Shit.
I probably just checked out my cousin. I get a free pass because I forgot I’m related to everyone in the room. Wow. That is perspective. My genetics come from these people.
“You are beautiful, darling.”
A gentle hand lands on my bare upper arm. The woman before me looks to be in her seventies. Her hair is gray and short. Her eyes. “We have the same eyes,” I say.
She grins. “Aiden too. I feel so special my twin grandchildren have my eyes.”
“You’re my grandmother?”
“I am, and I’m so happy to see you again.” Her warm hand cups my cheek. “The last time I saw you, you had snuck a piece of strawberry cake and were eating it under the dining room table.” She laughs, her hand dropping away. “You were… what is the American word? Headstrong?” She laughs again. “Just like me.” She studies my piercings and hair. “A strong princess you’ve become.” She moves her focus to the guys. “Aiden, you’re looking as handsome as ever,” she says with a smile. “And, Dominick, it’s good to see you. We missed you for spring break.”
Aiden kisses the woman’s cheek, and then says something in what I’m assuming is Swedish.
She laughs and says something in her native language, and then takes my hand. “I look forward to getting to know you.” Her gaze drifts to Nora who is staring at us with narrowed eyes. “My daughter is impatient.” She winks. “I’ll let the others have their time with you, and I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay,” I say a little breathlessly because I didn’t expect to like anyone here. My grandmother is cool. Her accent is thick, but it wasn’t hard to understand her.
Nora waves me over with that tight smile on her face. I roll my eyes but walk over to her and let her lead me to a table near the food. The only open chair is between two women wearing big floppy hats. Aiden and Nick hover while I mostly listen to the guests at the table speak. A few throw out questions I or Aiden answer. I find out the women wearing the hats are Nora’s aunts and the men beside them are their husbands.
I’m starting to relax when Nora ushers us to the next table full of my aunts and uncles. They are lively and excited. I find myself smiling without being forced. It’s kind of cool to meet all these people. My family.
Nora ushers me to a table filled with my cousins. Two of my cousins, Molly and Aron are my age, but the others are several years older. I recognize Molly as the girl who was standing at the door with the two guys.
Table after table asks the same questions and compares Aiden and me. There are a lot of pictures, smiles, and hugs. I’m exhausted.
“Excuse us. Princess Anna will be back.” Nick wraps his arms around my waist. “You look like you could use a break,” he whispers near my ear.
Nick has perfect timing because I was nodding off. He guides me over to a drink table and hands me a glass filled with something pink and bubbly.
“Thank you. If only this was a beer.” I throw back half of it.
He scans the room. “What do you think so far?”
I finish the drink and set the glass down. “It’s going better than I thought it would. My grandmother is cool, Aunt Alice is a talker, and my cousin Leo, who is twice my age, was totally checking me out, but everyone seems nice so far.”
“Watch out for your Uncle William; he likes to talk extensively about the family line. He can go on for hours and hours.” Nick points to a man in tweed over by a table filled with different kinds of meats. “And he’s on the verge of going deaf, so he yells everything.”
I laugh. “Thanks for the heads up.” My gaze slowly wanders the room. There she is. Tilly and Rocco are at a table with my grandmother, and another woman that looks familiar, but all the faces are blurring together.
“Nick, over here. I need your help,” Nora calls from the doorway.
Nick lays his hand on my waist, squeezing gently. “I’ll be back.” He presses his lips to my temple, and my eyes dart around to see if anyone noticed. “Maybe I can steal you away soon.”
“Yes, please,” I whisper, biting my lip and growing warm. I watch him walk away. Dammit, that boy is gorgeous. I can’t wait to undress him later.
“Hello, Princess Anna.”
“Hi,” I say to the cousin I was checking out earlier. He’s even cuter up close. His eyes are bright blue and seem to shine as he takes me in. The stubble along his jaw is a shade darker than his wavy blond hair.
“I’m Graysen. Our parents grew up together.”
His accent is thick, but it’s not the same as everyone else’s. “Grew up together? So, we aren’t cousins?”
He grins, showing off dimples that add to his attractive “boy next door” look. “No. I wouldn’t have been checking out my cousin for the last hour.” He glances over his shoulder as the guy he was standing next to earlier approaches. “This is Colin Davies. He isn’t your cousin either. We live in England.”
