Everything I've Never Had by Lynetta Halat Read Free Book Online Page A

have three, you know? Which one has the pleasure of your acquaintance, Mr. McKinnon?” Oh my gosh! I can hear the flirty tone of my voice, but I can't seem to help myself. He’s charming. I chance a glance and see that Adrian is a few feet away from me and is frowning at me.
    “Please call me Bradford,” he insists. “I'm a friend of Louis's.”
    “Oh, the cheeky brother,” I tell him and grin.
    He throws his head back in laughter, “He doesn't quite seem to fit the mold, does he?”
    “No, definitely not,” I agree.
    We both feel Adrian breathing down on us at this point, which causes us to turn and take in his look of extreme displeasure. Awkwardness pervades the atmosphere.
    To try to make things less uncomfortable, I introduce Bradford and Adrian to one another. Unfortunately, it doesn't help; in fact, it seems to make things worse. I can feel waves of anger radiating from Adrian.
    With a raised brow at Adrian, Bradford relieves us from what has gone from awkward to downright hostile. He turns back to me with a grin. “Well, Celeste, I enjoyed meeting you. Perhaps you’ll save a dance for me later.”
    “It would be my pleasure, Bradford,” I reply. I can't focus on him completely, though, because Adrian is making somewhat of a spectacle of himself. He's shoved his hands in his pockets and is rocking back and forth on his heels, staring up at the ceiling, and pushing his breath out in a perturbed manner. I quickly avert my gaze and watch as Bradford makes his way into the main room with my eyes following him.
    I'm a little nervous about looking back at Adrian and the better version of me, especially since I’ve finally admitted to myself what I truly feel. Will he see my love for him written all over me? And what the hell am I supposed to do about it? Finally, I turn back to find him towering over me and staring me down.
    “Adrian, are you going to introduce me to your date?” I ask sweetly when what I really want to do is strangle him for putting me through all of these conflicting emotions.
    “Um...yeah.” He glances at his date as if he's just remembered she's standing there.
    “Jennifer, Celeste Hebert, my cousin.” I raise my eyebrows at him. He's never introduced me as his cousin but his friend—always his friend. Lovely how that little related-by-marriage fact works when it’s convenient for him! “Celeste, Jennifer Wilde, my girlfriend,” he mutters petulantly. Both Jennifer's eyes and mine shoot toward his as he gives Jennifer a grimacing smile. My eyes shift toward her face as envy rages with disbelief. She's even more beautiful now with a face-splitting smile. Great!
    We make a little small talk before they make their way into the throng. I sneakily steal as many glances as I can as they make their way around the room. She never takes her hand from his arm and every time his hand moves to the small of her back I feel a biting pain infiltrate my heart.
    Finally, my greeting duties subside and I make my way into the main ballroom of my absolute favorite hotel in New Orleans. Old World chandeliers meet with New World flair. The music is elegant. The food is decadent. The champagne is overflowing. Yet, my eyes constantly seek out Adrian.
    Elegantly gliding her across the floor, Adrian looks amazing as he stares down at his date; but as soon as his eyes meet mine, he glowers at me. So I glower back. Why is he upset with me? He's the one who showed up here with a freakin' girlfriend! No heads up, no warning, nothing.
    Spinning on my heel, I decide to put a little distance between Adrian and me. Plucking two glasses of champagne off a waiter's tray, I make my way to one of the anterooms that doesn't contain a crowd and move even further away by sliding through the French doors to the balcony.
     

 

     
     

     
     
    QUICKLY DOWNING BOTH glasses of my champagne, I immediately feel a little rush. A running joke in my family is that I'm a lightweight: one glass of wine and I'm giggly. Not