“I just . . . I don’t know the protocols or what you want from me. What topics do I avoid? Who should I not talk to? Do you only want me to talk when people speak to me? Just tell me what you want!”
Caleb stepped forward then dragged her against him. His hold was tight, to the point of nearly suffocating her, but she melted into his touch.
“Caleb, you’ll wrinkle my dress. And my make-up will get all over your suit.”
“Shut up,” he told her. “Just. Shut. Up.”
Shock held her immobile.
“Hey, why are you telling her to shut up?” Wolfe growled. He tugged at her arm.
“I’m telling her to shut up because I can’t hear any more of that shit coming from her mouth without wanting to get on a plane, track down her father and ensure that the only food he takes in from now on is through a fucking straw.”
There were several beats of silence.
“That’s why she’s acting like this? Her father?” Wolfe asked.
“And her asshole husband I’m guessing,” Aleki said.
“They always demanded perfection. I’m guessing there were rules you had to follow when you were out in public? At engagements?” Caleb asked, rocking her slightly.
“Yes.”
“And what would happen if you messed up?” Aleki asked, moving up behind her. She turned her head so her cheek was resting against Caleb’s suit jacket. Her gaze was caught by Wolfe’s.
“They’d get angry. They’d yell. Throw things,” she whispered.
“We should just take her home,” Wolfe said. “Fuck this shit. It’s not like we enjoy it.”
“We can’t just leave,” Aleki argued.
“Why not? I don’t even like any of these people. She’s more important than any of them.”
Caleb stepped back slightly and grasped hold of her chin turning her face up so she had to look at him. “If this is too much, we can go home.”
Alarm filled her. Then she’d really be disappointing them. All these people were here
for them. For her.
“She’s shaking,” Wolfe spat out. “I don’t like it.”
“Wolfe,” Caleb said warningly, without moving his gaze from hers. “We can go home if you need to, jelly bean. But first listen to me, okay? Can you do that?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“None of us expects perfection. None of us wants perfection. Perfection is scary. It’s not real. Do you think that any of us are perfect? Do you not think that Wolfe is going to spend the night scowling at everyone and not talking? Or that Aleki won’t end up spilling food all down his front?”
“Or that Caleb won’t end up trying to dance and looking like a chicken pecking for food,” Aleki added.
Caleb gave Aleki an offended look. “I’m an excellent dancer.”
“You’re a shit dancer,” Wolfe told him.
She had to smile.
“Jelly bean, there is no way you could embarrass us. All we want tonight is for you to be yourself and have fun. But if you’re uncomfortable and want to leave, then we’ll head home now. Truth is, Wolfe is counting down the minutes until he can safely leave. He usually avoids these things like the plague.”
“If you don’t want to talk to anyone just stand by him,” Aleki told her with a wink. “Everyone gives him a wide berth.”