“This is my family’s home and she was an invited guest. She has every right,” he said, his face radiating his disgust.
“What’s taking you guys so long in here? Is everything all right?” Rafferty suddenly appeared in the doorway with Shayla trailing behind him. Thick tension hung in the air. It felt as if something was about to explode.
**
Pamela ran toward her fiancé and burrowed her face against his chest. “Oh, Rafferty,” she said with a sob. “Take me home! I can’t believe my own cousin is trying to turn your best friend against me.”
Rafferty patted Pamela’s back. His face was creased with worry lines. “No, Pamela. That can’t be true. Faith wouldn’t do that.” When Rafferty s
wung his gaze up to meet Micah’s, there was uncertainty looming in his eyes. “Whatever happened I’m sure it was a mistake,” Rafferty said, placing his arm protectively around Pamela.
Micah felt himself on the verge of exploding. How much was Rafferty going to let his fiancée get away with? He refused to believe Rafferty didn’t have some inkling about Pamela’s true nature. He bunched his fists at his side. He couldn’t stand the way Faith had been treated. He’d seen the shock and hurt on her face and it made him want to lash out at his best friend for being duped by his fiancée.
“I heard some really cruel mean girl comments. It’s not a mistake when you try to belittle someone. You know that, Raff.” He quirked his mouth. “Or at least you used to.”
Rafferty bristled. Micah didn’t regret what he’d just said, but he wished their moment could have been a private one. In all these years of friendship the two had never had such a public dispute. Any time there had been beef between them they had settled it almost instantly. This time, Micah predicted, it wouldn’t be so easy to fix.
Rafferty shoved his hand through his hair. “This has been brewing for a while now hasn’t it?” His mouth hardened. “You’ve been dying to say something about Pamela the whole time we’ve been together, haven’t you?”
Micah held up his hand. “This isn’t the time or the place to discuss this.”
Pamela began to sniffle from the protection of Rafferty’s arm. “I’ve tried so hard to be accepted by everyone.”
Shayla looked as if she might take matters into her own hands and confront Pamela. The look etched on her face was one of pure fury. He didn’t want her to draw Rafferty’s ire. It was clear whose side Rafferty would be on and he couldn’t risk his sister being hurt.
“I think it’s time we headed out.” Rafferty’s tone was curt.
“It’s not Micah’s fault,” Pamela said with a pout. “It’s her. She’s always been jealous of me.”
Shayla let out an indelicate snort. Micah shot her a warning look. He really didn’t want his sister to get involved in this situation. But he could tell she wasn’t about to let Pamela’s comment go by without addressing it. Stubborn Shayla.
“Jealous? Of what?” Shayla asked in a raised voice. “Faith has absolutely nothing to be envious over.”
Pamela opened her mouth to respond, but she looked over at Rafferty and closed her mouth. Right then and there Micah knew she was putting on a big act for Rafferty. She wanted him to think she was sweetness and light and everything nice. By this point, Micah was pretty disgusted with the whole routine.
“Don’t waste your breath, Shayla,” Faith said. “It’s not worth it.” Her expression was mutinous which made Micah want to grin despite the tense situation they found themselves in. He was happy to see Faith showing pluck and grit. She wasn’t bowing down to Pamela’s mean girl routine.
Without another word, Rafferty led Pamela down the hallway and out of the house, closing the door with a bang. Micah winced. Rafferty wasn’t the type to get ruffled or to allow anger to color his actions. He’d just left the house incensed.
Faith was standing beside him biting her lip. “I’m sorry. I feel like my family dysfunction crept into your wonderful day. I hate that you and Rafferty are at odds.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” he answered. “I heard the things Pamela said to you. I’ve always had my suspicions about her, but this is way beyond anything I imagined.” He shook his head. “She was completely foul to you, Faith. I’m so sorry you had to be treated that way.”
Faith wrapped her arms around her middle. “Sadly, I’m used to it. She’s been doing it our whole lives. I haven’t spent a lot of time around her lately, so I was hoping she’d changed.” She let out a hollow laugh. “She did ask me to be her bridesmaid, which is fairly bizarre.”
“Why do you think she did that?” Shayla asked.
Faith shrugged. “Because she’s not really close to many people and there really isn’t much family to speak of. Her parents and brother are overseas and I don’t think they’re very close. I’m fairly certain she only asked me so she could show Rafferty she has family ties.”
“What set her off?” Micah asked. “Do you have any idea?”
Faith ran her fingers over the scars on her arm. “These. She thinks my scars are disgusting and she’s not used to seeing me wearing anything sleeveless.”
“Ugh. That’s terrible!” Shayla said in a raised voice. She slammed her hand down on the table. “What nerve!”
“Easy there,” Micah cautioned.
“I should probably go home,” Faith said, shifting from one foot to the other. “I feel badly about everything. It’s so embarrassing.”