THE CONTROL: An Arranged Marriage Romance by Elena Monroe (ebook reader android .txt) 📕

Everyone looked like themselves and was acting like themselves, except for Bowen. He was standing next to the piano, holding his handle of Henny, and dancing in a dysthymic way while the robe fell open to show his briefs underneath.

There wasn’t even any music playing until Khaos found his way to the sound bar perched on the mantle and started playing the rap he enjoyed so much. I couldn’t rip my eyes from Bowen who seemed obliterated; I was probably the only one who knew how much he didn’t want to get married.

This was what he called doomsday, ground zero, point of impact.

Sitting down next to Abigail, I forced Jus across from me, trying to give our bodies time to recover from her intoxicating me with her pussy powers.

Everything about being here felt like the start of some fucked up horror movie. Something was building up, and it was the part in the movie where the weird guy at the gas station is really a deranged kind of warning you should take.

For the record, my money is on Eve with an axe in the library I know.

I kept looking at Jus, poking her to say something to fill the air that was buzzing with chatter that we weren’t apart of. Everyone found a rhythm when I scanned the room: Abigail’s hand slowly torturing Grimm’s thigh, Khaos laying on the chaise with his eyes glued to Grace, the margarita shaker and music filling the background, and there’s us… too accustomed to truths to ignore them.

Jus kept shaking her head no when she finally sighed, picking up the bottle of Vodka on the table and pouring it over all the shot glasses. Looking up at me with a discontent, she whispered, “I’m not drunk enough.”

Jus had never gotten bit when cornering a stray dog, but she did when Eve put her in her place in the elevator. It shook Justice up in ways I could see, she wasn’t faltering, but she sure wasn’t throwing her hat in the ring as Eve’s friend yet.

She’s slow to warm and dangerous when too hot.

Sitting back and laughing, Eve handed me a drink whispering in a low tone, “It’s not poisoned, don’t look so scared.”

Just to prove I wasn’t going to let some girl from my past make me walk on eggshells, I downed the entire drink in one gulp while maintaining eye contact.

She knew our flaws, and she was testing mine.

Abigail, bless her soul, was making conversation about the wedding. One she was robbed of but somehow, I couldn’t detect any jealousy. Even if they had the chance to redo things, I couldn’t see them putting on a show.

“Did you collect all the trinkets? Something blue, borrowed, new, and old?”

Eve sat down next to Jus with a smirk, making me uncomfortable even though my girl had fangs. “Bowey gave me my something blue.” Her eyes found Bowen who was still dancing before she continued, “His mom, CeCe, gave me something old. Her veil. I’m still searching for new and borrowed.”

Grace nudged her elbow, finding Eve’s frail frame. “I’m something new.”

Witnessing Grace less quiet and more friendly was off-putting. I liked her and Bowen quiet enough to wonder if they were plotting against me.

Looking up through my lashes, I found Bowen again. The rest of the night was going to consist of me constantly checking to make sure he stays alive. Stealing a shot off the table, he shot it back with a howl.

Great, now he’s mixing liquors.

When I looked up, I found Eve watching him the same way I was, only she wasn’t stopping him. She was enjoying the antics and it rubbed me the wrong way, violently wrong.

Khaos threw a paper plane at me, jarring my attention. “It’s not her fault. Stand down soldier. You know he’s a drinker.”

“Functioning alcoholic. Not a drunk.” I crumpled his paper plane in my fist and let it drop to the floor all balled up.

Standing up, I wrapped my fingers around the nearly empty bottle, trying to find the Bowen I knew hidden under the influence. “Okay, that’s enough, Bo.”

Wrapping his arms around my neck, he actually hugged me, and my body went stiff trying to recognize the action I’ve never shared with him even though he was my best friend.

Patting his back, I waited for it to be over when his lips pressed against mine in a fleeting kiss.

That action confirmed a lot of questions I had rolling around my head about his sexuality. Not enough confirmation, but enough to know Bo is fluid or something.

None of us had seen him with anyone, girl or guy, and it made marrying Eve seem left field. I didn’t like unforeseen circumstances. I didn’t know her well enough to calculate her up to pros and cons.

Did she keep in touch?

Did she realize how damaged he considered himself?

Did she plan on surviving him?

My eyebrows dipped, trying to absorb the kiss still lingering on my lips. “Okay, buddy, I’m gonna ignore that… forever. Let’s get you to bed.” I was practically holding his entire bodyweight up when the threat of his fun being over was an adrenaline shot. He walked over to the piano, pushing his powder blue, very feminine robe back and sat down at the bench.

“First a song, then we dine!” He mentioned food, and all I could think was how I had never even seen him eat anything edible. Once in a while he’ll chew gum between cigarettes and joints, but no real food.

Why was it taking Eve being here for me to see the real Bo?

Why was her light so harsh and why didn’t I realize my best friend was barely alive?

Eve sauntered over to Bo, dragging her hand across my