Exposed: Book One of The Love Seekers Series (20 page)

My body reacted to the extra attention by sending my sweat glands into overdrive and speeding up my heartrate. Was it too late to turn around and leave? I wanted Bryan or Mel, but one conveniently lived in another city and the other disappeared.

“Everyone,” Chad called out, not that he needed to since we had everyone’s attention. “This is Emma. Emma this is everyone that has made it so far.” I fought the urge to push him since it was probably considered rude to attack the host.

But he did remind me, this crowd would grow. “Hi.” My voice squeaked in nervousness.

As if timed perfectly—they could have been synchronized swimmers—they turned around and carried on their previously abandoned conversations.

“You’ll be fine. They just have to get to know you,” whispered my overenthusiastic host.

Fine? He really believed that? “Yeah. You better go check on the meat before your friend burns it.” Plastering on my best smile, I swallowed my nervous energy and fear, and gestured with my chin toward the back of the house where I could see a cloud of smoke billowing.

              If I could be grateful about my upbringing for anything, I knew how to pretend and perform under pressure. I might not be fine, I certainly didn’t feel fine, but no one else needed to know.

              I slowly pushed my walker toward the kitchen. If I was going to survive, I needed something to wet my dry throat.

              The first of the hurtful words were spoken in hushed tones as I grabbed a soda from the cooler in the kitchen. “Is Chad inviting charity cases now?” They were behind me. I had thought about sitting down in the living room, but now I didn’t want to turn around. I pretended I didn’t hear them, put the unopened soda in my jeans pocket, and walked out the open sliding glass door to the back deck where Chad and a few others were. Some were playing a beanbag toss game, others were just talking, and blessedly, no one had noticed me yet.

              “Hey, Emma!” Chad shouted from behind the grill located to the right of me.

              Shuffling over to him, I said, “Hi.”

              “You sure you want to be out here. It’s cooler in the house.”

              I knew for certain I did not want to be in the house. “I’m fine. Just needed to stretch my legs and get some air.”

              His eyes narrowed on me and he looked as if he might call me on my bullshit, but instead, he pointed his spatula at the man beside him. “This is Mark. He’s an asshole, but I keep him around anyway.” He chuckled and winked when his friend shoved him. The push didn’t even phase him. He stood his ground and only his upper body moved slightly. “Hey! Behave or I won’t introduce you to Emma here. Asshole Mark, this is Emma. Be nice. She’s a friend of Mel and Bryan’s…and now one of mine too.”

              “If anyone here is an asshole, it’s you,” Mark teased, sticking his hand out to me to shake.

              “Nice to meet you,” I replied nervously.

              “I’d introduce you to my wife, but I’m not sure where she is right now.”

              Mark’s appearance was the complete opposite of Chad. Where Chad had rippling muscles, Mark looked lanky and reminded me of one of the characters in those
Revenge of the Nerds
movies. The two men were about the same height, however, if a strong breeze swept through, I was afraid Mark would blow away.

              “Probably in the bathroom again.” Chad’s joke had his friend rolling his eyes.

              “You’re probably right.” Mark turned to me and explained. “She’s ten weeks pregnant and her morning sickness comes and goes. She’s already run to the bathroom three times and we only got here an hour ago.”

              “Oh. Congratulations.” This time when I smiled, it felt genuine.

              “You know you could have stayed home?” Chad offered.

              Mark shook his head. “Nah. She wanted to get out of the house and argued when I suggested skipping it.”

              I stood there listening to them banter back and forth for a few more minutes until Chad lifted a silver baking dish filled to the edges with burgers and hotdogs. “You ready to eat?” His grin was infectious and I found myself smiling back. “Let’s go inside and get our grub on, and if you need help making your plate, let me know. Think of me as your personal butler.”

              Inside meant I would be around the people who made the rude comments earlier, but then again, they could have already come outside too. I was damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t. I had to pull myself together if I planned on surviving a full hour. Besides, I had heard worse things since MG took over.

              No one said anything as we ate. People milled about, some walking outside and some staying in the cooler house. It was only when Chad would leave my side that people seemed to voice their disdain. While some ignored me, others chose to whisper loud enough so I could hear, but they never spoke directly to me. A couple of people pretended to run into my walker and would push it before saying, “You need to get that out of the way. It’s a health hazard.” When they walked passed me, they would mutter, “But then again, she is a walking disaster.”

              Their words and actions cut me.

              When my hour came to a close, I started to get up to leave, but Mark stopped me. “Don’t listen to others. They don’t know anything. I’ve heard them say that Chad should get rid of me as a friend because I bring him down, but we’ve been friends since grade school.”

              “Grade school? Really? So you know all the dirt.”

              “That and more. We were next door neighbors and our moms bonded over PTA and the fact their kids were only a month apart. So ignore the trash. I’m not really sure why Chad is friends with them, but I think a lot of them are clients and people he’s worked with. He’s a part–time personal trainer at one of the gyms in town and he is also a graphics designer. We co–own the company together.”

              Mark’s speech helped settle my nerve a little, but I still planned on leaving. “Thanks, Mark. But I think it’s about time for me to lie down and…” I stopped speaking and left my words dangling on a cliff.

              “I know he set up one of the rooms for you. Not sure which one though.”

              It began as a small giggle and then I laughed. “Is there a reason I should stay?”

              “Yep. You haven’t met my wife yet.”

              “I don’t know if she exists. I haven’t seen her at all.”

