Colliding With My Mate(Book #2)

Chapter 12

*Cara's Pov*

"Does this happen a lot between mates? The fighting?" Nathalia asked as she curled my hair. I decided that I was going to get even with my mate by looking stunning tonight. If I was successful then he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off of me. She had proven to be a talented hair and makeup stylish. If she lived in the States this would be her profession, but since she lived here she could never follow these dreams.

"I don't know Nathalia, do your parents fight?" I asked sarcastically.

"I don't know Cara, I hardly see them." She cast her blonde head downwards. Immediately I felt like a tremendous villain. Damn Reid for making me act like this.

"I'm sorry." I took a deep breath and let it out. Fact of the matter is, I wanted Reid to defend me and he didn't. I wanted one solid year of being with my mate before we were separated. We never had that. We've come close but we've never successfully gotten over the mark. I just got over my depression and he was advocating that I leave him again. I wouldn't mind spending time with my parents but not now, not when he and I were just getting back into the groove of our relationship.

Smith knocked on the door and I had to leave for dinner. I was not excited because I had to sit across from my mate after the fight. Would we pretend everything was normal in front of my parents? No... Reid wouldn't do that. Reid wasn't the type to pretend that things were ok when they clearly weren't.

This was bound to be one awkward dinner. One thing was for certain, I made sure I was wearing a dress that Reid had seen me in before and that he loved. It dark burgundy dress that cut off at my ankles. My hair was down and styled in big waves. Nathalia also went heavy on my makeup and gave me a gorgeous bronze smoky eye that made my blue eyes pop. I hoped Reid wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off me when I walked into the room. I wanted him to see what he was missing by asking me to stay.

I walked besides Smith and was led into the dining room. My father's eyes shone brightly and my dad looked at me and smiled wide. Reid stared at me with little interest before his attention was flickered somewhere else. I held my head high as I made my way over to him.

Reid stood up and pulled my chair out for me.He did so mechanically and without emotion. Our shoulders brushed each other briefly and he turned away. That would be the only touch we would show each other tonight. Who knows what my father must have been thinking? We didn't look like mates in this moment. There were no smiles, secret glances, all the things we did the first night at dinner. Reid looked like one would suspect; just an Alpha returning a lost daughter to their parents.

Why did we have to get in a fight? This would have been the moment to finally show him off to my parents. A chance to proudly call him my mate and fiancé. Now it were clear to all those intently watching our actions  that some disagreement had happened between us.

"Thank you Reid." I avoided looking at him and instead averted my attention to my dad. He looked between me and Reid and then shook his head disappointedly.

"A fight seriously? It's only been a day." My dad mind linked me. I ignored him and focused on my parents. I held eye contact with my mother and smiled before she looked away. Why was she like this? Only my father made effort to get to know me. Was she being coerced into being here?

There was not much conversation this time. In fact it seemed pretty tense all around. My father was left to make small talk.

"Did you know Mike, Cara might stay here for a few months?" He asked my dad. There was something in his voice, was it pride or gloating?