Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law
Chapter 47: Gold Star

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Gold Star

My first instinct was to step in front of the window to block Michelle’s view so that she couldn’t see what had made me have such a strong reaction.

But that would be even more suspicious, so I shuffled over, allowing Michelle to see.

The younger girl looked curiously out the window. When she spied her sister and future brother-in-law locked in a passionate embrace, she leaped back.

“Ew!” she said with disgust. “If they are going to attempt to suck each other’s faces off, they should at least have the decency to get a room.”

I smirked and nodded in agreement, her joke making my body less tense and my fists unclench. But my heart still ached, and I couldn’t get the image of Isabella and Elliot kissing out of my head.

“People in love are disgusting. I’m never falling in love,” she added, sitting back down at her desk.

“You might feel differently when you’re older,” I said, turning away from the window and firmly shutting Michelle’s white curtains to block the happy couple from my line of sight.

Michelle rolled her eyes and got back to work. She finished her practice problems in record time.

“Wow, you’ve been a great student today. I’m on the clock for another thirty minutes. Maybe I should give you a gold star,” I joked.

Michelle rolled her eyes at me again, but I noticed the small, proud smile that crossed her face.

“Can we go back outside to start practicing with axes? My test next week covers those too. I tried to pick one up before you got here. I never knew how heavy those things were!” Her eyes widened.

Her shocked expression made me chuckle. “They are pretty heavy. But you’ll get used to them. Just like you did with your sword.”

I grabbed my backpack, and we headed outside again. The sun was shining as we stepped onto the grass of the backyard and walked to the weapons rack.

But I stopped short when I saw Elliot and Isabella sitting on a red and white checkered blanket about twenty feet away from us, under the shade of a maple tree. Elliot had his arm wrapped around Isabella and was kissing the side of her head. They were holding glasses of bubbling champagne, and Elliot reached into the bowl sitting between them and pulled out a strawberry to feed to her. After Isabella ate her strawberry, she fed one to Elliot, all while staring lovingly into his eyes. The slowly descending sun highlighted her long, shiny hair and her peach-colored sundress.

My stomach twisted, and my mouth became dry.

Anyone who looked at these two would think that they were deeply in love. And Isabella did look genuinely head over heels in love with her fiancé. Her eyes were twinkling with happiness, and she couldn’t seem to keep the smile off her face. But I was pretty sure that Elliot was faking it.

Isabella put her head on his shoulder and stared at the sun. Elliot’s eyes cut to me, and a smirk flitted across his face for a moment, but then it was gone.

“Oh my Goddess, I thought they were going out for dinner!” Michelle complained with annoyance, crossing her arms and glaring at the two lovebirds. “Come on, Jasmine. We can practice on the other side of the yard, away from them.”

Michelle and I grabbed an axe. I tried to tune them out while I showed her the correct way to hold an axe, but our lesson kept being interrupted by loud kissing sounds and declarations of love.

Every time that they kissed, Michelle would make a disgusted face and stick a finger in her mouth to mime gagging.

“Now, you must have a good hold on your axe so it doesn’t go flying out of your hands,” I instructed her, trying to make my voice louder than the obnoxious kissing noises from across the lawn. “But you don’t want to grip it too tightly because—”

A loud giggling interrupted me. I couldn’t help but look. Elliot was tickling Isabella, and she was letting out high-pitched laughter and playfully batting at him. I gritted my teeth. Of course I didn’t blame Isabella for their annoying PDA. When you were in love, sometimes you got wrapped up in your own little world.

Michelle let out a loud, frustrated huff and threw her axe to the ground. The cutting edge impressively landed in the grass. She strode across the yard toward the happy couple, her fists balled in rage.

This could escalate fast.

I ran after her, hoping that I could defuse the situation.

“You guys need to move this party elsewhere,” Michelle demanded with her hands on her hips, glaring at her sister. “Your PDA is disgusting.”

Isabella jumped to her feet, her face growing crimson.

“We were here first! You’re going to have to get used to having Elliot around. We’re about to get married, and married couples kiss, Michelle.”

“You’re the one who hired me a tutor! How is she supposed to teach me when my sister is playing tonsil hockey five feet away from us?” Michelle retorted.

The sisters glared at each other.

“Elliot’s staying for dinner.” Isabella completely ignored the good point her sister had just made. “Don’t make any stupid comments in front of Dad.”

Then she sat back down and snuggled up to Elliot, but shot me an apologetic look.

Michelle scowled at her sister, grabbed my hand, and dragged me back to the other side of the yard.

“Can you please stay for dinner like yesterday?” she begged me. “If I have to deal with their PDA alone, I’ll end up throwing up all over the table.”

Her green eyes were pleading with me, but I couldn’t sit through a whole dinner with my ex-mate and his new fiancée. I wasn’t a masochist.

“I’m sorry, I can’t today. I have to get home soon.”

Michelle’s face fell, and guilt flowed through me. Normally, I would explain more and tell her about my mom’s fragile condition, but I knew that Elliot was probably listening in on our conversation. I didn’t want to give him more information to use against me.

“I’m sorry, Michelle, but I’ll be here tomorrow,” I promised.

“Fine, but you owe me for having to face those two alone.” She hitched her thumb toward Elliot and her sister. “I’m going to shower. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With one more glare thrown at the happy couple, she went inside.

Great. Now I was alone with them.

I grabbed the axe Michelle had thrown to the ground and put it back on the rack.

“I can walk you out,” Isabella offered as she untangled herself from Elliot and stood. “I need to check on dinner in the kitchen anyway.” Her expression was still apologetic, and she probably wanted to apologize for interrupting my lesson.

Even though I wasn’t mad at her, I still needed my space from her right now.

“That’s okay, I know the way.” I gave her a small smile.

“Will you come with me to check on dinner, Elliot?” Isabella turned around to look at him.

Elliot stood from the blanket and brushed off his pants. “Sorry, babe,” he said and kissed her on the top of her head. “I have some important phone calls to make before dinner.”

Isabella’s face fell, but she squeezed his hand and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re so busy. But it makes me happy that I’m with someone so driven.” Then, she turned to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jasmine.”

I said goodbye, and she walked into the house.

Then, it was just Elliot and I left in the yard.

Quickly, I spun around, wanting to make a quick exit, but a strong hand grabbed my arm.

My stomach sank with dread.

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