SHUDDERVILLE by Mia Zabrisky Read Free Book Online Page A

clichés: the bride was radiant; the young ring-bearer had burst into tears; a blushing cousin caught the bouquet.
    Now Sophie spotted a hunched-over figure, a little old man leaning against a cane, and experienced a familiar hot electric feeling. She clasped her hands together in her lap to keep them from shaking. Cassie had invited Mandelbaum and Ryan to the reception—she’d invited everyone she knew. But Sophie didn’t mind. She was formulating a plan. A scheme. She was going to trick Mandelbaum into giving her what she wanted. After all, he had tricked her. Hadn’t he? The trap was set. Now all she had to do was to get Cassie to go along with the plan.
    “I like this song.” Shelby tapped his fingers on the table. It was one of those harmless renditions of an old hard rock tune that used to mean something dangerous. “Don’t you think it’s rather warm in here?”
    “Stuffy,” she agreed.
    A waiter came over to fill their champagne glasses, but Sophie cupped her hand over hers. “None for me, thanks.” She was being very good. She had to be good. She could not fail. She looked across the reception hall again, but Ryan and Mandelbaum had disappeared into the crowd.
    “Would you like to dance?” Shelby asked in his most casual voice.
    “I’ll pass.”
    “Party poop.”
    “Oh, like that’s going to make me change my mind.”
    “Why don’t you want to dance with me?”
    “Let’s just say it’s not my pre-determination.”
    Cassie and Billy floated over to their table. Cassie’s face was flushed, and she wore acres of white satin. She clutched Sophie’s hand and said, “Dance with Billy?”
    Sophie wrapped her arms around Billy’s thick neck. He was a clumsy dancer. His clothes were warm and damp, and he kept sighing against her. “Are you okay?” she finally asked.
    “I can’t wait until this whole thing’s over with.”
    “Cassie looks happy.”
    “Her feet are killing her.”
    “You keep sighing, Billy. What’s wrong?”
    “She invited that Ryan guy. It pisses me off.”
    Sophie drew back. “You know about Ryan?”
    “I know enough to be pissed off about it. Why? What else should I know?”
    Just then, the bride came floating over and grabbed Sophie’s hand. “Come with me to the little girl’s room?”
    The bathroom was overly bright. Cassie lit a cigarette and kicked off her heels. “Christ, my feet are killing me.”
    “You look great.”
    “You think?”
    “Radiant.”
    “Kiss my ass.” Cassie laughed. “So what do you think of Shelby?”
    “You mean the snotty, metro-sexual, attention-seeking octopus?”
    Cassie laughed. “God, Sophie, you’re way too picky. When are you going to start dating again? Billy’s got lots of friends, and they’re not all marine life.”
    “I’m not ready yet.”
    “Your vagina really is going to shrink if you’re not careful. I mean, God... when was the last time?”
    “Who cares?”
    “You need a life, Sophie. I’m sick of you moping around all the time.”
    “I don’t mope. I have a life. I’m trying to get Jayla back.”
    Cassie softened. “Of course, sweetie. I know that. But dating a guy like Shelby couldn’t hurt. As a matter of fact, it might help. I mean, he is Yale Law.”
    Sophie sighed.
    “What?”
    She broke down and covered her face with her hands.
    “Oh please don’t cry. You’ll only get me started.”
    “I told you what happened.”
    “I know.”
    “I told you what happened with Ryan and Mandelbaum,” she wept.
    “Do we have to go over that again? It was a very bad time in your life.”
    “You don’t believe me, do you?”
    “Look, I’m sorry I invited them to the reception. I just thought... I don’t know what I was thinking. Have you seen Ryan, by the way? Still stumbling over his own erection, I see.” She laughed.
    Sorrow and fear surfaced. All the rottenness of the past came flying back at her. “I made a mistake and I got crucified for it,” she sobbed.
    “Now Sophie. Look. I’m