Page 39 of Chase

After I eventually said goodbye to Will, I felt emotional. Old feelings and thoughts which I try to keep buried, had been brought to the surface and I didn’t enjoy it at all. For that very reason, I made sure I arranged to meet with him next week. Perhaps if I had had someone to talk to, someone who was on my side, I might be a tiny bit less fucked up. Possibly. Who knows ifsomeone can ever get over what I went through.

When I arrive back at the house, it’s already time for me to get ready for this farce of an engagement party. I consider my options of dressing appropriately or going with my usual shock of ripped jeans and a tight tank top. But then I remember Nonna is coming so I better look like I’m trying. Against my usual style, I put on a pale blue summer dress, and a pair of white sandals and let my hair fall down my back. It’s curly in the summer humidity so I try to tame it a little, only to give up after a short while. My makeup is basic to say the least, but more than my usual slapdash of tinted moisturizer.

Before I leave the safety of my room, I slide on Nonna’s ring and admire it for a little bit. It’s simplistic but beautiful; a small white gold band with a princess-cut aquamarine stone with two small diamonds at the side. I’ve never seen it before and wonder where it came from. I’m sure Tilly will scoff over how dainty it is, but to me, it’s perfect.

When I finally descend the staircase, I see Theo talking to one of the caterers, just before he turns around to look at me. His expression has me feeling all the more nervous. He looks at me like he’s seeing me for the first time, with his eyes traveling up and down my body in some kind of awe and wonder.

“Stop it!” I snap as I continue stomping down the steps as ungracefully as I can. “This is as dressed up as I get.”

“Sorry, but you just look so…so…”

“Spit it out, Theodore,” I growl, causing him to smirk.

“It’s horrible. Yuck, get it off!” he chuckles, irritatingly making me smile with him, which he more than revels in.

“You look quite horrible yourself,” I tease, even though, inall seriousness, I could totally eye fuck this guy all night. This is ridiculous given that I can’t seem to bring myself to actually do anything physically sexual.

He picks up my hand and studies the ring before looking into my eyes with a serious expression. I hold my breath when he shocks me by placing his lips gently against the back of my hand. I have to look away from it, but I do let him hold it a moment longer. I can feel an uncomfortable heat spreading all over my body, and though I know I am safe with Theo, I feel vulnerable.

“Drink,” he says, shoving a glass of dark liquor in my hand. I take a sniff and grimace. “I know you only have a two drink rule but it will relax your nerves. Now, with me, one, two, three…”

We both gulp back the liquid, emptying the shot glass and allowing it to burn down our throats. He lets out a satisfying gasp at the same time as I cough and sputter. I’m about to launch into a full-blown coughing attack when the doorbell chimes. A fit of nerves hits my entire body and I have to inhale deeply to stop myself from being sick.

“Ready?” Theo whispers, seeing the very real fear in my eyes.

“To throw up and run? Sure,” I reply, metaphorically placing my mask back on so I can feel at least a little bit more in control of what’s about to happen. “Just do it.”

Chapter 14

Izzy

Theo looks conflicted, but when the doorbell chimes again, he nods and opens the door to my parents, Tilly and her new husband, and finally, Nonna. There are the usual hellos and greetings, the air-kissing from Tilly and Mother, a slapping handshake from Dad, and an affectionate chuckle from Nonna, but these are all for Theo and Theo alone. When they finally set their eyes on me, they look like the wind has been knocked out of them.

“Isobel?” Mother’s frown furrows her forehead all the while she looks at me in shock. “You look so different. Why, you could almost pass for one of the young ladies at one of our soirees!”

“Oh, come on, Mother, it’s a dress,” Tilly scoffs, shoving her jacket toward me like I’m a faceless maid. “Is it through here, Theo, darling?”

Before he can answer her in any way, she walks into the living room. My father follows her without even a single word of acknowledgment for me on his way past.

“I think you look lovely, Isobel,” Tilly’s husband, Gary, smiles warmly before leaning in to kiss me on the cheek in greeting. Like I’ve said before, he seems pretty nice, especially for someone who chose to marry my bitch of a sister. There must be something dodgy about him…surely?

“Please call me Izzy,” I correct him, not quite grouping him with the likes of my awful family. Only they ever call me Isobel, everyone else is corrected because I’ve already been through so much with them as enemies; I don’t need anymore. He doesn’t read anything into my comment, merely nods before following on after his wife and father-in-law.

“That’s a lovely dress, Izzy, but you look uncomfortable, dear,” Nonna says as she creeps up behind me. She then offers me one of her hugs that softens me, in spite of her meddling and secrets. When we part, she looks down at my ring finger and grins unashamedly at the sight of her antique ring decorating my hand for all to see. “Suits you,” she simply says, just as Theo offers his arm to take her through with the others.

I take a large inhale of air, bracing myself to go and face them all when the doorbell chimes one more time. I immediately furrow my brow, wondering who else Theo could have invited here this evening, but then remember the guy from last night. They looked pretty close, so I suppose it makes sense he would have been invited here to celebrate his friend’s engagement. With that in mind, I put on my fake smile, open the door, and prepare myself to welcome him in, hopefully making a better impression than the one I presented last night.

Alas, it isn’t Theo’s friend from last night. In fact, if Satan himself had been standing before me, I’m sure I wouldn’t be feeling quite as horrified as I am now.

“Isobel,” Ethan utters with something that is so far from a smile, I can only describe it as pure hatred. It isn’t until I audibly gasp, because no other words are able to follow this turn of events, that he quirks the corner of his mouth. He knows I’m scared…I’m always scared…because of him.

Beside his tall, over-bearing physique, is his equally tall girlfriend, Selene. Though she’s barely ever said a word to me, I do know we couldn’t be more opposite. She nearly matches his six-foot-something frame and has short, perfectly styled black hair. She’s all sharp, pointy lines, whereas I’m petite, curvy, and with plenty of boobage to go around.

“Theo?” I finally shout out, sounding much too pitched to appear nonchalant over seeing them. “It’s Skeletor and his missus.”

Ethan simply tuts and rolls his eyes before dumping his and Selene’s coats on top of Tilly’s in my arms. I’m ignored, of course, while they march through into the living room. Ignored is good though, ignored means I’m safe. As for their ugly, overpriced coats, I sort of do a dance of indecision before I throw them on the floor inside the kitchen. I’m about to walk out when an idea springs to mind, childish though it is. I grab a little chili powder out of the cupboard and sprinkle a healthy serving on top of the coats, hoping it will reach their fingers before wiping their eyes, or even better, going to the toilet.

When I eventually enter the living room, Theo is apologizing on behalf of his parents who are running late due to traffic on the M3. He sees me and smiles before holding out his hand for me to take hold of. I walk over slowly and grip it with white-knuckle force. I might still be angry with him, however, right now, I know I only have Nonna and him on my side. He looks at me and smiles genuinely, seemingly relieved over myreciprocation, even if this is all pretend. My parents, however, glance at one another with confusion and I wonder how much, or how little, Theo has told them.

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