Because You Want Me (Falling for You, Book One) (10 page)

It was much easier for me to grin and play my role when I knew what was expected of me. Victoria Robertson, the champion for the downtrodden and abused. And I was in her debt until the end of time because of the huge sacrifice of asking her maid of honor to sit out of the final fitting appointment.

As the seamstress chatted with my sister about the joys of marriage and all the beautiful children she'd have, yanking and tugging to give a dress shape that clung to the rest of them and hung limply on me, I tried to convince myself that the end was nigh. Just one more day and we could all go back to ignoring each other. It should have been a sad, but comforting thought, but the only thing I could muster was sadness. Sad that for a moment, I believed my sister and I were at a turning point.

Sad that after the wedding, I'd be closer to having to say goodbye to Xander.

I managed to smile, laugh, compliment, and listen when I was supposed to and the weird look in my sister's eyes was replaced with relief. Two hours later, my sister headed off to finalize everything at the salon, and I headed back to my room to raid the minibar.

I swiped the card through the reader and opened the door, kicking off one shoe before I gasped.

Words failed me.

The Eden I'd pictured for my sister had come to life. Dozens of vases filled with roses covered the room, the bed and desk peeking out from a sea of red. The first was at my ankles and I plucked up the tiny notecard.

“You'll either think this is a romantic grand gesture or you'll think I'm utterly insane,” I read the card aloud, my fingers shaking. “Either way, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did. You're not a piece of tail. I'm honored that you're mine, Penny. And I want to be yours, if you'll have me.”

I already knew my answer, but I re-read the card until the words blurred because my body was doing that thing again. Betraying me.

Just as I brought the roses to my nose to add a scent to remember this afternoon forever, knocks erupted at my door. Without thinking, without bothering to look in the peephole I yanked it open, ready to forgive everything and kiss him until my lips fell off.

Victoria stared back at me, the concern back in her eyes. “Penny, I wanted to-” She saw the roses and instead of excitement, she looked furious. She shoved past me, picking up the first vase she came to. I held my breath, sure she was about to throw it at the wall. I'd never seen her so unhinged. The woman who stood before me shook as she glared down at the roses like they held some sort of contagion.

“He sent these, didn't he?” Before I could tell  her it was none of her business, she snatched the card from my hand, skimming the words with a scowl. “Unbelievable!”

Now
I
was pissed. “You storm in here, and then you insult me?”

And she wasn't done insulting me, because her expression shifted into work mode, like she was explaining a cold to a pair of idiot parents. “Don’t you see? He’s playing games with you.”

“I know you don't think that anyone worth a damn could possibly be interested-”

“Don't be so dramatic.” She held the vase at arm's length and lowered it back to where she'd found it. She maneuvered around the sea of flowers until she reached me, putting a hand on each shoulder and looking me dead in the eye. “I know you're happy, which is why this is so hard for me to say. Your boyfriend—Xander—he's going to break your heart.” Her grip tightened, her eyes filling with water. It had to be water because I'd never seen my sister cry. I didn’t think she was capable of any emotion that could signify weakness.

“Look Victoria-”

“Just listen,” she interrupted. Her voice dropped to a solemn, worried level. “If you stay with Xander Wade, he'll break your heart.”

~

Thank you for taking the time to read Because You Want Me (Falling For You, Book One). Please consider leaving a review. xoxo, Ava

A
va Claire is a sucker for Alpha males and happily ever afters. When not putting pen to paper or glued to her e-reader, Ava likes road tripping, karaoke, vintage fashion, and fantasizing about her favorite book boyfriends.

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