Between Now and Heartbreak - Dylan Allen Page 0,20

me.” At his muttered oath, I turn to look at Duke. Dread pools heavy and hot in my gut when I see the raw panic in his eyes as he stares at Julia.

“What have you done?” I whisper.

He doesn’t answer but eyes go from panicked to apoplectic when Julia plants her hand on the table across from us and leans in, her gaze hot and directed at me.

My insides shrivel as the room seems to go deathly still. “I thought you were decent, but you’re just like them,” she seethes.

I make a mental inventory of the guests we gathered here tonight to celebrate our farce of an engagement. On the left side of the long table are my guests. Georgia, who has designated herself as my best friend and maid of honor, has a wide-eyed look of surprise on her face. My father is staring stonily between Duke and Julia and he’s let go of my wrist.

Fiona is fussing over Cameron and trying her hardest to ignore the chaos. I wish I could, too. And even though I didn’t do anything to bring it on, I don’t have the luxury of distance.

I look to my right at Duke’s parents, his siblings and their wives. Their expressions are the mixture of shock, discomfort and morbid fascination people car wrecks inspire.

This is so bad.

I want to reach over and wrap my hands around Duke’s throat. But I have to try and diffuse this before it spills outside of this room.

“Can you please close the doors?” I ask of one of the servers my father hired for the evening. He doesn’t say anything. He’s joined everyone in their frozen shock at the sight of this woman. I would do it myself, but my legs are trembling and I’m afraid I’ll fall if I try to walk across the room.

I repeat myself, this time louder and he jumps to close it.

“With her inside?” He asks as he looks at Julia like she’s an alien.

“Yes,” I say in annoyance.

“Call the police. She’s clearly dangerous.”

“Who is she?” Duke’s sister-in-law, Madison, whispers loudly to her husband.

“That is none of your concern.” Mrs. Tremaine’s rebuke is swift and severe and Madison flushes and looks down at her lap.

That’s what they would make me into if I let them.

I sweep that cobweb away and turn back to the waiter who’s watching the scene unfold with ardent interest.

“Leave us and close the doors behind you.” I make it a command rather than a request this time. He only hesitates for a beat before he scurries out of the room. Thank God my father owns this country club, no one here would dare gossip about him or his family.

“Julia whatever’s wrong, let’s go somewhere else and talk about it.” I stand and make my way to her.

“You should have talked to me before you got me fired.” She retorts.

“I didn’t get you fired,” I insist.

“Really? Then why was I marched out of the building today?”

I blanch. “I don’t know. But clearly it’s a mistake. Why would any fire you?”

She shakes her head at me in disgust. “Why? Because, it’s business as usual in this god forsaken town. Your men fuck up, and we pay for it.”

“What are you talk...Duke, what is she talking about?” My voice is rising at the same rate as my alarm as her words start to sink in.

“He came on to me. Next thing you know, I’m being fired.”

“She’s lying.” He says woodenly, his eyes wide with dread as they implore me to believe him.

“Why would I lie? You think I want people to know what you did? You’re disgusting. But now, someone’s got to pay for what happened.”

My head spins at her words. “What did you do?” I glance at him and he’s staring straight ahead like he’s in a trance.

“He pulled his dick out and asked me to suck it,” Julia flings at him.

A loud, high pitched gasp is followed by the scraping of chairs. Duke ’s mother is on her feet. Her face is mottled bright pink and she’s glaring at her Julia like she’s the devil.

“I’ve heard enough. We’re leaving.” She snaps at him before she turns on her heels. Her husband only hesitates for a minute before he’s on his feet, too. Her sons stand, albeit reluctantly and with their wives, follow her out.

“Mama —” Duke calls out to her but she doesn’t break stride or look back.

“Fix this, you fuck up,” his father snaps over his shoulder before he follows the