Fated Mates by Virginia Wade

Author:Virginia Wade [Wade, Virginia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Virginia Wade

Connie drove us to the Grand Hotel, although we could have walked, the building taking up the corner of Main Street and Pine. Having snowed last night, a mantel of white hid the bushes out front, Christmas lights hanging from the trees. The parking lot looked full, people continuing to arrive, wearing winter coats and scarves. We took a side entrance, leaving our things in the coatroom before the noisy ballroom, where music and talking resonated. Wham’s “Last Christmas” played, as I entered, a sea of people drinking and dancing, lights sparkling overhead.

Eyes turned to stare, Paulina standing beside me. A man dressed in a black suit strode towards us, his attention trained on Paulina. I knew she dated Reid, having lost her virginity to him, as she confided the other day. I wasn’t certain I could trust him, but he had appeared in town and in her life, and she grew fonder of him by the day.

“Reid!” she cried, happiness sparkling in her eyes. “Dance with me.” He nodded my way, smiling, but she led him towards the dance floor. They disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone.

Connie worked the room, stopping to speak to people she knew. Feeling slightly self-conscious and awkward, I ventured to another place, wandering towards the refreshment table. Although there was a bar in the other room, I wasn’t old enough to go there. From where I stood, near a pillar, I watched Paulina and Reid dancing, laughing, and enjoying themselves.

Movement caught my eye, and I sucked in a breath, recognizing Finn across the room. He spoke with an older couple. From what I could see at this distance, he appeared better, his face no longer bruised. I bit my lip staring, unsure about what to do, yearning so badly for him to remember me.

“Would you like to dance?” asked a voice.

I turned to see a guy I knew in school, Charlie. “Sure.”

He grinned. “You look really nice, Mercedes.”

“Aw, thanks.”

He led me to the dance floor, Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” playing. We turned around and around, my spirits lifting, although I watched Finn every so often, seeing him work the room, stopping to speak to people. When the song ended, I turned to leave, but another guy asked me to dance, so I stayed. Then when that song concluded, Robbie Vale asked me to dance, and I accepted. Dancing to slow and fast music, I found myself sweating from the effort, feeling decidedly warm.

“I need to sit for a bit,” I said, as I tried to leave the floor. Another man loitered, having waited to dance. “Excuse me. I’ll be back.” I threaded my way through the throng, conversations and laughter ringing out all around.

Approaching the refreshment table, I poured punch into a cup, using a glass ladle. Then I drank the contents, grateful to have a break for a moment, my feet killing me.

“You’re popular.”

I recognized that voice, a shiver drifting down my spine. I faced Finn, finding him even more handsome than I remembered, the man wearing a dark grey suit and a patterned blue tie.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.