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“I didn’t expect it to be like this,” I offer, smiling at him.
He just glances at me and then back to the crowd that Xavier is charming with some story or other.
“At least we can let our smiles slip for a moment while we’re over here, right?” I say, trying again.
His eyes cut to me once more, but there’s nothing there. No flash of humor or even acknowledgement of the joke.
“Does it still hurt?” I ask him. “Your scar?”
“Yes,” Tristan replies, his voice curt as he grits out that one word.
With little input from my brain, my hand reaches out, moving toward Tristan’s face as if to touch the scar there. All at once his eyes go hard and he jerks back and away from me, likehe’s been burned. He turns and stalks off without another word, leaving me alone in the corner.
I stare after him, wondering if this is what the next year of our lives is going to be like. Maybe I should just stop trying. Maybe trying to convince him to talk to me is just making it worse. But the idea of being married to someone—even if it’s not real—who doesn’t even seem to want to breathe the same air as me makes me feel incredibly sad.
Before I can sink too deep into those thoughts, an arm comes around my waist, hugging me from the side. I jump in surprise, and turn my head to see a woman standing there grinning. She’s shorter than me, petite and pixie like with rich brown hair that falls around her shoulders in soft waves. She’s dressed in a beautiful green dress, and her eyes are bright as she smiles at me. She’s also flanked by two guys who almost look familiar.
“Penelope!” she says. “It’s so nice to finally meet you!”
“Oh, um… hi?” I say, not sure how to respond.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself, Bels,” one of the men says. He’s taller than the girl by a good bit, with a lean, athletic build. His sandy blond hair is tousled in a way that makes him look younger than he probably is, and his sharp blue eyes flick between me and the girl who is still standing very close.
“Oh, right,” the girl says. Her smile takes on an apologetic quality. “I do that. Got too excited there. I’m Bella. This is Carter…” She indicates the blond man. “And Riggs.”
“We’re Xavier’s siblings,” Carter says, filling in the missing piece that makes it all make sense.
“Oh,” I breathe, smiling at all of them in turn. That explains why the men looked familiar to me. They have the same facial structure as their brother, and there’s something about the eyes that reminds me of him too. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“You too!” Bella replies. “We’ve been wanting to since Xavier announced he was getting married, but he wouldn’t let us haveyou over for dinner.” She rolls her eyes. “He thought we’d scare you off, I guess.”
Riggs grins. He’s stockier than either Carter or Xavier, and his hair is the darkest of the lot, messy and black with Xavier’s green eyes. They sparkle with good humor and something that hints at mischief.
“To be fair, Bella,” he points out, “you probably would have.”
“Rude. I would not. I can contain myself,” Bella insists. Her brothers both give her skeptical looks. “Well, whatever. We wanted to come over here and introduce ourselves, and to tell you that we’re so excited to have you be a part of the family.”
“That’s very nice of you,” I tell her. My smile doesn’t slip, but something tightens in my chest. It’s clear that Xavier’s siblings love each other and him very much, to the point where they’re trying to make me feel welcome because I married him.
Part of it is feeling bad about the deception. Part of it is the pang that comes with knowing I don’t have anything like this myself. It’s overwhelming, being the focus of so much familial affection after going so long without it.
Still, I’m very touched by their enthusiasm and their willingness to welcome me in when they don’t really know anything about me.
“You say that now,” Carter says quietly. “But you haven’t seen Bella get going yet.”
She puts her hands on her hips and gives him a look. “And what is that supposed to mean?”
“That when you get excited you vibrate at a pitch only dogs can hear?” Riggs fires back.
Bella just rolls her eyes. “Go get me some champagne if you’re just going to be pains in the ass,” she says, flicking her fingers at them.
Riggs and Carter nod to me and slip off, presumably to do what she says.
“Boys,” Bella huffs, shaking her head. “You can see why I’m so excited to have you in the family now, right? I love my brothers, but I’ve been outnumbered for too long. It’ll be so nice to have another woman in the family.”
“We’ll still be outnumbered,” I can’t help but point out.
“I know, but between the two of us, we can take them on. I just know it. You have this air about you that makes it seem like you don’t let anyone steamroll you, let alone my idiot brothers.”