With a little smile, she said, "I like your dress."
Her smile was fake, just like her compliment. Oh, I knew the dress was likeable enough. It was expensive and stylish. And, I knew that I looked good in it – not because I was overly sure of myself, but rather, because I so strongly resembled my mom, andshehad looked fabulous in this exact same outfit.
Still, I knew insincerity when I heard it, and I had the distinct impression that I'd just been insulted. Refusing to show it, I stiffly replied, "Thank you. I like your dress, too."
I didn't bother sounding sincere. Whatever game she was playing, I wanted no part of it, and I saw no reason to encourage her.
She smiled again. This time, it was a real smile, with lots of teeth. For some reason, it made me just a little bit nervous, and I took a calming sip of champagne.
The glass was still at my lips when she said, "But here's something funny…You'renot the only one wearing it."
I lowered the glass. "What?"
"Oh yeah. You didn't know?" With a little laugh, she glanced down at my feet. "And talk about hilarious. You're even wearing the same shoes."
I felt the color drain from my face.
Oh, shit.
I glanced around. She couldn’t mean who I thought she meant?
Could she?
Chapter 10
Desperately, I scanned the crowd. Next to me, the redhead was saying, "If you want to leave, I'm sure he'd understand."
She didn't say who "he" was, but it was beyond easy to guess. She meant Jax, of course.
I snuck a nervous glance in his direction, only to feel myself pause.
He was gone.
And so was his brother.
But that wasn't the thing that had me reeling. It was the fact that Darla was talking to someone new. He was big and portly, with slick dark hair and sharp, wandering eyes.
I stared in stunned disbelief. I knew him. And, if my mom had gotten her way, I would've known him a lot better before the night was through.
It was Dominic – my mom's, well, whatever he was.
A whispered word escaped my lips. "Shit."
The redhead gave a cheerful little laugh. "I know. Embarrassing, huh?"
I whirled to look. Obviously, she thought I was traumatized by the news that a different guest was wearing the same outfit.
She couldn't've been more wrong.
Oh, I was traumatized alright, but not in the way she thought.
The sight of Dominic only confirmed what I'd already begun to suspect – that the person in the matching dress was my mom. She was here. Withhim.
Damn it.What were the odds? I glanced around, searching for something – I didn't know what. A place to hide? A place to run? A bathroom to barf in?
Suddenly, the champagne wasn't sitting so great, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I'd be hugging some toilet after all.
I said, "I've gotta go."
