Chapter 119
Chapter 119
It was unspeakably kind of her to offer, but sofne things I just couldn’t bring myself to say.
How could I explain?
Should I say that I thought I loved Gideon but he wanted nothing to do with me romantically? That when we were together, especially physically, my whole body hummed, but he didn’t seem to feel the same way? That every time I saw him with Dierdra I wanted to throw things?
Every day I watched them interact. I heard her giggles pealing from Gideon’s office when I walked past. I slept with earplugs in so that I wouldn’t have to hear any noises from his bedroom across the hall at night.
Dierdra would show up where I was working with regularity, just to make barbed comments. I survived by making myself like ice, not showing her any emotion, and only responding when I needed to.
It wasn’t enough, and I knew it, but I was at a loss as to how to handle her better. She knew it too, with her smug expression and quiet threats where no one else could hear.
“I…” I tried to respond to Madelyn, but found myself choking up and turning away instead.
Her hand rested on my shoulder lightly.
“Do you want me to poison her?” she asked.
“Don’t even say that!” I gasped, then laughed at the absurd offer. Madelyn tossed her head with a grin.
“It made you smile, so it would be worth it.” she said with a sly glance. “But I’ll hold off for now. Just… take care of yourself, ok? You seem so distracted, and you haven’t eaten at the last few pack meals I’ve seen you at p>
That was true. I had lost my appetite since the wedding. Sitting at the long hierarchy table meant sitting across from Dierdra as she patted Gideon’s arm, or offered him food off her plate, or laughed at every word he said, even when they weren’t funny.
I could take some consolation from the fact that Gideon also seemed a bit annoyed at all the attention. He never said any cross word, but there was something about the way he fidgeted in his chair, or clenched his jaw, that made me feel like he wanted to be elsewhere.
I knew Dierdra wasn’t his true mate. He knew it. So why continue spending all this time
together? Why let her take liberties with his time and… body?
“Stupid men and their sense of duty.” I grumbled
“Amen to that.” Madelyn agreed, “Ah, crap, here comes Ms. Bossypants p>
I glanced up to see Dierdra approaching down the garden path. She was dressed in a lacy sundress with a large straw hat and looked like a perfect picture of springtime.
Chapter 119
+25 Bonus
I looked down at myself, my muddy coveralls and hands covered in dirt. Great.
“Should have known I’d find you here.” Dierdra smiled that fake smile at Madelyn, though her eyes were icy when they turned on me. “Gideon was looking for you. I told him you were probably out here, doing… whatever it is you do p>
“I’ll go get changed.” I began walking over to the hose to wash my hands.
“No, come as you are.” Dierdra snapped. I raised an eyebrow at her, and she reddened and mumbled something about, “I’m not going to get in trouble for you being late.” and turned and huffed away.
“Well now,” Madelyn said in a low voice as I wiped my hands on my trousers, “I think she’s more frightened of you than she lets on, remember that p>
She squeezed my hand as I left. I climbed the hill towards where Dierdra waited, arms crossed impatiently.
“You’re filthy,” She remarked, nose in the air, “and you stink p>
I kept my face impassive as I brushed past. I hoped some of my mud ended up on her perfect dress.
“Probably because I’ve been doing real work, not trying to steal someone else’s p>
I saw her mouth open to retort, then shut again with a snap as Gideon stepped out of the pack house, his eyes fixed on us.
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