“Ha, you don’t fool me. You’re a lot savvier than I ever gave you credit for, Ms. Bowchickawowwow.”
Mom performed a little curtsey before focusing her laser stare back on me. “You doing okay, for real?”
I let out a long, frustrated groan. “I suppose.”
“You made your choice, Breeze. And now it’s time to live with it.”
The subtle reminder reinforced my feeling that Mom wasn’t on board with my decision.
“I know. I guess I just wish I felt better about it. I can’t shake the feeling I’ve made a huge mistake.”
Mom dropped her gaze and I swear I saw her shrug.
“What was that?” I asked.
“What?”
“That little noddy-shrug. You think I made a mistake, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. It’s your life, Breeze.”
“It matters to me.”
I stared her down until she finally caved. “Okay, fine. You know I’m a big believer in fate. What happened to the two of you, and then the instant connection it forged—things like that don’t happen by chance. Have you ever considered the two of you were meant to be?”
My mouth dropped open. “And you didn’t tell me thisbeforeI shoved a boot up his ass and went on my merry way?”
“It’s not fate if you have to be convinced of its otherworldly powers. Take a deep breath and breathe it in. If it’s meant to be, Breezie, you’ll find your way back to him. Have a little faith that things will go your way.”
Mom slapped my butt. Pep talk over. “Now, get yourself ready and let’s go kick some ass for real. How does that sound?”
“Strangely appealing. And now that you mention it, Iamin the mood to beat someone silly.”
* * *
The plan was to elude Brandon and Jenna for as long as possible. During the car ride over, I went through all sorts of avoidance techniques, most involving large objects to hide me from view— plants, tables, Uncle Raymond.
My little plan hit a snag the moment I walked through the door of the banquet hall and into my worst nightmare. Standing before me was Brandon and his happy family, all freshly scrubbed and eager to rub my nose in their perfectly sanitized world.
Brandon was bigger and buffer than before, his freshly tatted arms bursting from a shirt two sizes too small for him. Where did he shop? Baby Gap? His black hair was slicked back and the beard-goatee number was surprisingly well-trimmed. When we’d been together, Brandon kept things on the scruffy side. Now he looked like any other tool whittling away his extra hours pumping iron in the gym.
Jenna appeared radiant in a yellow wrap dress, shiny blond curls cascading down her back, and the most perfectly rounded baby belly. Of course, she had to be gorgeous. It was all part of the master plan to drive me into the ground. No doubt my cousin had received word of my presence at the event. Because it looked like she’d booked every beautifying procedure possible to make her dazzle.
It worked.
There was no competition. And who was I kidding? There never had been. She’d always been extra. Taller, thinner, with better skin, nicer clothes, and a mom who owned a microwave. Still, she’d always copied me. Whatever I could do, she could do better. It was an endless circle, even as children. We were the best of friends and the worst of enemies. As of late, we were only enemies and that made me sad. I hoped he was worth it.
A toddler with impossibly big brown eyes and bouncy, hairdresser-dream curls stole my attention away from her equally attractive parents. Her hand gently burrowed into Jenna’s as she tucked her head into her mother’s leg and peered up at me with curiosity.
Suddenly there wasn’t enough oxygen in the room. In the world. Oh, the deception this little girl’s creation had caused. I felt it in my bones as if it were only yesterday. How naïve I’d been - trusting in a future that would never be mine.
I wanted to run and hide—where was Uncle Raymond when you needed him —but my legs were riveted in place. It was then I noticed that all fifty-plus of my relatives were holding their breath, anticipating my reaction. Even the music from the live band had ceased.
What the hell? Had this whole day been choreographed for my humiliation?
Terrance’s hand molded to the small of my back, providing me quiet comfort and the assurance I wasn’t alone. My eyes collided with my mother’s and she lifted her chin, a small smile curving her lips. Although no words had passed between us, I nodded my understanding.
How I responded would define me, and also go down in the annals of our family history. I could either kick up a shitstorm and ruin the day or take the higher road, swallow my wounded pride, and pretend seeing the two of them didn’t make me want to drop a bag of dog shit on their porch and set it on fire.
