Show Me How (22 page)

The thought of her stressed me out until I had a headache. Talking about her frustrated me to no end, and usually left me shaking. Being in her presence had me in a constant state of fake smiles, clenched teeth, and hot blood pounding through my veins.

I hated who she was turning me into, and I wanted to hate her. Instead I felt sorry for all the reasons that led to her feeling like she needed to do this to me.

“Rorie, what are we going to do with you? Bless your heart, you don't even know how to bake. Sweet girl, that looked alien.” Linda tossed the used spoon on the counter and walked over to grab a casserole dish from the other side of the kitchen. “Well, it's a good thing I was prepared.” She placed hers beside mine, and opened it with a wide smile directed at me, and then the other people in the kitchen.

Of course she had made the dessert, too.
Of course.
Because it couldn't be that easy with Linda, to just do what she asked. No, I had to go through some form of embarrassment or harassment first. I felt stupid for even trying, and wanted to go scream and vent to Declan. Instead, I simply nodded as I looked at the nearly identical dishes. The only difference was mine had taken a spoon to it.

“We'll just put this poor thing out of its misery,” she mumbled as she grabbed my dish and walked over to the trash. “You know, Madeline can whip up an amazing bread pudding.”

I rolled my eyes at the mention of Declan's beloved ex-­girlfriend.

I'd heard her name in passing over the months when Declan and I first started dating, but I now couldn't go a day without being reminded about how perfect Linda thought she was.

“Mom,” Holly, Declan's oldest sister, began. Her tone was full of frustration, but she didn't finish as we all watched the dessert slide out of the dish and into the trash.

Declan's dad, Kurt, walked back in then. “What are we all standing around for? Let's eat, I'm starved!”

In what looked like an accident, but I knew wasn't, Linda dropped the dish into the trash on top of the dessert, and clapped her hands as she stepped away. “Yes, let's! Food is ready and getting cold. Everyone grab a plate.”

I glanced up and caught Declan's sisters watching me. Both wore matching worried expressions, and Holly mouthed that she was sorry. I smiled at them and tried to shake off the horrible feeling Linda always left me with.

Once everyone was serving themselves, I looked over at Declan's plate sitting there untouched. I wondered if I was thankful or upset that he hadn't been there to witness his mom's hatefulness before my thoughts drifted.

Where are you, Dec?

 

About the Author

MOLLY MCADAMS grew up in California but now lives in the oh-­so-­amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach . . . which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes.

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By Molly McAdams

Show Me How

To the Stars

Trusting Liam

Changing Everything
(novella)

Letting Go

Sharing You

Capturing Peace
(novella)

Deceiving Lies

Needing Her
(novella)

Forgiving Lies

Stealing Harper
(novella)

From Ashes

Taking Chances

Coming Soon

I See You

 

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. References to real ­people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used fictitiously. All other characters, and all incidents and dialogue, are drawn from the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real.

Excerpt from
I See You
copyright © 2016 by Molly Jester.

SHOW ME HOW
. Copyright © 2016 by Molly Jester. All rights reserved under International and Pan-­American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-­book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-­engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of Harper­Collins e-­books. For information, address Harper­Collins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

EPub Edition AUGUST 2016 ISBN: 9780062391421

Print Edition ISBN: 9780062391438

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