Page 104 of Bitter Secrets

Grateful for something to do, she lined up with the girls and posed beneath the trees. People passed by in a steady stream as Anika’s parents juggled everyone’s phones to take individual photos. When a man broke away from the crowd, she didn’t look at him. It took all her effort to hold her smile as they took snap after snap. The man halted ten feet to the left of Anika’s parents. She was sure it was one of the girls’ boyfriends until her friends began to whisper to one another.

“Who is that?”

“They’re almost done. Two more phones,” she said out of the corner of her mouth.

“I’ve never seen him before,” Anika muttered.

“Eyes over here!” Anika’s dad hollered.

“He’s just standing there. Who is he looking at?”

Curiosity got the better of her and her eyes cut to the stranger. It took her a second to process what she was seeing. Roth stood beside a tree in a black suit, hands in pockets, waiting patiently as if his appearance was nothing out of the ordinary. She was so stunned that she staggered into her friends as she went lightheaded.

“Jasmine? Are you okay?” Anika asked.

She didn’t answer. She started running toward him, tears streaming down her face, and launched herself at him. When he caught her up in his arms, she wrapped her arms and legs around him as tight as she could.

“You didn’t think I would miss your big day, did you?” he murmured.

She sobbed into his chest. He patted her back and then stroked her hair. When that made her wail even louder, he muttered, “I think you’re scaring people.”

She let out a choked laugh before she raised her head and covered his face in kisses. The pain disappeared as if it had never been there. He was all she needed. She was so deliriously happy that it took her a while to realize she was making a spectacle of them. Roth wasn’t one for PDA. She examined his expression. He didn’t seem offended or embarrassed, but rather bemused. She grinned as she scrubbed the lipstick from his face.

“That’s what you get when you surprise me,” she admonished before she gave him a proper kiss.

“I should do it more often,” he said before he set her down. His eyes went to something behind her. “Hello.”

Jasmine turned and found Anika standing a few feet away.

“Thisis your husband?”

“Yes.” She placed her hand on Roth’s chest as she fitted herself against his side. “You finally get to meet—”

“Him?”Anika looked almost offended.

She frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“I thought he would be someone like…” Anika flapped her hand in the direction of some of their classmates.

Her brows shot up. “You thought he was a pretty boy?”

Anika finally seemed to realize how she was coming off and held up both hands. “Totally not what I was expecting, but happy to finally meet you. I’m Anika.”

He took her hand. “Roth.”

Anika didn’t release his hand, but took the opportunity to examine it. Jasmine glanced at Roth’s shuttered expression and then at Anika, who smoothed her hand over his rough palm.

“She’s an artist,” Jasmine explained.

“With a political science degree,” Anika’s mom interjected and forcefully yanked her daughter away from Roth. “She’s always been highly inquisitive.”

“You have beautiful hands,” Anika said.

Roth glanced at Jasmine before he shrugged.

She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his middle as she said, “He just flew in from the UK. I think we’re gonna…”

Anika beamed. “Yes, you two need to catch up and celebrate! Roth, if you’re interested in posing for me, please let me know. You have great lines and your eyes…” Anika tried to take a step forward, but was held back by her cringing mother. Anika waved her hand. “Jasmine has my number.”

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