Rosko, Mandy - Night and Day (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) by Mandy Rosko Page B

weeks ago, and yet the wedding preparations had been going on for months already. Though she was legal, in human and sprite senses of the word, judging by the Jonas Brothers poster on the wall and the stuffed, glittery unicorn she held as she read, legal didn’t do anything for maturity.
    She turned up to look at her guest, and her eyes and skin glowed with pleasure. Cedric actually gaped a little. “Dacielle, they told me you were ill.”
    Her mouth tightened as she rolled her eyes sarcastically, the glow fading. “I sneezed more times than were proper the other day. As expected, a panic started, and a physician was called for.”
    Cedric couldn’t believe it. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? If she was in perfect health, would she be able to jump up and attack him when he broke off their engagement? Or would there really be no risk of her succumbing further into illness when he broke the news if there was no threat of illness to begin with?
    “You’re not sick, then?”
    “I am,” she sighed, “just not a lot.” Dacielle pointed to her bedside dresser, where, beneath a pink kitten lamp she’d brought from her own house, sat a tissue box, pill bottles, and vapor rub. “I’m to take all of those to keep it from getting worse, but they say I’ll be good for our wedding tomorrow.”
    Cedric wasn’t looking at the drugs or paying attention to the happy squeal in her voice. He was looking at the creepy kitty lamp. He cringed at the sight of it, and then looked away from her bed before her stuffed teddies made him sick too. He could already picture the two of them in his head, married, and those things being moved into his room. The sparkle teddies on his perfectly male bed with its colorless beige sheets, the kitty on his nightstand, and her manga collection lined up next to his PlayStation.
    He shuddered.
    She was eighteen, he reminded himself, but still a fourteen-year-old in her own mind. How could his parents and aunt try and force this girl on him?
    If it wasn’t for Dacielle’s crush on him, this might’ve been easier. Hell, if he’d never met her at all prior to this, it would’ve been easier.
    He didn’t sugarcoat it or ease it on her gently. He just let it all out. He figured he owed her that much. “The wedding isn’t going to happen.”
    She stared at him blankly, and then sputtered a nervous laugh. “What?”
    “Come on, Dac, you know I don’t love you like that. You’re too much like a sister.”
    She seemed to have trouble processing his words. “But, it’s our parents’ wish. We have to.”
    “Yes,” he spoke slowly, “but I’m still choosing not to.”
    “But, but we have to .” The constant emphasis on the words have to didn’t seem to bother her a whit, which damn near sent him on a bender.
    It was like she wasn’t aware it was her choice being taken away as well. She seemed more concerned with his sudden loss of sense. She stared at him as though he’d lost his mind, or was making a bad joke and was being really late with the punch line.
    Cedric wiped his face as the realization hit him.
    It didn’t matter to her who she married so long as her family approved.
    Jesus, even after he left, another backup marriage would be arranged. Her crush on him would eventually simmer and die, and her future husband could be a cruel predator for all anyone knew or cared. Regardless, she would comply and be happy with her mother’s choice.
    He approached her bed with the pink heart quilts and took one of her hands in both of his larger ones. All he could do was pray the next man in line would be good to her. Because, God knew, a gay husband who would never want to touch her was the last thing in the world she needed. “Dacielle, please listen to me very carefully and know that what I’m telling you is not personal, but still the truth.” He took a breath, noting the hurt in her eyes, the rising tears. “I love you, but I’m not in love with you. I’m officially calling off the