              “Who doesn’t exist?” A tall woman with bright red hair and green eyes sidled up to Mark. Her hair was curly and a little frizzy, and freckles covered her pale face. I assumed this was Mark’s wife.

              Wrapping the woman in his arms, Mark kissed the side of her head. “Are you all right?”

              “Yeah. I was lying down in Chad’s room and ate some crackers. My stomach has finally settled down.”

              The way they interacted, the gentleness with which Mark handled his wife, all made me a little jealous.

“Do you need anything?” Marked rubbed her back, waiting to do her bidding.

“Nah. I think the nap helped a lot.”

Mark seemed so touchy feely, and I could tell he was very attentive, but since I had arrived, he had not been at her side. Why? Curiosity aroused, I asked, “Why didn’t you lie down with her?”

              “That would be me. He hovers, and when he does that, I threaten to cut off his balls for ever touching me. And then I lock him out of the bedroom.” The redhead snickered.

              I instantly liked this woman. “Hi, I’m Emma.”

              “Ingrid. You’re the one Chad’s been expecting. Sorry I wasn’t here to greet you earlier. The baby and I had a disagreement. The baby won.”

              All three of us laughed.

              “I guess you finally met Ingrid. How are you feeling, Emma?” Chad interrupted.

              “She’s ready for a nap and I wasn’t sure which room you have her in,” Mark spoke before I could tell my host I wanted to leave. Why was it so important I stay? I stayed my hour. I did my penance.

              Rolling my eyes, I stated, “I was actually thinking about heading home.”

              “If you’re tired, why don’t you lie down here and then if you want to go home, you can. I’d rather you not drive when you’re tired though.” Chad’s turn to convince me stay had arrived.

              “I’m fine. I just...” My words fell away when I noticed the way his arms were crossed over his chest. I knew that stance and had seen it many times in people I had known throughout the years. He wouldn’t budge. Sighing, I accepted my fate. “Fine. Which room can I use for a nap?”

              He led me to one of the guest rooms and after shutting the door and locking out the world, I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes. Tired and emotionally bleeding, I needed to find my center again and brush off their insults. I hoped they never found themselves in my situation; however, I wished karma bit them in the ass so they could see for themselves how their words affected others. 

              I slept for almost an hour without interruption, and when I awoke, I felt slightly better. I still didn’t like the people at the party. My nap wouldn’t change their attitudes, but at least I no longer felt like I wanted to rip out their beating hearts, and throw them on a grill to serve up on a silver platter.

              Leaving my shoes in the bedroom, I went in search of my host and found him quickly coming down the hall headed straight for me. “Did you have a good nap?”

              I nodded. “Thanks.”

              “Now that you’ve slept a little, it’s time for the pool.”

              “I don’t have a suit and it’s a pain in the ass to get in and out without help.”

              “Then it’s a good thing I’m here. I’ll help you with the pool. Although, if you want, I can also help you change?” He wagged his eyebrows.

              “Maybe I should head home.”

              “Do you really want to head home, or do you want to have a little fun. Come on. Try it. You might like it. And if you don’t, I’ll drive you home myself.”

              This man didn’t know how to take “no” for an answer. “Fine.” As soon as I agreed, he draped a blank piece of cloth over my walker. He had been prepared. “Awfully sure of yourself.”

              “I’d like to think of it as confidence. Now go change and let’s go swimming.” His finger twirled in the air before pointing toward the room I had come from.

              Sucking in a deep breath, I pushed it out with a loud hiss. “Looking forward to it. Really.” Only an idiot could miss the sarcasm lacing my words. He wasn’t an idiot, and his laugh followed me until I closed the door on it.

              When I came out of the room again, Chad stood there shirtless with only a pair of teal board shorts on. For a brief second, I forgot how to breathe. The shorts hung low on his waist showing off his deep “V,” and his chest and upper arms were filled out with muscle. His muscles weren’t as big as the body builders you see on TV, but he wasn’t small by any means. The man could probably bench press me.

              “Ready?” He grinned knowingly. My eyes had moved of their own volition up and down his body, and back up again. He only needed to glance my way to know I was taking in the sights.

              “Uh…” My face burned bright red at being caught looking, but I couldn’t help it. A good looking man stood in front of me only half dressed. Still, I couldn’t help comparing him to Bryan. Yes, Chad was hot with his muscular body, light colored hair and eyes, and that cocky smile with his gleaming white teeth; however, there was something about Bryan that Chad lacked for some reason. I don’t know exact what that was though.

              “Pool. Come on.” His hand reached out and grabbed my elbow to get me started, and when I started to walk on my own, he moved suspiciously behind me, and I assumed it was so I wouldn’t run away.

              True to his word once again, he stayed by my side and helped me in and out of the pool. No one said anything to me, although, I swore I got splashed a few times on purpose. For the most part, everyone either ignored me or chose not to bother with me, and I was fine with that. Chad’s presence kept the haters at bay until I got out of the pool, and then I became fair game again.

              After changing out of the swim suit, I walked into the kitchen in search of something to drink and someone came up behind me and pushed me. My walker skidded forward with me and hit the counter, preventing me from falling. It had been done on purpose.

              I moved both hands to the counter to help me balance, and then spun my head to see who had been so classless as to run into me with the intent to hurt me. I had no doubt after seeing the scathing expression on her face, she wanted to do me harm. “Problem?” I spat and attempted to stand as tall as I could.

              She sneered, her eyes moving from the top of my head to my feet. “You think you can win him, but you can’t. He is so much better than you will ever be. Compared to you, he’s a saint.”

              “What?” Did she mean Chad? I didn’t want him.