Wicked Weekend by Gillian Archer Read Free Book Online Page B

you grew up?”
    Lauren opened and closed her mouth, stumped for a response.
    “No one is faithful anymore. Pierce and I have agreed to have an open marriage. He can sleep with whoever he wants. And frankly, it’s really none of your business what Pierce and I do with our lives.”
    “But he accosted me on the slopes and suggested a threesome. You, me and him. How can you marry someone like that?”
    “Honey, he was just teasing you. Sure, he was probably serious about sleeping with you, but he knows I wouldn’t be interested in a threesome, especially with another woman. You need to get your head out of the clouds.” She rolled her eyes. “Happily-ever-after is an illusion. It’s time to start living like a grown-up.”
    Lauren had no response. There really weren’t any words. She watched silently as her sister continued to primp and apply her makeup. Crystal was serious. She had no problems with Pierce’s actions.
    Lauren tried to kick-start her brain. But the only thing she could think was that her sister was fine with her sleeping with Pierce. Why? How had it come to this? What had happened to her?
    “Ah, perfect.” Crystal turned from the mirror and walked across the room to collect her purse. “Are you ready for a fun night out?”
    The last thing she wanted to do tonight was spend more time with these people. She coughed at the cloud of perfume left in her sister’s wake. “Uh, I don’t think I’ll be coming tonight.”
    Crystal rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You do know Prince Charming doesn’t exist, right? You should really get your head out of those books and start living life.”
    Lauren pushed off the bed and stomped over to the door.
    “And just for your information,” Crystal said as Lauren pulled open the door. “I don’t care if you blab to Mommy. Maybe this’ll finally make her back off.”
    “I think you better ask one of your friends to play maid of honor at your wedding. I just…I can’t stand up for you two.”
    “You’re just jealous, Lauren. Jealous and immature.”
    “I’ve always lived by the different strokes for different folks adage. I don’t have to like whatever you’re into but I sure as hell don’t have to stand next to you while you marry the bastard. Call me old-fashioned but sleeping with my sister’s fiancé is wrong in my book. What happened to the loyally possessive Crystal? The girl who stole boyfriends and kept them until she was done with them? You should ask yourself why you’ve decided this is okay.”
    “Like I said, grow up. I have.” Crystal smirked.
    “Yeah, I guess I should,” Lauren said softly. “Take care of yourself, Crystal.” She pulled the door closed behind her as she left.
    Walking down the hallway, Lauren’s eyes filled with tears. Even though they hadn’t gotten along most of their lives, she now felt like she had lost her sister forever. Her heart weighed heavier in her chest now than when she’d sat on her sister’s bed afraid to tell her the news. More than anything, she wished her sister had chosen a different path, a different man. And a large part of her felt guilty at her relief that she’d never dated Pierce.
    She thought she knew Crystal. Knew who her baby sister was. Obviously, she didn’t. It wasn’t so much that Crystal and Pierce, the perfect golden couple, had turned out to be kinky. Lord knew she couldn’t be one to judge a person on that front. But how could Crystal settle for a relationship where her own fiancé hit on her sister? Behind her back. And who else would he try to hit on in the future? She shuddered. She didn’t even know who these people were. They lived behind a façade.
    Unlike Jamie. A total stranger only twenty-four hours ago was the most open and honest person she had ever met. He didn’t hide his true self. He left it out there in the open for everyone to see. And the time she spent with him. She shivered at the memory. They had done things a lot of people would think depraved. And