“Noted, family friends.”
“Graysen. I saw you and your father are here. I didn’t know either of you were invited,” Nick says, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me to his side.
My brows pull together at Nick’s public display and cold tone.
Graysen stares as Nick’s fingers skim up and down my arm. “Of course we were invited. Nora called us herself,” Graysen says, his smile turning stiff.
“And you brought a date?” Nick gestures to Colin.
Graysen chuckles. “My mate from University. This is Colin Davies. He’s going to take over his father’s million-dollar brewing company.”
“That’s nice. Excuse us.”
I almost get whiplash with how fast Nick spins around and pulls me in the other direction. “Whoa, Nick, what’s up?”
“Graysen’s an ass.”
“How do you know him?”
“Before Nora met John, she was engaged to Alexander, Graysen’s dad.”
“Why would Nora invite her ex's kid?” I glance over my shoulder to where Graysen is standing and staring at me with narrowed eyes.
“Nick Cabot. Looking as handsome as ever,” my cousin says, stepping into our path.
I can’t remember her name. Was it Bonnie or Lolly? Whatever her name is, she’s staring at Nick like she wants to lick him. She has that wholesome, natural beauty thing going on with her dark blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and rosy cheeks, but there’s something about the way her eyes are set that makes her look mischievous. I noticed it an hour ago, and I see it now.
Smirking, she says something in another language that sounds like heart sock nut day, and then something that sounds like fort fond day. Whatever it means, Nick’s jaw locks.
His hand falls away from my side. “I’ll be right back.”
I arch a brow as he storms toward her and grabs her upper arm. She smiles at me as he pulls her away. I watch them leave the room together. He’s not mine, so whatever that was is none of my business.
“Don’t tell me you have a thing for Dominick Cabot.”
“What?” I spin around to face Graysen and Colin.
“He’s nothing,” Graysen says, with angry narrowed eyes.
“See how fast she spread her legs?” Colin says.
Glaring at me, Graysen says, “I wasn’t told anything about you being involved with someone.” He scoffs. “And what do you see in Nick? He’s a fucking loser. You need to end it with him.”
“Are you still going to agree to it?” Colin asks Graysen, looking disgusted. “She disrespected you. She’s a fucking whore.” His eyes roam over my body. “She might be attractive, but you know what they say about whores.”
Their harsh and confusing words sound so elegant coming out of their mouths that they almost don’t piss me off. Where the fuck did Nick go? I quickly scan the room and see him by the door talking to my cousin. She’s standing way too fucking close to him.
“Anna,” Nora says, appearing from out of nowhere.
Her eyes are bright and almost too wide like she’s on some type of upper, maybe meth.
God, I’m ready to ditch this party. Colin gives me a look of loathing and then walks away.
“I’ve been looking for you.” She grins, her smile manic. It reminds me of a hyena. “I see you’ve met your fiancé. What a beautiful couple you two make.”
My stomach clenches with her words. I’m about to ask her what the hell she’s talking about when my cousin’s squeal fills the room. I watch as she flings her arms around Nick, lifts herself to the tips of her toes, and presses her lips to his. He doesn’t pull away. My eyes are wide and heart rapid. He’s not pulling away. Is he fucking kissing her back?
Graysen’s hand lands on my shoulder, and his lips feather against my ear. “Does your cousin know you’ve been fucking her boyfriend?”
Note from the author:
Sorry for the cliffhanger! Book two will be out very soon (I hope). I’ve been working hard on it, but there are more twists and turns than I was expecting. FYI: Book two is a bit darker than I thought it was going to be. I always let the characters tell their story and what a story it’s turning out to be!
If you want to read another one of my books while you wait, I recommend, Found by the Rivers. I just love the characters in this book and their story.
If you want to get in touch, I’m all over social media, and If you’d like to leave a review, I would appreciate it so very much!
About the author:
Liberty Freer is a book loving, caffeinated insomniac. She likes to bring her memories to life with twisted truths. She was a bit rebellious in her adolescence and still is at heart. When she isn't writing, she's exploring nature with her two boys.
Everywhen: (Savage Princess book 1) Page 19