Truce or Dare (Sweet Fortuity Book 1) Read Free Page A

breath.

    * * *

    I just finished my run and was heading towards the door, when I heard a laugh erupt from the living room. The sound made me freeze just in front of their door.
    Wait a minute…We had company?
    Feeling a little like a spy, I ducked underneath a tree branch and peeked at their velvet curtain, pulled over just slightly.
    And as I crouched, concealed by the trees, I had a glimpse of one of the visitors, and I started to panic.
    Okay. Damn.
    Double damn, he was here. I paced a little on their front yard, going back and forth.
    I blew a breath out.
    Option one– make a run for it.
    Option two– sneak away, pretending they don’t see me.
    Option three– say hi.
    Well I knew what was never going to happen, because I would never be ready for him anytime this century.
    Which only left me with the first two.
    I was careful to twist the knob and open the door so I didn't make any noise, and did the same with shutting the door. The voices were louder this time, more animated. Something about a trip to Europe was being discussed in the background. Weary, I didn't feel up to dinner at all. Carefully removing my trainers, I placed them in the rack. I tried to sneak past the hallway, keeping my footsteps quiet. I came to a halt when Haley called my name.
    Damn it.
    I thought with something as important as meeting my ex-boyfriend, she would've at least let me know. Considering what our past was, I’d only hoped to avoid him.
    “Sherry," a familiar voice drawled. I closed my eyes, hearing his deep, rough voice. It still affected me the same way. Why had I thought it would sound any different? “Glad you finally joined us. Have a good run?”
    It was one thing to see him, it was entirely another to share the same space with him for something as long as dinner.
    There he stood, devastatingly handsome, much unchanged. He wore a faded shirt and jeans, looking right at home.
    I smiled tightly. "Yes, I did.”
    I didn't think I had it in me to argue or to be snappy. But somehow, seeing him, it brought back an urge to do just that. It all rushed back to me, the hurt of the rejection, and losing him.
    There was a quiet and deadly look to his eye that blazed with emotion, too much I didn't want to name.
    I excused myself and mumbled something about taking a shower.
    My emotions were a mess. Gemma was gone. The truth just began to sink in. No more weekly calls. No more baked goods that I could never replicate. I could've stayed. I should've stayed. I only wanted a little space and instead I lost what precious time I could've had with her. I didn’t need him complicating things by telling me what I already knew.
    When I came down, people were already getting seated for dinner.
    Chase, his brother Jake, Wes, Haley, and Paula were there.
    It didn’t escape my notice that Kate hadn’t made it, and I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of disappointment. I hated it, because I knew I had no right to it.
    The only seat left by the time I made it to the table was the one next to Chase. Eyes narrowing suspiciously, I scanned my eyes around the table, but everyone seemed to be avoiding my gaze.
    I sat in awkward, strained silence. The kind of feeling when you walk into a room of strangers, the moment you step in and every conversation seemed to halt, and you just know they were talking about you.
    I got the same feeling. I felt, and occasionally caught glances in my direction, like I was being judged. I thought I was over it, but after everything, all the glances felt like scrapes over a raw wound.
    He was right next to me, but he wasn't at all. I don't think anything could have cut so deeply than the silence, the feeling of an invisible wall dividing us both. We may as well have not been in the same room. He made no further effort to engage me in conversation, instead asking his brother some questions about his work recently. I felt the distance keenly, and it reminded me of a time when I had all his attention.
    As if sensing the