Page 57 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
Heather stuck her tongue out and was about to fire back at her brother when what he’d said sunk in. “Bethany? The woman from the plane? Cupcake?” Heather couldn’t believe the lucky coincidence. A mile-wide smile brightened her face.
“Beth is Roan’s date.”
The smile on Heather’s face hardened. “Excuse me?”
Beth looked up at Aidan with a jeering grin. “You told your sister about me?”
“No, I complained to my sister about you.” That’s his story and he’s sticking to it! Just ignore the goofy smile splitting his usually crochety face.
“It’s nice to meet you, Heather. This is such a beautiful wedding and your dress is gorgeous.”
Heather struck a pose for the pretty redhead. Maybe she had passed over her brother but the woman knew good taste when she saw it. But that didn’t change the fact that Beth had come on the arm of somebody else but was now holding her brother’s hand. What did this two-timing, red haired hussy think she was doing?
“Heather, love, stop standing like you’re in the Miss America pageant. And give me this.” Heather tucked her glass tight to her body. A tall, elegant woman wearing a lavender chiffon dress wanted it, but she would not get it.
Aidan huffed when their little trio was interrupted by none other than his mother with his father right behind her. Did anyone else want to join in? They could have a square dance. Good grief. You try to have just one dance …
“Bethany Spinner, these are my parents, Greg and Pamela.”
“Bethany?” Pamela looked at her son with a gleam in her eyes and shared a knowing look from over her shoulder with her husband. Pamela had observed the smile on her son’s face from across the room. He hadn’t smiled like that in ages, and had come to drag Heather away before his smile disappeared again.
“You know mom, the smiling, happy, bulldozer from the plane that dropped her suitcase on his foot, spilled her drink all over him, almost broke his nose and then cried, got drunk and talked for almost twelve hours then knocked him out—and I believe she ran over Roan with her car. The whole town is talking about it,” Heather said. Nobody passed over her brother and got away with it!
Aidan’s grip on Beth’s hand tightened and Beth’s lips parted as her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Heather!” Aidan scolded.
Humiliated, Beth turned her face toward Aidan and whispered so as not to make a scene. “I shouldn’t be here. I need to go.”
Before Beth could make a move, Pamela crossed over to her and placed a warm hand on her arm. “Bethany, or may I call you Beth? Aidan told us so much about you, I feel like we’re old friends. Please, excuse my daughter. She’s had too much to drink and we all know she’s a horror when she drinks. Isn’t that right, Heather, dear?” Pamela snarled over her shoulder. “Please, stay. We’re so glad to have you!”
Greg, who was a man of very few words, held a hard stare at his daughter, shaking his head as he removed the glass from her hand. This was not one of his daughter’s shining moments.
Heather rolled her eyes and when they came around full circle and stopped, they narrowed on the concern on Aidan’s face. Whether he realized it or not he’d put his arm around Beth’s shoulders, as if protecting her from any further verbal assault. Suddenly it all made sense. Yes, Beth truly was owed an apology.
“Beth—”
Without taking his eyes off Beth, Aidan snapped, “Leave her alone, Heather.”
Heather clasped her hands in front of her at her waist. “Just give me a chance. Beth, I owe you an apology. Aidan never said that about you. He only said good things, I promise. I was just being over protective.”
“And bitchy,” Aidan added.
“Yes, and a total bitch. I really am sorry.” When neither Aidan or Beth so much as looked at her, she nodded her head. She wouldn’t forgive anyone who had been so insulting either. “Listen, I hope you’ll stay. It’s going to be a splendid party, and I’d really like it if you’d let me make it up to you. I’m really nice.”
“When you’re not being bitchy,” Aidan added.
“Yeah.” She waited, almost expected to be forgiven but when neither said anything she turned to leave but turned back when Beth spoke.
“Heather, wait. Thank you.”
“So, you’ll stay?”
Beth looked up to Aidan and nodded with a smile.
Aidan put his other arm around Heather’s shoulders and squeezed her in close to his side.
“You were right, Aidan. She has a kind heart. And I’m sorry,” she said, kissing his cheek.
