“But, Mommy. I’m not tired.” Sierra whines.
Adam snickers and chimes in. “I will play cards with you girls as soon as we can, but you need to listen to your mother, Sierra.”
She mutters something under her breath and sits there with her head down, pouting. I mean my little girl actually pouts.
“Sierra, pouting isn’t going to get you anywhere, you know. Plus, sticking your bottom lip out like that makes it so much easier for a bird to come along and poop on it.” Adam shrugs as the two of us turn and look at him.
“Ew, Adam! That is so gross!” Sierra shrieks, a little too loudly. I can’t help myself; I tilt my head back and laugh, and oh does it feel good to laugh. Before I know it, Sierra and Adam are laughing right along with me.
I need to get away from Adam. I can see him looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I’ve tried to avoid him as much as I can today and even though I am trying not to let Sierra feel the tension between the two of us it’s incredibly hard to just sit here and pretend there isn't. So I excuse myself to go take care of our dirty plates and to mingle with a few of the guests. I get up and leave Adam and Sierra laughing and carrying on like they always do. I love the way the two of them are with each other, so natural and carefree as they always joke and razz each other about one thing or another. I roam around making sure that everyone is doing okay and start to walk back into the house to grab a few things when I am stopped by Antonio and he introduces me to a man that I have caught glimpsing my way a few times tonight. Ugh. I mentally want to kick Antonio’s ass for this and I do. In my mind I kick him right smack in his ass for pawning me off on this guy. That asshole.
************
“For Christ’s sake.” I look at my watch again as I stand here listening to one of Luke’s close college buddies who flew in for the wedding. Does he ever shut up? No wonder he is still single. He is so... Ugh. I don’t know what he is, but he is on my nerves something bad. How the hell did I get stuck talking with him anyway? Oh, that’s right. I narrow my eyes and glare at Antonio who is laughing to himself.
“You jerk,” I mouth silently towards him. He winks and nods his head and turns back to his date who has boobs that are bigger than her damn head. Where he finds these chicks I have no idea. He needs the type of woman who would put him in his place, not stand there and drool over him as if he is her next meal and she is starving to death.
Antonio is one of the biggest male sluts I have ever known, but he has a heart of gold and would do anything for the ones he cares about. For the life of me I don’t know why he doesn’t settle down; maybe it’s because he has been through every woman in this town. It’s too easy for him. There are very few females who would turn down a hot guy who is a very successful attorney as well. What he needs is a strong-willed woman, one who is exactly like he is. A woman who would challenge him and not grovel at his feet. I roll my eyes at him and turn back to Stephen.
My thoughts are interrupted as I turn my attention back to Stephen. I look up at him and smile and nod my head as if paying attention to every word he is saying. It’s when he places his hand on me that I feel the blood in my veins turn to ice. I internally cringe and I close my eyes briefly, praying to God I don’t lose my shit on another man for putting his hands on me for the second time today.
Chapter Three
Adam
I can feel Erin slipping away from me before I even have the chance to show her how much she means to me. Her breakdown this morning threw me for a fucking loop.
I run my hands through my hair as I remember how Shayne would call me on the phone after every time Erin’s ex beat her. How could you be so stupid, Adam? You should have never touched her that way. When I held her in my arms and listened to her cry, my gut twisted.
In fact, I’ve felt knocked on my ass ever since I stepped into the room where the girls were getting ready and saw how beautiful Erin was. She has this certain radiance about her. It’s a combination of so many things. She appears to be innocent on the outside, but I can tell by the look on her face whenever I’m around that she wants me just as badly as I want her, even though I know she won’t do anything about it because she’s scared. I can see it even if she can’t. She doesn’t know me as well as she thinks she does because I am going to do everything I can to make that woman mine.
When I walk Shayne down the aisle, I look up at the gleam in Luke’s eyes as he takes in my cousin. I feel a flicker of jealousy seeing the two of them so much in love. Looking at Lucy standing next to Shayne and Sierra standing next to Erin, for the first time in my life, I want that. I want a family to call my own. When I steal a look at Erin she seems to be so much happier than she was this morning. Putting a smile on my face as I hand Shayne over to Luke, I take my seat in the front row. I listen to Shayne and Luke pledge their lives to one another and I can’t help but glance at Erin again. Right as I turn to look at her she turns to look at me; she swiftly turns away, but not before I notice the deep blush on her cheeks.