Free Eruption (The Hunted Series Book 3) by Ivy Smoak Page B

come on, I'll introduce you
to everyone."
    ***
    It was just a blur of faces and names. I gave up trying to
remember who everyone was. It seemed like hours before I felt James' hand on my
waist.
    "Let's go. I've already made our excuses," he said.
    "But I haven't even met your parents yet."
    "And you're not going to. Let's go. Now."
    I wasn't sure I had ever seen him this upset. All I wanted to
do was grab his hand and run out of there. But Rob's advice was stuck in my
head. I didn't want his parents to think they could scare me away. I wasn't
going anywhere. "Our friends are coming any minute. We can't leave
now."
    "Oh, there you are, James," Jen said. The smile on
her face instantly disappeared. "What's wrong?"
    "Did you know Isabella was going to be here?" James
said in a stern voice.
    "Don't snap at her." I put my hand on his chest.
"This isn't her fault."
    "Is she really?" Jen asked. Her voice sounded
small.
    "Dad said you're the one that convinced them to throw
this thing. You must have known. You set us up."
    "Of course I didn't," Jen said. She sounded like
her normal self again. "You know I wouldn't do that."
    James ran his hand through his hair. "Please let me get
you out of here, Penny." There was so much pain in his eyes. And it killed
me.
    "I have to meet them." I put my glass in his hand.
"Hold this for me, please."
    I started to walk away before he had time to react.
    "Penny!" he hissed.
    I ignored him and walked over to the archway. His parents had
just entered the room with Isabella in tow. She smiled as I approached. She
probably thought that I was about to embarrass myself, but she was dead wrong.
I went straight up to them and smiled. "Hi, you must be Mr. and Mrs.
Hunter. I'm Penny Taylor, your son's fiancée. I'm so sorry that it took us this
long to meet. We had such conflicting schedules." I gave them as genuine
of a smile as I could. "But I'm glad we finally get a chance to meet now,
before the wedding. And thank you so much for throwing this wonderful party to
celebrate our engagement. It's been quite lovely. Your whole family has been so
kind."
    James' mother raised her left eyebrow. The expression
reminded me of one that James made so often. Maybe the two of them had some
similarities after all.
    Isabella made a weird noise with her throat, clearly
disapproving of what I had just said.
    "Oh, and Isabella, it's so nice to see you again. I
wasn't sure I would get the pleasure. I'm so glad you could make it."
    "Unfortunately we can't stay," James said and
wrapped his arm firmly around my waist, almost making me jump. "Something
has come up and we really must go."
    "Don't be ridiculous, James," Isabella said with a
huge smile. "The party has only just begun. Let me get you a scotch.
That's your favorite, right?" Her voice was oozing with so much fake
sweetness that I wanted to throw up.
    "Not anymore, no." His grip tightened on my waist.
    "How about we go make a few phone calls?" I said
and smiled up at him. "I'm sure whatever urgent thing that has come up can
be handled by someone else. If you'll excuse us for just a moment." I
smiled politely at all three of them and grabbed James' arm.
    He followed me into the hallway. I stopped right past the
archway, but he grabbed my hand, pulling me farther down the hall.
    "James?"
    He didn't say anything, he just kept walking.
    "James, stop." I pulled my hand out of his grip.
    "We're going. Now."
    "We're not going anywhere. Your parents threw us this
party and I'm not going to make a bad first impression by leaving early."
    "You're joking right? They invited..."
    "No. I'm not joking. Would you calm down for one
second?"
    He lowered his eyebrows.
    "If I'm going to be a part of this family, then I need
to learn how to deal with them. And if that means I have to be civil around Isabella
too, so be it."
    "I'm not asking you to do that."
    "I know that you're not asking. I'm offering."
    "And I'm rejecting your offer. I don't want to be here.
I'm never stepping foot in