The Arrangement(23)

Asher held her hand as they walked over to the tables laden with food. Over breakfast they’d decided that handholding was the appropriate amount of affection. It wasn’t over the top or offensive, but it would signify that they were one unit.

The park was filled with her family, their mates, and their children. Dozens of children screamed and laughed as they ran around the playground area.

Greetings by several family members waylaid them on their path to sustenance. Though they tried to play it cool, Ariadne could sense their interest in Asher. Some of them couldn’t hide their surprise at finding out that she was married. They inspected Asher from head to toe. It wasn’t until that moment that she remembered that Asher was white. She’d known him for so long, she saw so much beyond his race. To her, he was simply Asher. Admittedly, much of what she knew about him was no longer true. He was no longer a smoker who drank to excess and exchanged women at the same rate that she changed her underwear. What remained was a more mature male, as smart as before and sexier than ever.

After they both filled their plates, Ariadne led them to a picnic table below the shade of a few trees. It was so hot that holding hands had become a sweaty burden for her. She lifted her hair off her neck. She wished now that she had styled it in a ponytail instead of wearing it loose.

They were soon joined by her mother and her new boyfriend Jamil. Ariadne knew in a moment that her mother would not be with him for long. They had nothing in common. He engaged Asher in a conversation about sports. The only person Ariadne knew who cared less for sports than her was her mother.

Something tickled her arm. Assuming it was fly, she waved her hand across her arm to shoo it away. When the sensation continued, she glanced down. A fat furry caterpillar inched along her forearm. She hated caterpillars. It wasn’t that they were ugly. This one was thick and black and resembled a tiny fur coat. No it wasn’t their appearance. It was that their boneless squishy bodies were filled with disgusting goo and their movement gave her the creeps. Just the sight of it made her stomach turn.#p#分页标题#e#

She was just inhaling, seconds from screaming and freaking out when Asher plucked the offending insect from her arm and set it harmlessly on the ground. He gave her a brief smile. He’d never paused his conversation with Jamil or given any indication that he was aware of her. But apparently he was very in tune with her.

Ariadne gave a relieved sigh. Her heartrate had barely returned to normal when their table was approached by her cousin Janice with Daniel at her side. She couldn’t believe the gall of them. Yes, the eventual confrontation needed to happen, but they should have waited for her to acknowledge them.

“Aunt Ro,” Janice cooed, bending to hug and kiss her mother. Aurora returned the embrace with a half-hearted pat before pushing her away. “Ari,” Janice said with a false smile, shoving back a thick mane of braids and wiggling her fingers in an exaggerated motion to show off a sparkling engagement ring, before clasping Daniel’s hand in hers.

“Janice. Daniel.” She nodded at them both.

“Well, I guess I will perform the introductions. This is my friend, Jamil.” Aurora’s smile turned wide. “And this is my son-in-law, Asher.”

“Son-in-law?” Daniel asked, looking confused. “Do you have another child?”

“He’s my husband,” Ariadne explained.

Daniel’s head snapped back as though he’d received a blow. “What? This guy? But-”

“Congratulations,” Janice interrupted Daniel’s continued sputtering.

“And he’s given her the most beautiful rings,” Aurora continued in a cheerful tone as though she didn’t notice the awkward stiffness that had overtaken the couple. “Show them, baby,” she insisted and grabbed Ariadne’s wrist when she didn’t move fast enough to suit her.

“It’s lovely,” Janice said, but her expression showed her displeasure. Her cousin was a lovely woman with a beautiful smooth dark complexion. She would have been far lovelier if she didn’t have such a bitter disposition. For some reason that Ariadne could not fathom, she had hated her since they were children. Their personalities didn’t click. They didn’t share any of the same interests, but as far as Ariadne had been concerned that only meant that they should avoid each other outside of family events. For Janice, it apparently was a declaration of war.

Swinging hands with Daniel, Janice nodded. “Guess we’ll see you later. Dan, baby, we don’t want to wait too long. Food flies fast when there’s this much family around.”