Page 13 of Tangled in Vows

I was just about to leave, but now I can’t take my eyes off her.

I drink in her curvy body, because not even the unflattering, oversized grandma clothes can hide them. That round ass deserves so much better.

Tom shakes his head at something she said, and after a quick nod, she spins around and walks back toward me.

With her head held high, she breezes past, completely ignoring me.

Despite her cool exit, I still saw the slight shimmer in her eyes.

She almost had you fooled, just like your sister.

Tom calls me over, but I wave him off and run after the stranger.

The gloomy feeling from the chilly air and dark-gray sky matches the angry car horns that flood the air. Looking around, I spot the girl as the busy New York afternoon crowd swallows her up.

After a few blocks, the girl ducks into a cheap fast-food restaurant. She doesn’t know it—or me—yet, but I’m not far behind. The place appears run-down compared to Tom’s well-kept pub, with sticky floors, ripped seats, and forgotten trash on the tables.

The girl fidgets in line, counting the money in her palm twice before she orders off the dollar menu. She walks right by as it’s my turn, sliding into a booth in the corner.

I hastily grab my order and walk toward her table. “Hey. Do you mind if I join you?”

She stops unwrapping her food and glances up at me. The second she sees it’s me, her brows furrow. After a glance around the almost empty place, she narrows her eyes at me. “What are you doing here? Did you . . . did you follow me?”

Even when she’s down about something, she’s feisty. I love that.

Since I’m not sure what the best reply is, I ignore her question and ask, “A truth for a truth?”

She barely waits a second and shrugs. “Sure. But you go first.”

There’s a silent challenge in her eyes, and on a whim, I share something with her that not many people know. “Today is my sister’s death anniversary, and I don’t want to be alone.”

The confession rushes out of my mouth, surprising even me. Usually, I avoid people on this day.

Her features soften. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

I nod in a silent thanks.

She opens her mouth before I can say anything. “I lost my parents when I was twelve, and I still miss them every day.”

I never knew my dad. And last I heard, my mom was still alive. If you can call her constant drug-induced state alive. It’s been months since I’ve heard from her. Usually, she only calls me if she needs money.

But I don’t want to think about her right now. This day is already depressing enough as it is. “That must have been hard for you. I’m sorry.”

Rather than responding, she stares at me with inquisitive eyes. “Why do you want to sit with me?”

I shrug, continuing with our little truth game. “You looked like you could use some company too.”

She points at the bench seat opposite her. “Sit.”

I squeeze into the booth, and our gazes collide.

She grimaces. “That doesn’t look comfortable.”

“It’s okay. You get used to it when you’re my size.”

We focus on our burgers and fries for a few minutes, neither of us saying anything. As I grab a napkin to wipe my mouth, her head snaps up, and those beautiful eyes pierce right through me.

Her throat bobs on a swallow, but she lifts her chin a fraction. “I need to find a job, a safe shelter I can afford, and a fake husband to save me from being dragged back to my crazy community where I’ll be married off.”

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