Page 135 of Bridesmaid By Chance
It’s not fair, and I’m not going to stand for it.
The bedroom is dark when I finally remove myself from the bathroom. I took another shower because, well, I felt dirty after that conversation with Hudson. I spent a good deal of time brushing and braiding my hair and went to the bathroom once more.
I move around the bed, where my phone is plugged into my charger—looks like the husband did something nice—and I pull back the covers and slide under them.
I will tell you right now, if that man attempts to come over here and snuggle into me, he’s getting the donkey kick right to his bald balls.
Once I’m settled, I hold my breath, waiting in anticipation for the scoop of his hand to my stomach, but when it doesn’t happen, I feel equally disappointed and relieved.
I didn’t want to snuggle awkwardly with him, but I also sort of love it when he pulls me into his chest.
But tonight my anger might just outweigh any interest I have in snuggling.
I close my eyes and attempt to relax my body, not letting our argument or the arrogant man next to me make me lose any sleep.
Tomorrow is going to be a better day.
Tomorrow we’re going to learn how to dance, and when I say “we,” Imean “me.” I will dance with myself if I have to. I refuse to be in this man’s arms more than I need to be.
Nope, not after today. Not happening.
I adjust my head on my pillow, happy with my plan.
Now to just fall asleep?—
“I’m not happy with myself,” Hudson says, the soft tone of his voice breaking over my skin.
No, do not feel sorry for him.
Do not feel emotions toward him.
Let him be unhappy with himself. He should be.
“This is not how I envisioned things going when we left my dad’s business.”
Still not paying attention.
Still just trying to go to sleep on my own terms.
“We grew up with everything at our disposal,” he continues. “We had the fancy schools, the expensive cars, the latest and greatest gadgets, but we never really had our dad’s approval.”
Ooof, that cuts deep. But still, not paying attention even though he’s finally opening up like I’ve wanted.
Not falling for it.
I’m mad…
“When I started working for him, I thought that maybe that’s when he’d tell me he was proud of me. Sure, graduating college didn’t to do it, but maybe…just maybe working for him and him seeing my potential, that was going to do it. But as time went on, I started to see that winning his pride, winning his affection, was going to take more than just doing a good job.” He clears his throat. “So, I worked harder. While Haisley took off and did her own thing and Hardy took over the almond business, I focused on following in my dad’s footsteps. And with every passing year, with every new deal secured or idea that I saw come to life, it was never… good enough. Nothing has ever been good enough.”
Crack.
Did you hear that?
That was me breaking, only slightly. But breaking just enough to pay more attention to what he’s saying.
“Then I started to see who he really was as a man. Conniving. Deceitful. Ready to ruin someone’s life for his own benefit, and I knew, I knew there was no way I wanted to be like him. I didn’t want his approval. I didn’t want him to be proud. I actually wanted him to be disgusted with me because I wasn’t about to make the same deals he was. I wasn’t about to put myself forward over everyone else. That’s when Hardy and I broke off from our dad, when we contacted the Cane brothers and started a co-op. We invested, and we invested quickly. Luckily, so far, it’s paid off, but I see the lasting impact my dad’s business has had on the world, and I feel it’s my responsibility to reverse that.”
I rub my lips together, my heart sort of breaking for him.
