Crescendo

Chapter 28

Stella walked down the stairs, her expression tight as she greeted us.

Daniel frowned. "What are you doing here?"

She laughed, waving him off as if it were a silly question. "Oh, you know how it is," she said. "Some of your family wondered if I was in the area, and I thought, why not stop by?" Her explanation explained next to nothing and certainly wasn't satisfying. My stomach flipped at the sight of her, threatening me with upchucking my breakfast before I had the chance to act like Daniel's lover.

She turned her attention to me. "But I didn't realize you'd be invited."

My lips formed a line, but then I said, "Yeah, I am his girlfriend."

"Right," Stella said, indignation flickering on her tongue. "Of course. But I've known his family since we were practically children, so I'll be joining you."

I narrowed my eyes, and Daniel grabbed my hand before I could tell her to fuck off into the sun. He squeezed it, distracting my plan to tear out her throat. "I'd prefer if you weren't," he said, in an unexpected act of defiance.

Stella laughed cooly as if he was unclear. "You're kicking me out?"

Daniel opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly, his father was back and interrupting. "What am I overhearing? Daniel, tell me you're not being rude to our guest."

"Your guest?" Daniel's eyes darkened. "Why would you invite my ex-girlfriend to a family party?"

"Well, you were with her for years," his dad's reasoning left me more bewildered than before he opened his mouth. And I was beginning to see the reasons behind Daniel's contempt. "I didn't know inviting her would be a crime."

My boyfriend scoffed. "In front of my new girl? Like hell, you didn't. This is the exact type of thing that I was worried about."

"Danny." Stella placed her claws on his chest. Okay, now I really want to kill her. "Don't be like that."

He jerked away. "What are you playing at?" At first, I thought he was accusing Stella of something sinister, but when I followed his eyes, they were fixated on his father.

We stood in the entryway, blocking the door, and before we could hear an explanation or a villain monologue, a woman traipsed into the foyer, already talking. "Dave, what—oh, Danny, I didn't know you were here. And this must be your girlfriend."

Stella rolled her eyes.

I smiled politely. "My name's Blair."

"I've read all about you," she said, and heat rushed to my face. Has everyone seen the magazine article? "My daughter loved your book."

"Really?" I asked. The surprise of people reading my work had never worn off, although it probably should've.

"Yeah, she's your biggest fan, but I'm sure she'll tell you all about it over lunch. "Are you guys hungry? I have plates for you in the kitchen."

I glanced at Daniel, wondering if he'd storm out and leave. But he didn't. Instead, he nodded. "Yeah, that'd be lovely. Thanks, Aunt Margaret."

Can't argue with that. Although I would rather scratch my eyes out than eat a meal with Stella across the table, I made a deal with Daniel, and I promised to honor it. Even though he had conveniently forgotten to mention conniving in-laws and spiteful exes.

We followed her, leaving Stella and Daniel's dad in our wake. They didn't seem to mind too much, actually. I caught them whispering in each other's ears as I glanced over my shoulder. A match made in heaven, I thought. My first impression of Daniel's father was faulty, I decided, as was my hatred of Daniel when he showed up at my school.