Read Online Because You Need Me (Falling for You, Book Two) by Ava Claire - Free Book Online Page A

I used to call her would draw a scowl that would force her back a few steps.
    She did one better and stepped back about ten, like she could see herself at that awkward preteen stage, braces, acne and all. “You look pretty too, Penelope .”
    Almost as if she knew that I was close to accidentally spilling something stain worthy on my sister, my mother bounced into view, still cradling the bouquet. “Just look at my daughters! One headed down the aisle, the other not far behind!”
    Victoria's eyes turned navy with anger. “Don't be silly, Mom. She barely knows this Xander guy.” She gave me a look that reminded me of our conversation yesterday when she told me Xander would break my heart. I longed to tell her that she was wrong. That we talked and we were headed somewhere positive, but it was clear she'd made up her mind. Only time and actually getting to know Xander would show her that his player days were behind him.
    “Nonsense,” Mom scoffed. She guided Victoria back to the vanity and yanked me beside them. We were quite the trio. Two platinum blondes and a honey one. Two that looked like mother and daughter, and a third that looked vaguely related. I drew a breath and looked again. Three that looked utterly beautiful, Victoria in her gown, me in my scarlet dress, and my mother in her  rosy red two piece suit.
    My mother reached out and gripped our hands. She was all teeth, squeezing my fingers until I felt like they would fall off. “Aren't we a pretty picture!”
    Victoria and I rolled our eyes in unison.
    My mother broke out of the frame, craning her neck toward the door. “Where on earth is that photographer I'm paying a fortune for!” She dashed off to yell at the poor woman, leaving me and my sister in front of the mirror.
    I tossed my sister a shrug and struggled to find something to say. Some sage advice to give before she walked down the aisle. “Ready to change your last name?” I nearly smacked my forehead.
    Victoria just leaned closer to the mirror, adjusting the birdcage veil that dipped over one of her eyes. “You didn't really invite that man to the wedding, did you?”
    We were doing so well. I should have known it was too good to be true. “Do you mean my boyfriend?”
    “Penny, really!” she hissed, whirling to face me. She teetered on her heels and her friends rushed to save their queen, but she waved them off. “Can you guys go in the hall? We're rolling in like two minutes.”
    They leapt into action without a single huff of dissent, filing out of the room one by one. The stylist remained, but a glare from my sister made her scatter from the room too.
    When we were alone, Victoria turned to me. A glacial, beautiful scowl was on her glossy lips. She placed both hands on her hips. If she wasn't so concerned about money and prestige, she would have made one hell of a teacher. “I warned you about him. I know for a fact that you're not an idiot. And after what your ex did-”
    “Don't you dare compare him to Marshall,” I growled. Bride or not, I squared off with her. “And you didn't reach out to me once after we broke up, so you really don't get to invoke his name to support your misplaced concern about my poor, pathetic heart.”
    Her eyes widened. I'd never stood up to her. I grinned and took it. That had always been our dynamic.
    “Most little sisters would appreciate their big sisters looking out for them-”
    “And I do appreciate it,” I insisted, trying to breathe and lower my blood pressure. After a few breaths, when the heat of anger had died down to smoke, I picked up my bouquet and held out my arm. We would just have to agree to disagree on the matter of Xander Wade. She didn't know him, and didn't seem to concerned about changing that, but I hoped that with time, she would be. If I could give her husband, the bro-est of bros, a cordial hello and goodbye, she could do the same. Hopefully.
    “Today isn't about me or Xander. It's about you and the man that's waiting at