Small Town Secret: Mayfield Springs Book 1 Read Free Page A

seems to be a Taylor family trait.  
    I looked up and down her pin-like legs and couldn't help but feel envious. And her stomach? My God, I would do anything to have abs that flat. I'd hate her if I didn't love her so much.  
    "Hey," she snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
    "Like what?" I said, trying to pretend I hadn't been checking her out.  
    "You were staring at me as if you had a bad smell under your nose or something," Cassie moaned.
    "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," I responded. "It's just that I'm feeling..." I slumped into a nearby chair and looked despairingly at the way the bridesmaid's dress puffed up around me like a rising meringue. "So ordinary and boring and fat."  
    "Oh honey," said Cassie as she rushed to my side, her heels clacking along the tiled floor. "You're far from boring, and you're definitely not fat. You've just got curves. Trust me, you're gorgeous," she said giving me a tight squeeze and kissing me on the cheek.  
    "Thanks," I said, smiling weakly as I hugged her back.  
    "But where has all this self-doubt come from?" Cassie asked as she sat down beside me, squeezing her tiny bottom in next to my rather larger one. "What happened to the wild girl who loved to party and who was proud of how she looked? The girl who didn't think twice about disappearing off to art school?"
    I thought about my old self and my teenage years when I never said no to anything and was always on the lookout for a new adventure.  
    "I grew tired," I said, looking down to the floor. "I grew up... and I became a mom."
    An awkward silence hung in the air between us, the only noise the sound of the bridal boutique's stereo playing cheesy love ballads.  
    "Don't get me wrong. I love being a Mom, but it's tiring, and it's so different to what I thought I'd be doing. I love Bella, but I'm just so miserable and disappointed with how my life has turned out." I sighed.   "Sorry, Cass, I don't quite know what's come over me," I said as I leaned into the nook in her neck and held her tight.  
    "Oh Amy," she held onto me. "Why don't we go for a drink and talk this out? I can't stand seeing you like this."
    I looked up at her and smiled, trying my very best to look happy.  
    "I'd like that."
                          
    The bar was crowded but relaxed, and we took a seat in one of the corner booths. As we made our way through the busy tables, I couldn't help but notice Cassie getting her fair share of admiring glances. I had to admit; I felt a little jealous. I wanted to feel attractive too. I know I'm not ugly, and it's not like I want a man but... I'm not the glamor puss that Cassie is, and it wouldn't hurt to feel wanted once in a while, by someone other than the drunk at the bar.
    We'd only been sitting down for a few seconds when Cassie began to talk. She seemed to have forgotten that she was going to try to make me feel better. Or maybe she thought that talking about herself would help me take my mind off my troubles. But, on and on she spoke about her perfect life in New York where she already had her dream job and her dream man.  
    "I just can't wait for you to meet Daniel," she said as she sipped at her mimosa. "You'll love him, he's a real prince," she giggled.  
    "He sounds great Cassie, " I said looking disappointedly at my sparkling water and wishing that I had a mimosa but knowing that I had to drive home.  
    "So what's up? You've been miserable today. What's going on?" she asked as she pushed a plate of bruschetta towards me.  
    I shook my head politely and raised a hand.  
    "I shouldn't. I'm getting bigger by the day I swear."
    "Oh, nonsense!" Cassie replied. "You look almost the same as you did when you were a teenager," she said before draining half her glass. "Which reminds me, talking about the good old days, are you looking forward to seeing Chris?"
    "Oh... Sure!" I said, albeit in the most unconvincing way.  
    "You don't sound so sure that you want