The Mistake (Bad Bridesmaids #1) - Noelle Adams Page 0,29

perfect, too fake. “Important phone call, was it?” she asked in a lilting voice.

He jerked so hard she could see it in his neck and shoulders. His head swung around in her direction. “What? Oh no. It wasn’t anything.”

“Well, clearly it was important enough to keep you from getting within ten feet of me.”

He frowned, straightening up. He had the gall to look confused. “Excuse me?”

“No, I don’t think I will.” Her tone was still sugary sweet. Her mother would be so proud. “I don’t tend to excuse men who fuck me and then treat me like trash.”

“Trash?” He knew what she’d been talking about before when she’d alluded to his avoiding her. She’d seen it in his face. But his reaction now was different. He was surprised. Offended. “I didn’t treat you like trash.”

“Then what exactly do you call this? Acting like I’m invisible. Running in circles to keep from talking to me. How exactly do you think that makes me feel?”

She knew this was a mistake even as the words were leaving her mouth. She never left herself vulnerable this way, never admitted something had wounded her. But she couldn’t seem to help it right now. She had to say it. Had to make him hear it. Had to see what he would say in response. How it would make him feel.

It clearly made him feel annoyed. “I wasn’t running in circles,” he snapped back. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just thought it would be easier.”

“What would be easier? For whom would it be easier? Easier for you, I assume. Because it sure as hell isn’t easier for me.”

“Well, I’m sorry if I did the wrong thing.” He was scowling now. He didn’t know how to do the pageant smile like she did. “You don’t have to attack me for it.”

“Attack you? Attack you?” Her smile finally faded. She was so angry her teeth were actually snapping now. “You think I’m attacking you? By coming over here and trying to have a conversation like an adult? You’re the one who is too scared to even talk to me.”

“Scared? What exactly am I supposed to be scared about?” His tone wasn’t loud, but it was sharp. His mood was evident from the tense set of his shoulders and the flashing of his dark eyes.

“I don’t even know! Maybe you think I’m such a silly fool that I’ve fallen for you or something ridiculous like that. If that’s the case, let me assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. The sex was pretty good, but it takes more than that to make a real impression on me.”

He scowled and took a step back. “Well, thank you very much,” he bit out, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “It’s always nice to know I’ve failed to impress a girl so much.”

“I am not a girl. I’m a fully grown woman who knows what she’s doing. I made a choice to be with you that night, and I would have thought we could interact like adults afterward. But clearly not.”

“Clearly not,” he repeated. “Since you prefer to bite my head off without provocation.”

“Without provocation? You think this is without provocation? I promise you I had provocation. I had nothing but provocation. For weeks now.”

“I haven’t even laid eyes on you since that night.” He pushed a hand through his hair in a distracted gesture that wasn’t at all like him. “How exactly have I been provoking you all this time?” He paused briefly but didn’t leave her enough time to respond. “Unless you’ve been hoping that I’m the silly fool who’s been doing nothing but pining for you? Is that it? Is that what you’re so upset about? Because I’m not falling at your feet like everyone else?”

She was so infuriated she sputtered. She actually sputtered.

She’d never once sputtered before. Not in her whole life.

But the words wouldn’t come. No clever or cutting remarks rose into her throat. It was galling. Maddening. She couldn’t even speak, but she had to let him know how angry she was.

It wasn’t just a wish. It was a bone-deep need.

She wasn’t a violent person. She never would have struck someone. Not even with a fairly harmless slap.

But she had a glass of champagne at her disposal. It was still clutched in her hand.

So she flung it at him. Not the glass itself. Just the liquid. She’d aimed it well, so it went sloshing out in a wet wave right in his face.

He blinked as the