The Road to Rose Bend, Naima Simone [jenna bush book club .TXT] 📗

they’re my people. Not yours,” Jenna continued. “No one wants you here. They either pity you or have no respect for you. Just like you have none for yourself. Throwing yourself at Cole and his family.” The corner of her mouth curled into a disgusted smirk. “I would say you need to be ashamed of yourself, but we both know you don’t have any.”

Later, she reminded herself. Lick your wounds later.

Tilting her head to the side, Sydney arched an eyebrow and smiled, knowing it would piss off Jenna even more. And it provided the side benefit of covering up the throbbing holes where those well-aimed verbal punches had landed.

“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned Cole,” she murmured. “Now we’re getting down to the truth of it. That’s what this little ambush is about—Cole. Hell, Jenna. Why didn’t you just come right out and say that instead of pussyfooting around with the ‘baby mama’ shaming?”

Even in the dark, Sydney could easily spot the red that flooded the other woman’s face. Her lips thinned as her slender shoulders straightened and she peered down her nose at Sydney. No denying Jenna’s beauty. Too bad it was spoiled by her snotty, condescending, mean spirit.

The memory of that stark, dejected “something” she’d seen flash in Jenna’s eyes moments ago whispered that maybe all wasn’t as it seemed. But in the next instant, Jenna opened her mouth and banished any hint of sympathy Sydney might’ve harbored.

“He might not be able to see through you, but I can. It’s really sad, Sydney. Your husband—if you really had one, that is—didn’t want you, so you’re trying to latch onto Cole, for what? Respectability? Love?” She chuckled, and the sharp edges of it scraped over Sydney’s skin. “As if he could truly want you. He’s a respectable attorney, a good family man, the mayor, for God’s sake. What could he possibly see in you? And if you weren’t so selfish, you would see that you’re harming him. People are talking about how you’re playing him for a fool by trying to make him a substitute father to your baby. Did you actually think your little stunt at the council meeting would give you an in with him? Make everyone else forget your sad little existence? Not going to work—”

“Sydney. Everything okay?” Cole appeared at her side, his voice reaching her from a distant, hollow tunnel.

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t drag in air past the pulsing agony that radiated from every pore, every organ in her body. Once more, each word dug deep, unearthing every one of her doubts, secret fears and insecurities.

A big palm settled on the small of her back, and she flinched, the touch like liquid fire through her clothes and against her skin. It possessed too much concern...too much pity, just as Jenna had so cruelly, accurately pointed out.

“Sydney,” he murmured.

“We’re fine, Cole,” Jenna assured him in a sugary-sweet voice. Yes, that was her. Saccharin and strychnine. “I was just making sure Sydney made it to the bathroom okay. You can’t be too careful. Especially in her condition.”

If Sydney wasn’t numb from the neck down, she would be in dire trouble of hurling.

“Sydney,” he repeated her name, and his voice vibrated through her. Sending fissures and cracks through the shield of ice that coated her. She suspected she would always respond to him. Like her own personal curse. “You good?” he asked again.

“Fine. I’m fine,” she replied, even tried to rummage up a smile, but failed. She barely managed to speak past her pain, her fury, her guilt. Smiling...well, that was beyond her. “If you’ll excuse me.”

She didn’t wait for either him or Jenna to respond, not that Jenna would try to stop her escape. Not when it left her alone with Cole.

Jealousy. It slithered through the toxic maelstrom of emotions that whirled inside her. Ridiculous. He wasn’t hers. Would never be hers. She had as much claim as Jenna. But on paper, Jenna made more sense than Sydney...

She glanced over her shoulder. Spied Cole’s tall frame dwarfing Jenna’s. Witnessed the spiteful redhead rest a hand on his chest, right over his heart. And the food Sydney had happily downed all day churned in her stomach, threatening to spike toward her throat.

Swallowing convulsively, she jerked her head back around and weaved a path through the crowd, laughter and chatter bouncing off her. Whereas only minutes ago, she’d felt a part of this gathering, this town and its people, now she was a stranger, wading through their midst, untouched. Unseen.

Unwanted.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, striding to the edge of the field and heading toward the parking lot. Logically, she understood Jenna didn’t speak for everyone in Rose Bend. The fact that she’d just spent all day with two wonderful women belied Jenna’s claim. But deep beneath bone and muscle, where her most secret vulnerabilities lurked—where the rejected and lonely little girl still existed—she believed it.

It didn’t matter if people were talking about her and Cole or not—that didn’t negate the truth. The upstanding, admired mayor didn’t belong with the black sheep, the woman who returned home pregnant, single and with her tail tucked between her legs. Didn’t matter if those were Sydney’s choices and she had her reasons for them. For the people here, it was all about perception. And the princess, the former mayor’s precious daughter, made for a glossier, prettier picture. No matter how much of a bitch she might be.

Stupid of Sydney to think she could start over. That people would let the past go.

That she could hope for more...for different.

“Sydney.” A firm hand cuffed her wrist, drawing her to a halt.

She didn’t need to look over her shoulder to see who had a hold of her. If that low, midnight-and-sex voice didn’t identify him, the sizzle and snap of her neurons and the heat pouring through her veins certainly did.

“What?” she asked, hating the waspish tone. Hating that she let any emotion filter through. She tugged at his grasp, and he released