“You okay?” Jen asked. “You look really pale.”
“I’m fine. Do I know anyone here?”
“I think the invites got a little confusing. Most of your friends are arriving around seven I think. But come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
***
It was just a blur of faces and names. I gave up trying to remember who everyone was. It seemed like hours before I felt James’ hand on my waist.
“Let’s go. I’ve already made our excuses,” he said.
“But I haven’t even met your parents yet.”
“And you’re not going to. Let’s go. Now.”
I wasn’t sure I had ever seen him this upset. All I wanted to do was grab his hand and run out of there. But Rob’s advice was stuck in my head. I didn’t want his parents to think they could scare me away. I wasn’t going anywhere. “Our friends are coming any minute. We can’t leave now.”
“Oh, there you are, James,” Jen said. The smile on her face instantly disappeared. “What’s wrong?”
“Did you know Isabella was going to be here?” James said in a stern voice.
“Don’t snap at her.” I put my hand on his chest. “This isn’t her fault.”
“Is she really?” Jen asked. Her voice sounded small.
“Dad said you’re the one that convinced them to throw this thing. You must have known. You set us up.”
“Of course I didn’t,” Jen said. She sounded like her normal self again. “You know I wouldn’t do that.”
James ran his hand through his hair. “Please let me get you out of here, Penny.” There was so much pain in his eyes. And it killed me.
“I have to meet them.” I put my glass in his hand. “Hold this for me, please.”
I started to walk away before he had time to react.
“Penny!” he hissed.
I ignored him and walked over to the archway. His parents had just entered the room with Isabella in tow. She smiled as I approached. She probably thought that I was about to embarrass myself, but she was dead wrong. I went straight up to them and smiled. “Hi, you must be Mr. and Mrs. Hunter. I’m Penny Taylor, your son’s fiancee. I’m so sorry that it took us this long to meet. We had such conflicting schedules.” I gave them as genuine of a smile as I could. “But I’m glad we finally get a chance to meet now, before the wedding. And thank you so much for throwing this wonderful party to celebrate our engagement. It’s been quite lovely. Your whole family has been so kind.”
James’ mother raised her left eyebrow. The expression reminded me of one that James made so often. Maybe the two of them had some similarities after all.
Isabella made a weird noise with her throat, clearly disapproving of what I had just said.
“Oh, and Isabella, it’s so nice to see you again. I wasn’t sure I would get the pleasure. I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Unfortunately we can’t stay,” James said and wrapped his arm firmly around my waist, almost making me jump. “Something has come up and we really must go.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, James,” Isabella said with a huge smile. “The party has only just begun. Let me get you a scotch. That’s your favorite, right?” Her voice was oozing with so much fake sweetness that I wanted to throw up.
“Not anymore, no.” His grip tightened on my waist.
“How about we go make a few phone calls?” I said and smiled up at him. “I’m sure whatever urgent thing that has come up can be handled by someone else. If you’ll excuse us for just a moment.” I smiled politely at all three of them and grabbed James’ arm.
He followed me into the hallway. I stopped right past the archway, but he grabbed my hand, pulling me farther down the hall.
“James?”
He didn’t say anything, he just kept walking.
“James, stop.” I pulled my hand out of his grip.
“We’re going. Now.”
“We’re not going anywhere. Your parents threw us this party and I’m not going to make a bad first impression by leaving early.”
“You’re joking right? They invited…”
“No. I’m not joking. Would you calm down for one second?”
He lowered his eyebrows.
“If I’m going to be a part of this family, then I need to learn how to deal with them. And if that means I have to be civil around Isabella too, so be it.”
“I’m not asking you to do that.”
“I know that you’re not asking. I’m offering.”
“And I’m rejecting your offer. I don’t want to be here. I’m never stepping foot in this fucking house again. I already told them as much. I’m done. With all of them.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do mean it. Don’t you see what they’re doing? They’re trying to force Isabella back on me. They don’t want me to marry you. They won’t even give you a chance. They want me to be miserable. They don’t care about me.”
“They do care. They think that’s what’s best for you. But I’m going to wear them down. I’m going to make them see.”
“They’re not like your parents, Penny. I’m not having a fight with them over something small and insignificant. This isn’t just a misunderstanding. They’re torturing me. They’re trying to break me. Again.”
It wasn’t like I couldn’t see the pain in his eyes. I knew. I just never realized quite how bad it was. I wanted to think the whole thing was a misunderstanding. No one’s parents could act this way without an important reason behind it. They had to be doing it because they thought Isabella was what was best for him. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe they were torturing him on purpose because he wasn’t doing the things they wanted him to be doing. And there was a huge difference between the two. It didn’t seem like they wanted him to be happy. I had been nice to them and they hadn’t said a word.
“I just want to fix it,” I whispered. I put my hand on the side of his face. “Please let me try.”
“You can’t make them love me.” His Adam’s apple rose and fell. He shook his head, making my hand fall from his face. “I need some air.”