

Looking up, he was kind of cute. His hair was dark, though not as dark or windswept as Asher’s. His eyes were brown, not anything like Asher’s icy blues. But he was almost as tall as Asher.

I slammed my thoughts to a halt.

Why was I comparing him to Asher? What use was that?

Asher didn’t want me. This guy did.

“Cynthia. Say yes,” Nicole whispered.

“Okay,” I told the guy. He excitedly passed me his phone and added my number.

When I handed the phone back, I shivered. A chill prickled the skin at the back of my neck.

I felt like I was being watched.

I glanced behind me, toward the entrance of the game room.

Asher stood just inside, arms crossed over his chest.

When had he come in?

His eyes were twin icicles, freezing me to the spot. When he shifted his gaze to the guy who’d asked for my number, I swear the temperature in the room dropped twenty degrees.

I swallowed thickly.

How much had Asher seen?