Page 61 of Beauty Of Her

"To new adventures," I repeated, clinking our glasses. As I took a sip, the fruity flavors danced on my tongue, momentarily distracting me from the nagging worries that had plagued me moments before. I momentarily caught Bridgette’s silhouette, admiring the elegant yet edgy beauty she exuded. I must have gawked a second too long because she caught me.

“What?” Bridgette’s mouth fought a grin.

“You really should date. I swear, I’m not a lesbian, but you really are gorgeous.”

She snorted. “The only man I’m interested in getting is standing at the other end of the room.” Bridgette pointed to the sexy buzz-cut man I spotted her speaking to earlier. He looked pissed.

“Have you been seeing each other?” My tone perked up, suddenly happy for Bridgette.

Her twisted face said otherwise. “Ew, not sexually. I want his business. He’s one of the biggest developers in the city. He will need an interior designer for all those spaces, and this gal is trying to land that position.”

“Wow, look at you.” I nodded, impressed. “What’s his name?”

“Martin Dann,” Bridgette said instantly.

“Ha. They say you can never trust someone with two first names.” I shot another glance at Mr. Dann. He was pure, walking power and sex combined into an explosive package.

“Yeah, and he’s one of the most miserable pricks I’ve ever spoken to. So, we’ll see.” Bridgette took another sip of her drink before placing it on the bar. “How are you holding up? I hope my aunt hasn’t scared you away.” She placed a gentle hand on my arm.

“I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with worse.” I waved my hand in the air. “I mean, what should I expect? Brett has never brought a girl around his parents, and with me being the first one, I’m sure his mother had different expectations for her son. I’ve met Natalie at their market before and let it spill that I have daughters, so yeah. I’m older and with baggage.” As I spoke, I stared off into the crowd, and when my eyes moved back to Bridgette’s face, something was off. It was like she wanted to say something but was holding back, making my stomach turn.

“How are my favorite girls doing?” said Brett from behind. He slung his arms around our shoulders, pulling us into his cocoon.

“Julia reminded me she’s the first girl you’ve ever brought around your mom.” Bridgette’s tone suggested otherwise, and that queasy feeling festered in my gut.

Brett clicked his jaw, almost glaring at his cousin, but quickly shook it off. “Come on, they’re going to start the dinner.”

Brett walked back to the table, his hand still resting on my shoulder as if to provide a shield against Natalie's disapproval. Natalie's icy gaze met mine as we approached, and a surge of defiance rose within. I was not going to let her win.

“Who wants to sit next to me?” asked Natalie, eyeing Brett.

“I will,” I chimed in, smiling. I slid into the seat next to Natalie as the rest of the table barely breathed by my decision. Her lips tightened into a thin line, but she didn't protest. Brett quickly occupied the seat next to me while Glen sat on the other side of Natalie. Bridgette situated herself next to Brett while other faceless guests took their places.

The first course arriveda salad with vibrant greens and a citrus vinaigrette. I took a bite, savoring the tangy dressing and the freshness of the vegetables. As I chewed, Natalie's eyes burned into my skin as if I were a potential threat. I tried not to let it bother me, but it was a struggle.

“So, Julia. You have two daughters, correct?” Natalie finally spoke.

Of course, she caught me mid-chew. “Yes. Twin girls, Zoe and Sara. They’re twelve.”

“And they’re soccer stars,” Brett interjected, throwing a wink at me, sending a warmth to my heart.

I chuckled and nodded, swallowing lettuce. "Yeah, they're quite the athletes. They keep me on my toes, that's for sure."

“It sounds like you’re juggling a lot. It must be hard to always spread yourself out so thin.” Natalie’s icy tone started going down my spine, spreading in my stomach to officially kill my appetite.

“Julia is the queen at multitasking. I’ve never met anyone like her before,” said Brett, squeezing my leg with his hand under the table, but for the first time, it did nothing for me. He was trying to save me from his mother.

I mustered a smile, but there was no denying the unease that settled within me. Natalie's subtle jabs and disapproving undertones were becoming harder to ignore. "Yes, it can be challenging at times," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil brewing within. "But I've learned to adapt and prioritize. My girls are my top priority, followed by everything else.”

“By everything else, Julia obviously means me,” said Brett, flashing a smile that would usually dazzle me. However, I couldn’t help but feel like I was being set up for something bigger.

“You know, I have to say,” Natalie began before popping a red cherry tomato into her mouth. “I never thought I’d see the day again where my son was smitten with another woman after Libby.”

And there it was. Forks clanked onto half-empty plates, and frightened looks from Brett’s family shot across the table. My darting eyes found Bridgette’s downcast expression, which she held back at the bar. The secret Brett hoped to never tell. There was someone before me. Not that it mattered if he loved another woman, but he lied about it to me.

A heavy silence hung in the air as Natalie's words echoed in my ears. The room seemed to spin a little, and I had to steady myself by gripping the table's edge. Brett's hand tightened around my leg, but a weight held me back this time. My heart pounded, and a mixture of anger and hurt surged in my body.

I turned to face Brett, searching his eyes for an explanation. His gaze wavered momentarily before he finally met mine, filled with regret. It was a betrayal I hadn't seen coming, cutting me deep. The trust I had built with him shattered with those few simple words.

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