Sweet Curves (Sweet Enough to Eat #2) - Mila Crawford ,Aria Cole Page 0,14

Sawyer’s ears.

“Baby, I would brave anything just to be with you.” He whispered back. And just like that, hell didn’t feel as hot and bothersome as it normally did.

Sawyer

“Katie!” A girl that looked almost identical to Katie with much more makeup came barreling out of the kitchen.

“Hi, Hallie,” I heard my girl whisper as they hugged.

“We found the perfect bridesmaid dress for you--it was challenging at first to find one in my color scheme that would accommodate all of you, but just wait and see how pretty it is. My baby sister is going to steal the show.”

“I’ve lost a few pounds,” Katie said.

“Really?” Hallie held her at arm’s length and frowned. “You look exactly the same as the last time I saw you, and just as pretty.”

“My baby girl!” A tall gentleman who I assumed was her dad came out of the kitchen, arms wrapping around Katie. “Wait ‘til you see the chocolate cinnamon mousse I made for dessert, I’m hoping it blows your taste buds off.”

The warmth in his eyes crackled back at Katie, almost a hint of wetness forming before he squinted the moisture away and patted her shoulder. “Missed you, sweetheart, wish you wouldn’t stay away so long.”

“I’ve been so busy, you know how it goes.”

“Always with that bakery. Seems to me if you spent a little less time there maybe you wouldn’t be so tempted to taste-test the goods.” My shoulders bunched and tensed as Katie’s mother entered the room, my hackles always on guard never knowing when a well-placed barb might land.

“Sawyer owns a gym, so I’ve been spending a lot of time there.” I pulled a seat out for Katie as she spoke.

“Well, not working out, I’m assuming.” Katie’s mother laughed at what she thought was a funny statement before jumping into orders for the staff that’d just entered with the food. “Sit, sit, everyone They won’t know how much to give if you’re not at your setting.”

I frowned when I realized my place setting wasn’t next to Katie’s, but sandwiched between Hallie’s fiancé and Katie’s father, her mother at the head of the table and still instructing different people where to sit. Hallie and Katie leaned in close, chatting about something, and I saw Katie’s mother pointing at her before one of the wait staff avoided Katie with the bowl of steaming mashed potatoes--everyone else’s plate heaped high.

My heart dropped.

Katie’s mother was shaming her about her perceived weight issue--which wasn’t even an issue at all--right in front of everyone, just like a bully.

“Ahem,” I cleared my throat to get the waiter’s attention. “Looks like you missed a plate.”

The waiter shook his head quickly, eyes sliding to Katie’s mom’s as if he were caught in headlights.

“No, no, it’s fine, Sawyer, I just don’t think there was enough--”

“Oh, there’s enough--unless you were wanting seconds for yourself?”

Katie’s eyes rounded, horror seeping through her well-spackled cracks. “Of course not.”

“Sawyer, I don’t want any potatoes, it’s fine.” Katie’s eyes were pleading with me across the table.

My blood boiled. “It’s really not fine.”

I said the words just under my breath, trying to speak to my girl privately, knowing how heartbroken she really was. I could see it in her body language, the way her shoulders slumped and she pressed her pretty full lips together nervously.

“So tell me, baby girl, any famous stars drop into the bakery lately?” Katie’s dad interrupted the silent dynamic with a booming voice and bright smile.

“No, daddy, not lately.” Katie answered, a frown turning down all of her features. She’d never looked so dark and defeated. I wanted to have words with the woman that made my bright and shiny star feel this way.Her mother didn’t even know the real her--the one behind the armor she wore for sustained verbal attacks.

“Well, I’m sure business will pick up again soon, sweetheart, you’re only as good as your last celebrity sighting, isn’t that what they say?” Katie’s mother giggled again and I nearly threw a warm bun at her perfectly coiffed head.

Katie pushed the steamed asparagus around on her plate, tears welling in her eyes, and there I sat across from her--helpless.

“Not gonna lie, I half-hoped we’d get a chance to do it in your childhood bedroom.” I tried to joke later that night in bed.

Katie only half-laughed, her mind a million miles away from me in that moment.

“I can’t stand the way she talks to you,” I confessed softly.

“She’s fine, it’s normal.” Katie snuggled a little deeper into me, the double bed barely big enough