Free Outcast (Supernaturals Book 2) by Jennifer Reynolds

inappropriate things to me without others hearing them.
    As proven by Ryan’s behavior over the last two days, not everyone in Pine Hollow hated me, but enough did that the rest shied away from me for fear of the others. If there were more like Ryan who were willing to stick up for me, I might stand a chance of getting through this without crying or taking a swing at someone, but that was doubtful at this point.
    Taking a deep breath, I walked down the slight incline and skirted around to the back of the central area to watch from a secluded spot the cutting of the cake and all of the other things I had promised Danielle I would stay to witness. If anyone saw me, they ignored me and let me take up a spot between two large trees. I would have taken out my phone and checked my email or played Mahjong had I brought it with me. Instead, I people watched, doing my best not to catch anyone’s eye.
    Danielle only made me wait five minutes before showing up with Dave and Ryan in tow. The bright, happy smile plastered on Danielle’s face did not match the fire in her eyes. The stiff way everyone moved behind her told me that an argument had broken out after I left. My leaving had meant to stop any more fights from occurring. That didn’t appear to be the case.
    I love my sister more than anything in this world, but I couldn’t wait to disappear from her life so that she would have a happier one than she currently had. That was her wedding day. She should be happy, not biting back the urge to strangle someone.
    My eyes lingered on Ryan for only a second. He too looked furious but did nothing to hide it. He was also scanning the party with determination. A part of me hoped he was looking for me. I knew better, of course. Why would he be searching for me? I looked away from him and stepped back into the shadow of the trees before he spotted me staring at him.
    I watched as Danielle approached her coordinator, said something that took the woman by surprise, and then took a stance behind a long, beautifully decorated table with a three tiered wedding cake in the center of it and two smaller cakes to either side. The woman Danielle had spoken to disappeared behind a curtain that separated the tables of covered food from the catering staff behind it. Another woman handed Danielle a cordless microphone.
    “Attention everyone,” my sister said loudly into the mic, surprising most of the guests. “Can I have your attention, please? Since it is a little warm out here, I’m going to get things moving a bit. Dave and I are about to cut our cake, then we will eat. After we eat, I’ll throw my bouquet, Dave will pelt Ryan with my garter, and we will be off, leaving all of you to drink and dance to your hearts’ content.”
    A few people chuckled at the garter comment, but most looked around at one another in confusion. Dave and Daneille had meant for the reception to be a daylong celebration that the happy couple was supposed to attend until the very last moment. Danielle handed the microphone back to the lady and motioned for the photographer to step forward to get pictures. Other people gathered closer, blocking my view. I circled the perimeter of the party until I had a decent view of my sister.
    I hadn’t realized that in doing so, I’d brought myself closer to the group and into Ryan’s line of sight until I felt him step up beside me. He didn’t touch me, but I felt his presence surround me like a comforting blanket, and it took everything in me not to pull his arms around me.
    “You should be closer,” he said.
    “I should, but I’m not,” I replied.
    “Danielle would like for you to be a part of this.”
    “I’m a part of it. I’m here, aren’t I?”
    “You are, but does she know it?”
    “She knows I’m here. I promised I would be, and her senses are off the charts. She saw me, if she looked.”
    He chuckled at this, and we watched the couple cut into the largest cake, feed each other small bites, and pose