Page 4 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

Chapter 2 - Hazel

I stared at my bedroom, taking in the space that I had grown to call home. I could hear Gabriella still pissed as she argued with Westley down the hall. My mind was still spinning about the meeting and Brandon’s proposal for Asher to marry me. That was just the other day, but it’s still fresh in my head like it had happened just a few hours ago.

“You can’t seriously think that this is a good idea,” Gabriella angrily whispered to Westley. “She needs stability. She needs me. You are going to tell Brandon that this is not happening.”

I heard their door shut, and I sighed. I leaned against my door, feeling that numbness settling over me again. I had always felt like I was a burden to Gabriella. My entire life, she had done everything she could to help me. She was always there when I needed a shoulder, always offered me an ear when I needed to talk.

Growing up, I always had a harder time making friends and feeling like I fit in. It didn’t help that I was a little bigger and the target of bullying. Gabriella always stood by me. My size was never an issue with her.

When we moved into this pack, it only got worse. I tried to stand my ground. I didn’t want her to know just how much it bothered me. And after she married Westley, things started looking up. I thought for once in my life, I deserved to be here.

But even that feeling was starting to dissolve away. Since my kidnapping and return, I felt like all eyes were on me. I knew that I was going down a hole, but it was hard to care when you didn’t feel like yourself. A part of me stayed behind in that cave, and a darkness filled its space.

I pulled my legs close and rested my head against my knees. I replayed it all over in my head—Brandon’s proposal, all of us gasping in shock, and Asher’s calm expression. I felt like someone had sucker punched me in the stomach.

I thought Brandon was crazy to mention the idea. Asher and I hardly knew each other, having spoken only a couple of times. He was a nice guy, charming but reserved. He wasn’t the type of guy I went for.

I couldn’t marry him. It was wrong. Sure, Gabriella and Westley were married under similar circumstances. But they loved each other. And Gabriella had a crush on Westley prior.

But I also couldn’t stay here. I could see the pity in Gabriella’s eyes, the look that she wanted to fix me. She was constantly hovering, always asking me how I felt. I felt broken and numb.

I knew it was damaging their relationship. I could see the tension between them. I had heard them fighting about me on more than one occasion. Westley asked if I needed counseling, and Gabriella stated I was fine. Westley asked if I was going to work, and Gabriella yelled that he needed to give me space.

I walked over to bed and pulled myself under the sheets. I stared at the wall, hating this feeling.

“She is my sister!” Gabriella yelled, her voice echoing around the house. “You have no idea what she and I have had to fight through!”

“I understand that, Gabriella. But she clearly needs help. Why can’t you admit that?”

I closed my eyes, wishing I could disappear.

The next morning, I went out into the kitchen for some coffee. Westley was sitting at the dining table, flipping through his phone. His eyes snapped up at me. “Morning.”

“Morning.”

He didn’t ask how I was feeling or if I wanted to talk. Westley just smiled at me before looking back at his phone.

“Is Gabriella up?”

He shook his head. “No, she’s still sleeping. We didn’t get to bed until late.”

I chewed on my lower lip as I grabbed myself a mug from the cabinet. “I know, I heard you two arguing.”

I sat down across from him, clutching my coffee close. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “Don’t apologize. It wasn’t all about you.”

“Most of it was.” I looked down at my mug. I could still hear them fighting. Gabriella called him an ass for even thinking it was a good idea. He told her she was being a mother to me and needed to let me decide for myself.

“I know that you guys had a fake arrangement, but you guys were talking. She had a crush on you, so it’s not the same.” I chewed on my cheek as I stared into my mug. “And I don’t like being a burden.”

“You’re not. You are always welcome here, Hazel.”

“I am.” I countered, feeling, deep down, that it was true. They would always have their door open, but I needed to start being a grown-up. I needed to spread my wings and figure out my life. “The only one that won’t admit to it is her.”

He frowned. “Hazel, you will always have a home here. No matter what is going on.”

I had thought I could call this home. After the apartment Gabriella and I were living in, this was a hundred times nicer. I slept feeling warm, and there was food in the fridge. But I had been wrong. I felt like I was slowly suffocating in here, and out there, I could feel everyone had their eyes on me.