Page 24 of A Little Twist

“Were you wrong?”

“No…”

Still, I turned down the proposal of a millionaire real-estate developer, and now I’m unemployed with no job prospects and living at home again with Aunt Carol.

“Do you still have feelings for him?” Her whisper goes higher.

“No.” Of that, I’m sure. “He was so annoying. He didn’t like kissing with his tongue, he hated the sound of chewing…”

“If he didn’t like tongue-kissing, I’m guessing he didn’t like other tongue-things.”

“You said it, sister. Not a single orgasm.”

“So what’s the big deal? Don’t talk to him. Stay by me.”

The DJ breaks through the music. “I need the bride and groom on the floor for their first dance together as husband and wife!”

Britt’s lips twist, and I shake my head. “I can’t dance with the two of you.”

“You’ve got this. Drake Redford is the amoebas on fleas on rats.”

Aiden steps up behind her, smile-frowning at her declaration. “Sorry, Cass, I need to borrow my wife.”

“Sure.” I shrug, waving my hand. “Take her away.”

The opening monologue of Shania Twain’s “From This Moment” whispers through the room, and Britt gives my hand a squeeze before Aiden sweeps her into his arms.

The melody begins, and the two of them sway slowly, gazing into each other’s eyes, dreamy smiles on their faces. A crowd forms at the edge of the dance floor to watch, and I scan the room for Piper.

When I find her, she’s standing in the front row holding hands with Patricia and Gwen, and completely ignoring Owen and Ryan racing around the room like they’ve had ten sugary drinks each.

They probably have.

My eyes drift farther back, and I see Pinky holding Alex’s hands as she stands on his feet, stepping side to side and twisting her hips so her full skirt swishes around her legs.

The sight makes my chest squeeze, and I want to linger and watch them. Instead, I take a step back… then another… and another…

I’m doing my best to fade into the crowd while slowly, unobtrusively making my way to the kitchen. I’m right there, all ready to slip through the door, when the unwelcome voice stops me.

“Here you are.” The sound of his voice ignites irritation in my blood. “You’re looking good.”

It’s not a compliment, more like surprise, as if I would’ve spiraled into hideousness without him.

Lifting my chin, I adopt the same tone of surprise. “You look well yourself.”

Of course he does. Drake Redford comes from old Hilton Head family money. He’s even wearing a beige linen suit and beige tie. His cheeks are burnished like he’s been on his sailboat all day, and his longish, auburn-brown hair is stylishly messy around his collar.

So much wasted potential.I don’t blame myself for falling for him, but I do blame myself for staying with him too long.

“What’s new with you?” He tips his chin. “Or is it the same old thing?”

My lips tighten, but I hold my temper in check. “Well, for starters, I planned this wedding.”

“You’re in with the Stones?” He looks around, lifting an eyebrow. “Alex Stone is a bit of a wunderkind, taking his grandfather’s business and turning it into a world-class brand before he was thirty. At this rate it’ll be a billion-dollar label by the time he’s thirty-five.”

“He works his ass off. I can attest to that.”

“You’re together? Is it serious?” The arch in his eyebrow, the genuine astonishment in his voice, as if I could never appeal to someone like Alex Stone, fans an old anger in my chest.

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