Page 17 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

My mother is wearing a perfectly tailored dress, far too fancy for Shelley’s. Her golden curls are tossed casually but deliberately over her shoulders. Light makeup enhances her pretty features.

“I’ll just offer congratulations,” my father says, giving my hand a firm shake. “And say hello to the bride, since we never got to meet her beforehand.”

The table behind us has fallen into complete silence. Amanda turns around slowly, the smile fixed on her face completely false, practically painted on.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews,” she says politely. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Father looks completely blank, but I see my mother’s hand tighten on her wine glass as her eyes narrow.

“It’s you,” she mutters. “Aren’t you the daughter of that… that, uh…”

“You mean Arlene’s daughter?” Carla says, standing up and putting her hands on Amanda’s shoulders. “I know, the poor woman had a lot of trouble before she finally left town, but look at what a lovely young woman her daughter has become!”

The two women stare down, my mother and Carla glaring at each other in a battle of wills. Finally, my mother blinks and looks away.

“My glass is empty,” she says, waving it in the air. “I’m off to find some champagne. Might as well make the most of it.”

“I need to speak with Bae,” my father says, heading towards the bar.

There is no point in telling him that Bae is too busy to talk to him. My parents think everyone on earth exists to serve them. Even me.

I turn to my new mate. “Hey, Amanda, I’m sorry—”

She pulls away from me as I reach for her hand and sits down next to Carla. There isn’t a spare seat for me, so I just stand there awkwardly.

“I know it was short notice,” Carla says, “but I managed to bake a simple cake and some other goodies. Shelley is out the back right now, barbecuing ribs and steak as well.”

“You do too much for me, Carla,” Amanda says.

Carla gives her a hug. “Nonsense, my girl. Now, you officially are family, but you have been to me since the first day I took you in.”

Even though I’m not related to Carla directly, my connection to Bae in the pack makes me a blood brother to Bae, Jack, and Gina. It’s no surprise to me that Carla is welcoming all of us into her family, and it gives me hope that it will improve my situation with Amanda.

I reach for Amanda’s hand again, grazing her skin with my fingertips. She flinches and pulls away, shooting me a stern look. I back up a few steps, shocked by the hostility in her eyes.

I don’t deserve her kindness, but I thought I might at least get a chance to explain.

There is a bit of commotion at the back doors while Shelley and the crew bring out trays of meat and salad, followed by a triple-stacked cake, iced pink and white. Amanda makes a sound somewhere between a gasp and a laugh.

“Asimplecake?” she says. “Carla, I was expecting a simple buttercream cake or—”

“It was nothing,” Carla says with a little wave.

“Yes, nothing,” Derek mutters. “She got up at four to start baking each layer ofnothing.”

“Hush, dear,” Carla says, sipping her wine. “You don’t know what I was doing this morning.”

“Well, that’s the truth,” he agrees. “I rarely do.”

Chuckles flow around the table, and I feel completely left out. I back away slowly, heading for the bar. My father is sitting near Bae and the others, but clearly, he’s not part of the group.

A hanger-on, now and forever. Observing the action, but never part of it.

When I was named one of Bae’s inner circle, my parents thought it would mean elevation to their pack status. Their bitterness has only gotten worse over the years as they’ve found themselves more and more excluded from all the important decisions.

As I approach, I see Dad turn towards Bae with a determined expression.

Here we go. He’s about to make a fool of himself.

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