Read Online All the Wrong Reasons by J. L. Paul - Free Book Online
Authors: J. L. Paul
Tags: General Fiction
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No, not at all. Hell, I couldn’t even decide what to do about the lover I didn’t want. Okay, I wanted him, but I shouldn’t have him. Now I find out Dustin is contemplating marriage? Already?
“I understand,” he said. “But, an engagement is not unheard of – especially in this day and age. I see no reason why, should he ask, you couldn’t accept and become engaged. A wedding doesn’t have to occur right away.”
I swallowed a chunk of tomato and nodded, my eyes watering. I picked up the napkin in my lap to dab at my eyes. “Excuse me,” I said and sipped my water, washing down the tomato.
“Are you alright, dear?” Grandmother asked.
“Yes. I didn’t slice my food properly,” I explained. I spread my napkin across my lap and pushed my salad plate away. Grandmother smiled her approval – she hated to see a woman clean her plate.
When Grandfather changed the subject, I finally relaxed. We finished dinner and retired to the luxurious sitting room where we had coffee. Grandfather told me about his latest business ventures and I pretended that I understood – and that I cared.
Grandmother filled me in on all the gossip concerning the girls I’d gone to high school with – again like I cared. Apparently, one of them was pregnant and that announcement rocked the bridge club that congregated at Whispering Winds. I feigned the appropriate amount of shock and disgust as Grandmother described how horrified this girl’s family was. I wondered how horrified the girl was and if the boy would stick beside her. Obviously, her family wouldn’t.
As nine o’clock approached, Grandfather ordered his maid to fetch my coat. My grandparents walked me to the door and each pecked my cheek in what they thought was grandparent affection. I accepted it, thanked them for dinner, and fled.
***
I didn’t mention the discussion with my grandparents to anyone – not even my mother when she called to find out how dinner had gone. I kept it to myself, wondering if Dustin really planned on proposing. Only a month ago I would have been thrilled. But now…
I changed into my pajamas, washed my face, cleaned my teeth, and prepared for bed. Bailey was reading a book and Morgan was knitting something that looked suspiciously like a scarf.
I politely answered their questions about dinner, proclaimed exhaustion, and escaped to bed.
I tossed and turned that night and every night after until Friday dawned bright and chilly. November had barged in crisp and cold, forcing me to bundle up as I rushed to classes.
Bailey texted me during my English class to ask if I was going to Rusty’s. I told her I was – how could I not?
When I met her at the dorm later, I asked her what her text had been about.
“Because,” she said, grabbing my arm and forcing me to the sofa. “Amber Gordon was talking shit in class about how she had a date with Lucas tonight after the show.”
My face fell to my shoes as my heart ached in my chest. “She does?”
“I don’t know,” Bailey said. “The girl talks so much shit I never know what’s true and what’s not.” She pursed her lips, her eyes narrowed. I watched her carefully, waiting for her to give me some grand idea as Morgan came in and dropped her books.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, her wide eyes worried.
“Amber Gordon told me she had a date with Lucas Newton tonight after his show,” Bailey said. The words didn’t hurt any less when she said them for the second time.
“Oh,” Morgan said as she sat on the coffee table. “Well, he should be allowed to date, huh? I mean, Irelyn has a boyfriend.”
That hurt more. “Of course you’re right,” I muttered, my eyes itching with tears.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, just call him,” Bailey said. “Damn. Just call and ask him.”
My heart thumped. Yes, I would call him. “How do I ask him?”
“Just open your mouth and let the question come out,” Bailey said impatiently.
Digging my phone out of my bag, I
“I understand,” he said. “But, an engagement is not unheard of – especially in this day and age. I see no reason why, should he ask, you couldn’t accept and become engaged. A wedding doesn’t have to occur right away.”
I swallowed a chunk of tomato and nodded, my eyes watering. I picked up the napkin in my lap to dab at my eyes. “Excuse me,” I said and sipped my water, washing down the tomato.
“Are you alright, dear?” Grandmother asked.
“Yes. I didn’t slice my food properly,” I explained. I spread my napkin across my lap and pushed my salad plate away. Grandmother smiled her approval – she hated to see a woman clean her plate.
When Grandfather changed the subject, I finally relaxed. We finished dinner and retired to the luxurious sitting room where we had coffee. Grandfather told me about his latest business ventures and I pretended that I understood – and that I cared.
Grandmother filled me in on all the gossip concerning the girls I’d gone to high school with – again like I cared. Apparently, one of them was pregnant and that announcement rocked the bridge club that congregated at Whispering Winds. I feigned the appropriate amount of shock and disgust as Grandmother described how horrified this girl’s family was. I wondered how horrified the girl was and if the boy would stick beside her. Obviously, her family wouldn’t.
As nine o’clock approached, Grandfather ordered his maid to fetch my coat. My grandparents walked me to the door and each pecked my cheek in what they thought was grandparent affection. I accepted it, thanked them for dinner, and fled.
***
I didn’t mention the discussion with my grandparents to anyone – not even my mother when she called to find out how dinner had gone. I kept it to myself, wondering if Dustin really planned on proposing. Only a month ago I would have been thrilled. But now…
I changed into my pajamas, washed my face, cleaned my teeth, and prepared for bed. Bailey was reading a book and Morgan was knitting something that looked suspiciously like a scarf.
I politely answered their questions about dinner, proclaimed exhaustion, and escaped to bed.
I tossed and turned that night and every night after until Friday dawned bright and chilly. November had barged in crisp and cold, forcing me to bundle up as I rushed to classes.
Bailey texted me during my English class to ask if I was going to Rusty’s. I told her I was – how could I not?
When I met her at the dorm later, I asked her what her text had been about.
“Because,” she said, grabbing my arm and forcing me to the sofa. “Amber Gordon was talking shit in class about how she had a date with Lucas tonight after the show.”
My face fell to my shoes as my heart ached in my chest. “She does?”
“I don’t know,” Bailey said. “The girl talks so much shit I never know what’s true and what’s not.” She pursed her lips, her eyes narrowed. I watched her carefully, waiting for her to give me some grand idea as Morgan came in and dropped her books.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, her wide eyes worried.
“Amber Gordon told me she had a date with Lucas Newton tonight after his show,” Bailey said. The words didn’t hurt any less when she said them for the second time.
“Oh,” Morgan said as she sat on the coffee table. “Well, he should be allowed to date, huh? I mean, Irelyn has a boyfriend.”
That hurt more. “Of course you’re right,” I muttered, my eyes itching with tears.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, just call him,” Bailey said. “Damn. Just call and ask him.”
My heart thumped. Yes, I would call him. “How do I ask him?”
“Just open your mouth and let the question come out,” Bailey said impatiently.
Digging my phone out of my bag, I
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