She laughed as we walked out the back of the house onto a large balcony that overlooked a large frozen lake. "You how Mom is."
"Yes, and I'm glad that her meddling worked out where you and Bart are concerned, but I-"
"Val, I don't love him." She glanced over at me as her big blue eyes filled with tears.
My heart broke in my chest as I reached for her. "Then why are you going through with this?"
"Because I have no choice." She choked on a soft sob. "I keep thinking it's going to be okay, and he really is a great guy, but I just would rather be friends. There's no passion between us. No heat."
"Oh. Wow." I hugged her tightly and moved back as someone coughed behind us.
Bart.
"You pretty girls ready? My cousin is almost here." He gave us a warm smile, and I could see why Allison liked him, but if she wasn't in love...
"Yeah, we'll meet you out front. We're just having a sister pow-wow." I offered him a smile in return and waited until he left to give my sister my full attention. "You need to tell him, Allison. Maybe he's not in love, either."
"No, he is." She wiped at her tears angrily. "I know you think I've always had it so easy, but I haven't. Mom and Dad are no different with me than they are with you. I just comply because I hate strife more than anything else. I just want them to love me for being me, but they don't."
"I get that." I reached up and wiped a tear off of her cheek. "You can't go through with this."
"I have to. My whole future rides on wrapping up this last promise to them. They want me married to Bart. His family is powerful and they own half the oil fields in Texas." She rolled her eyes. "It’s complicated."
"Do you have any debt?" I ran my hands over her shoulders and squeezed softly.
"What? No, of course not." She shook her head. "I just don't want to walk out of here with nothing. I mean, like...nothing."
"You can't live like this. Marriage is forever." I moved back and tugged at the sleeve of my blue ball gown. "I feel like a frumpy Cinderella in this thing."
"You look like one. Your tits are way too big for that." She rolled her eyes and walked with me back into the house. "Mom picked them out. Ugh."
"Oh, great. You get to look like a princess and I'm stuck looking like a swollen blueberry."
"Stop it." She laughed and shook her head. "Please don't worry about me. I'll be okay. Bart's a good man."
"This conversation isn't over, Allison." I turned as we approached Bart and another guy who was a little bit bigger than him. His voice was a little too familiar. Kade Jones.
His eyes widened as he saw me. "No freaking way."
I laughed and walked toward him. "Please don't tell me that you're my blind date."
He pulled me into a hug and chuckled. "It would seem so. I guess our parents aren't too horrible from time to time."
"Wait. You guys know
each other?" Bart asked as he wrapped an arm around my sister's shoulders.
"Yeah. He's the TA for one of my classes, and we've been to a few parties together." I looked up at him, realizing how incredibly handsome he was. My mom had done well this time. Too bad I was taken.
"I've been trying to get this girl's attention for a month now. She keeps trying to set me up with her damn friends," Kade laughed again and let out a long sigh. "I feel much better knowing it's you, Val. Let's get this show on the road."
Worry rushed through me as we followed my sister and her fiancé out. I reached for Kade's arm and pulled him to a stop.
"Hey. I'm with Tate. You know that, right?” I released him and took a step back. "We're just friends, me and you."
"And, I can't twist your arm for anything more?" He reached out and touched my face. "I have a lot to offer, Valentine. I think you know that."
"I know you do, but I have all that I need." I moved past him and tucked my arm into his. "Now we just need to find the right woman for you."