Page 106 of Until I Have You

My cheek muscle ticks.

Mason moves past me.“I’m going to…go throw this out.If anyone wants to come.”

That seems to be an invitation for anyone not within the tight circle of family to head back into the house.

Camilla, Laney, Mason, Bridget, and Seth all return slowly into the house, giving me sheepish looks as they go.The only person who seems to understand me is Bridget who gives me a tiny smile and squeezes my wrist before following Seth inside.

I am left with my two older brothers, my father, andhis wife.

Not Sonia.Not my friend.

I remain stone-faced.They’re all in this together.

“Don’t blame Sonia for telling me, Abs,” my dad says.

“Who am I to blame, then?”I glance around at my family.“For you talking about me and meddling in my life?”

Dad shakes his head.“There’s no one to blame for anything.Except Theo.He should have known better.I don’t know the details, but he shouldn’t have crossed that line with you.”

“What if it was my idea?”

Dad winces.“He still should have known better.”

I rub my eyes.“You’re acting like I wasn’t even there to make my own decisions.”

Jack crosses his arms over his chest.“We won’t let you be taken advantage of.”

“Taken advantage of?Is that what Sonia told you?”I glare at her.“Is that what you said?One kiss and suddenly, I’m being taken advantage of?”

Sonia can’t find the strength to look at me or even respond.

“Seriously?You’ve gone silent now?You didn’t have a problem earlier when you spilled my business to my dad!”I cry out.

Dad steps in front of Sonia, tucking her behind him, as if I’m some sort of rabid animal.“Don’t speak to her like that.”

Sonia touches his arm.“Edwin… It’s okay.”

My organs all pull downward, like gravity is pulling them out of me.

My dad has chosen Sonia.And Sonia has chosen my dad.

I scan the faces of my family members.They avoid my gaze or give me pathetic, sad looks.

“Don’t I deserve to be someone’s first choice?”

Nate has the gall to laugh.It’s not a mean laugh, but it’s not appropriate.“Oh, come on, Abigail, of course you’re our first choice.”

“I’m not.You have Laney, and Jack has Camilla, and–” I stop short, finding my father’s eyes.“I’m not even my own father’s first choice.”

His expression bristles, not with hurt but anger.“Theo is not–”

“I washisfirst choice,” I say, my voice straining at the back of my throat, light and pained.“He chose me over and over and–”

“He’s too old for you,” my dad warns.

My brain hurts with the mental gymnastics they’re trying to have me do.“And you’re not too old for Sonia?”

He bumbles through a few words, trying to find the right thing to say, but Jack comes to his rescue.“He was supposed to be a family friend, Abigail.It’s the dishonesty that’s the problem.”

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