Page 2 of Curvy Alpha Bride
Although that might be the Jell-O shots talking.
“I… I’m not sure,” I answer. “I’m just watching the dance.”
“After that?”
“I’m hanging out with Cass.”
Xavier’s eyes darken, and he looks at the ground. His big, broad shoulders droop a little, and he looks a bit like a puppet with cut strings.
“Okay,” he mutters, turning around. “Catch you later.”
“You imbecile!” Cass whispers, shoving me so hard I fall against the wall. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t feel like a walk around the lake.”
“Mabel,” Cass says, holding onto my shoulders and looking into my face. “I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
“Xavier is hot for you.”
“Excuse me!” I’m so shocked that my voice comes out as a high shriek.
“Who needs to be excused?” Lexa asks, coming up behind Cass. “Are you two about to get physical again? Do I need to search you for weapons?”
“Come on,” Cass shoots back. “That was one time.”
“One time I’ll never forget,” I retort. “Lexa, it’s fine. Cass is too drunk to be giving me advice, that’s all.”
“What kind of advice?” Lexa asks.
“Xavier asked her to go for a walk,” Cass says, winking.
“Ooooh!” Lexa exclaims. “Really? This is it, then?”
“She said no,” Cass answers.
Lexa turns to me, shocked. “What the fuck, Mabel? You said no? Don’t you like him?”
“I don’t! I mean, I do. Oh, fuck...”
Cass and Lexa burst out laughing, falling against each other as they dissolve into giggles.
“He’s totally hot for you,” Lexa laughs. “You didn’t know?”
“He’s always teasing me,” I say defensively.
“I know,” Cass says. “But he isn’t mean, and he never puts you down. He’s just inviting you to a verbal joust.”
“Which you rarely ever return,” Lexa adds. “But I’m telling you, that guy is head over heels for you. And if you want him, it sounds like your best chance is walking off around the lake right now.”
“Shit!” I cry, panic flooding into my guts. “What do I do?”
“Go and get him, you idiot!” Cass yells. “Quick!”
Lexa nods, shoving me. I start jogging around the corner of the house, heading for the open fields to the north of the lake.I can smell Xavier ahead of me, and soon I see him sitting on a pile of rocks, looking out across the water.
The stars are so bright, they are reflected across the lake’s surface, a giant mirror that gives the impression of an endless void. Xavier seems caught between the two worlds, his gaze fixed on the illusion of infinite sky and space.
