All Chapters of Forbidden Love Stories: Chapter 81 - Chapter 84

“Speaking of Christmas parties, I'm really looking forward to yours this year. This will be the first that I will arrive as Mrs. Mecchia. I can't wait to show off our matching ugly sweaters!” Candace gushes.“Honestly, I can't believe it's just weeks away. Thanksgiving just flew by. First, we had Marcus's birthday then his sister came to town for a surprise visit, and now here we are on this fabulous trip. No sooner when I get back, I'll go into full-time holiday mode. Hey did I tell you that this year we are going to have a scavenger hunt instead of the ugly sweaters?”“No, that sounds intriguing, do tell!” Melissa chirps.“Oh no. I'm not giving any surprises away. But I will expect you all to dress to kill this year.”“Spoken like a true fashion maven.” Andrea purrs.I look over and notice that Candace is pouting. I pat her hand and smile, “You can still wear your matching sweaters

“But why?” I protest, “If he's worth ending an eight-year relationship then he ought to be worth telling your best friend about!”“That's just it, I'm not sure if he is worth my leaving Ryan. Even though I don’t believe he was my soul-mate I wasn’t unhappy and neither was he. You know as well, that we truly did have a good thing going, but this other person sparks something in me that I can't really explain. And the sex is mind-boggling." After a slight pause, Amelia continues to say "Anyway, I know you have a million questions that you are going to put me through and you won't stop until I relent. Let me just set you straight now so we don’t have to go through all of that and end up in a wicked fight.”“Um, ok...” I said reluctantly.“So here it is...I have no intention of telling you about my new man...leave it alone. Okay?” She sounds almost chipper.I'm biting o

“Ryan! Amelia! It looks like the party has now arrived!” I say teasingly as I eye them both up and down.Amelia is wearing a champagne beaded dress with a deep neckline showing an ample amount of skin. Not to mention the hemline hits mid-thigh. Though she is barely in the foyer, she has managed to turn several admiring heads. Ryan looks dashing in a pale gray fitted suit with a darker gray pinstripe.Under the jacket, he's wearing a dark gray shirt and black skinny tie. His blonde hair has been tamed, slicked back Gatsby's style. Honestly, the two of them look like they bounced off the cover of a magazine tonight.“You sure clean up well.” I tease again. “Come in, get a drink. The food table is out back in the tent.”Strangely, Amelia only nods and smiles, I wonder just what has got her tongue. Ryan, on the other hand, spots a pal and saunters over to the bar where his friend is standing. Leaving Amelia and me by oursel

Looking in the mirror, I'm horrified by the person staring back at me. My eyes puffy coupled with dark circles, I look rough. I feel even worse.After applying a generous amount of eye cream to reduce the swelling and concealer. I finish by using far too much mascara and eyeliner attempting to create a sultry look to mask the tears. To my horror, I look like a Goth sister. Giving up, I throw my hair into a high ponytail and slip on a fitted black tracksuit.Much to my surprise, the house is perfectly clean. It's as if a cleaning crew came through overnight. Aside from a few catering items in the foyer that the caterer presumably will come back to pick up, everything is back to normal. I wish the rest of my life were that easy to clean up!The smell of coffee is wafting in the air. I follow my nose to the source in the kitchen where a freshly showered Marcus is standing at the stove just about to cook eggs. He looks up at me doing a double-take. His brow instantl