Filed To Story: Craving The Wrong Brother Book PDF Free by Elysian Sparrow
Right then, someone clears their throat.
“Attention, please,” she says.
We all look up, quieting down.
I recognized her voice even before looking.
Soraya.
She’s at the center of the room, holding a bottle of Macallan with the label turned out, her posture so confident.
“I don’t care what you all think about speeches,” she says, flashing her bright, charming smile. “I’ll make one anyway since I don’t fancy talking at funerals. Also, Knox and I never had a large wedding to make a speech at.”
I can feel Knox’s entire body tense beneath me as my fingers clutch his thigh. Yeah, she can’t be up to anything good starting her speech with the word “wedding” when I’m here.
“Some higher power must have found me worthy enough to bless me with a husband like Knox,” she continues. “He’s caring. Selfless-“
I stop listening.
The words turn to static in my head as I lean in close to Knox, my mouth right at his ear, and hiss, “Why the fuck is she still calling you her husband? Didn’t you give her the divorce papers?”
His breath brushes my cheek as he whispers back, “I did. She said she was going to return them today-being Saturday. We were both busy all through the week.”
I jerk my head back to look at him. “You’re trusting her to return them?”
He doesn’t answer. Doesn’t have to. His eyes say enough-he does. I don’t.
My gaze snaps back to Soraya.
She’s still standing there, now holding up the bottle.
“Here’s to many more years of marriage, Knox,” she says. “Through thick and thin.”
I guess everyone else has figured out there’s more to her speech, because they turn to me.
Then her.
Then back to me.
I know what they’re thinking. I know exactly what this looks like.
The girlfriend vs. the ex-wife-well, technically still the wife. My fingers slowly slide off Knox’s leg, and my heartbeat pulses through my teeth.
She’s not signing the papers.
She’s not planning to. And now-now she’s staking her claim. Here. In front of an audience. In front of me.
She didn’t just move her queen on the board. She flipped the entire fucking table.
I barely hear the polite claps a few of the guests offer her, or the sound of someone awkwardly clearing their throat, or the way a few of the men mumble about refilling their drinks. My ears are tuned to one frequency only: rage. veu, zo vidy
Knox shifts behind me. “Sloane…”
I don’t look at him. th
My eyes are locked on Soraya, who finally lowers the bottle and takes a little sip. She heads back to her seat beside Dr. Yara, a peaceful smile in place, acting like she didn’t just label me the side chick in front of twenty people.
Guess my instincts were right about her wanting to bang Knox.
I’m going to have to go crazy on this one. Because let’s be clear: this woman has no intention of signing those papers. And as for me? It’ll be a cold day in hell before I ever, ever, settle for the title of mistress.
Acting civil when you’re mad is a skill I swore I’d mastered after putting up with Delilah and Finn for years. But Soraya is testing that skill, and I slowly count the minutes until the last guest walks out the door.
Knox might be private and antisocial, but his people aren’t. They linger, they chat, they slap his back, and they toast with whatever alcohol is left.
Eventually, they start trickling out one by one, and I force a tight smile for every handshake, every half-drunk hug, every murmured “nice to meet you? Knox and I stand side by side like a pair of Victorian hosts-me in his oversized shirt and borrowed boxers, him in lounge clothes and a smile that’s wearing thinner by the second. We say thank you. We nod. I even get kissed on the hand by some guy with a buzz cut and an attitude that screams ex con turned executive. I smile anyway, wondering how Knox found all these hard-faced men and severe-looking women and convinced them to work for him.
One of the last to leave is Levi, who I’ve discovered is Knox’s second club manager. He shakes Knox’s hand, then glances at me with a crooked smile.
“You two are gonna make some cute babies,” he whispers before slipping out the door.
Knox is all smiles as I glare at Levi’s retreating back.
Eventually, it’s just us.
Well-us, and Jade. And Soraya, who’s suddenly very busy picking up used cups and trashing empty bottles like she’s the hostess of the year.
Jade stands by the door, his hands in his pockets, rocking on his heels as though he doesn’t know whether to leave or say something first.
“This is the part where I threaten you not to make my stepdaughter sad or I’ll kill you,” he says, attempting a joke that dies before it lands.
Knox smiles anyway. “Noted, Jade. I’ll try my best.”
I roll my eyes at their conversation and say, “How’s my mother? Haven’t heard from her in a while.”
“She’s cool. Going for checkups. Taking her vitamins. Missing her kids.”
“She’ll survive.”
“She figured you’re happy now ever since I told her my boss took interest in you.” He pauses, then adds with a pointed look at Knox, “And that you both are kind of a thing now.”
“Your boss, as in the artist boss?” I ask. “Or did you finally man up and tell her the truth?”
He doesn’t respond, but his face answers the question.
I sigh. So he hasn’t told her. And somehow Serena with her inability to shut up about anything-has kept the secret too. Must be the leverage Jade has on her. Otherwise, she’d have blown the whole thing.
It’s going to come out eventually. Secrets like these always do. And when it does, it’ll burn everything in its path. Honestly, a part of me wishes we’d just rip off the damn Band-Aid now and get it over with. Let everyone scream, cry, throw drinks. Better one big fire than a slow rot.
“Thanks for coming, Jade,” Knox says, stepping forward to shake his hand. “Now get your ass to work. It’s Saturday.”
“Sure, boss. Although I was wondering if I could invite you both to dinner tomorrow.” He turns to me. “Your sister doesn’t know this, but Nathan sought permission to propose. We’re letting him do it at dinner.”
“Oh,” I say, caught off guard. “That’s sweet. Did he seek permission from you or Dad?”
“Does it matter?”
“You’re right. It doesn’t. I’ll be there. I like Nathan. It’s about time we had someone sane in the family.”
He smiles, then glances at Knox. You coming too?”
That depends. Dal have to pretend I’m an aitist?”
Yeah
Then no, thank you.
That’s great. I didn’t expect you to say yes anyway.” Jade waves a hand as he turns. “I’m out.”
The door clicks shut behind him, and it feels like we’re both counting to ten in our heads before turning around.
We walk back into the living room.
Soraya is there, finishing up the last of the clean-up. She’s tying a trash bag closed, her movements slow. She looks up as we get closer.
“Did you enjoy yourselves?” she asks in that smooth voice of hers. “I know it isn’t much, but Knox wouldn’t want anything extravagant anyway.”
I don’t stop walking until I’m right in front of her.
“You’re the one I should be asking that question, Soraya,” I say. “Did you enjoy yourself with that fucking stunt you pulled just now?”
Her head tilts. “What stunt?”
“The speech. Try to keep up.”
She glances at Knox as if to say, ‘Your girlfriend is being dramatic’, but Knox doesn’t bite. He’s already dropped into a chair, crossing his legs like he’s about to tune into a sitcom.
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