Page 5 of Devious Vows

“Maybe we can play again after dinner,” I say to her frown, watching her rise.

“You’ll be busy.” Remy’s voice creeps along my spine, prickling at my skin like poison ivy as he steps into the room just as silently as his father had before.

“Doing?” I can’t help but let my annoyance seep into the word despite knowing how it’ll make Remy respond.

“Spending time with me.” I sneer at his remark but he either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care, smiling at me before looking over at his sister. “Come, it’s time to eat. You can sit with me and Beverly.”

“Oh good! I hate getting stuck down by Mamma. She never has anything interesting to talk about,” Laney chimes, skipping past us and out the door.

“Why don’t you eat with Stephanie instead?” I ask Remy as we make our way out of the room, trailing a bit behind Delaney.

“Because she isn’t my future wife.” The venom dripping from each word sends chills up my spine, but the little jolts of lightning don’t hurt nearly as much as the squeezing of my heart as he leans in close to my ear, speaking just loud enough for me to hear, “You are.”

Chapter TwO

BEVERLY | 16 YEARS OLD

“I look like an idiot.” My hands tug at the hem of the short, fitted bottom of my dress, attempting to pull it lower on my legs, an annoyed sigh groaning from my chest when all that manages to do is pull the already very low-cut top down even more. Julian laughs at me as I struggle, his face hovering behind mine in the mirror.

“You don’t…”

I cut him off with a glare. “Don’t lie to me.”

His teeth flash in his reflection as he takes a step away from my back. “You look fine, Bev. I think you’re just uncomfortable because it’s not something you’d usually wear.” The laughing continues as my expression sours further, his eyes sweeping over my outfit before meeting mine in the mirror once more. “Stop, will you? You look beautiful. Gorgeous. Spectacular. And…” I’m already rolling my eyes knowing what he’s about to say, “I would know because we have the same face.”

“Ha, ha, ha,” I mock, brushing a stray hair off of my cheek before stepping away from the mirror. Crossing my arms over my chest I scowl over his outfit. “Why do I have to wear this when you don’t have to dress up? This is fucking ridiculous.”

“Beverly!” My eyes almost roll into the back of my head at my mother’s voice, dropping to find her glaring at me from the doorway.

“It is!” I continue my argument, shrugging when she gasps. “I look like a fucking idiot and it’s not fair.”

Her head swivels around the room, looking around like she can’t possibly imagine that it’s her I’m speaking to like that. “I don’t know where you’ve learned that dirty mouth of yours, but it stops. Now.”

She ignores my mumbled, “Whatever,” walking to pick at Julian’s hair.

“You don’t look like an idiot.” She says the word like it’s a curse, wrinkling her face around it. “You look very chic and upscale. A perfect complement to how I’m sure Remy will be dressed tonight.”

At the mention of Remy my lips pucker like I’ve sucked on a lemon, my mouth tasting just as bitter. I couldn't care less what that douchebag is going to be wearing.

Mom steps back from Julian, eyes sweeping over the soft beige bandage bodycon dress I’m wearing with approval. Of course she would approve of it, she’s the one who picked it out.

In a last-ditch effort to get an outfit change, I frantically ask as she starts to leave the room, hot on her heels, “Where’s Dad? Has he seen this dress? All this skin showing? All the boob?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Beverly. Any boobage you think is showing is very much covered.” Her eyes find mine briefly over her shoulder. “Half the time I’m yelling at you to wear a bra and now you’re worried about not having one on?” She shakes her head, another tut pursing her lips.

An annoyed groan slips from between my teeth, my fist rising in Julian’s direction at his chuckling. Spotting our dad by the front door, I hurry past my mother, the light clicking of my four-inch nude wrap wedges beating as frantically against the hardwood floor as my heartbeat. “Dad! Look at this dress! Isn’t it too revealing? A nipple could fall out at any second!”

He looks past me and to my mother, rubbing his eyes at whatever look she gives him. “Beverly, please don’t talk about your nipples. It’s disturbing.” He drops his hands, the look on his face saying he very much does not like my dress, but he won’t say that. “You look fine.”

“Ugh!” I stomp past him and yank the door open, letting it smack against the wall even while my mother scolds my behavior. “I hate it here.”

Pinching my lips together, I slide into the back of the car, sitting out front, crossing my arms as Julian slides in next to me. “You know, if a nipple does fall out, you’ll be the most popular girl there.”

I scowl at his smile. “Stupid.”

He lounges back in his seat, looking out the window. “You’ll probably also kill half the males attending if Remy catches them looking.”

Remy.

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