by Susan Hatler
He leaned back in the chair and laced his hands behind his head. “Why should that matter to you?”
My face heated. “It doesn’t.”
His mouth curved upward. “Then why are you blushing?”
Every irritated nerve in my body tightened. “This may be your last day, but some of us still have work to do. So, if you wouldn’t mind . . . ”
The smirk left his face and he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “For five years I watched you bring George to company parties and I heard you guys were together for some time before that.”
I hugged my belly. “You must think I’m pretty pathetic for staying with someone so long, when he obviously wasn’t serious about me.”
He shook his head as if I weren’t getting it. “I’m thankful George didn’t get his act together. Because it means I still have a chance.”
Fireworks blasted off in my chest, causing my heart to pound. “Chris . . . ”
“When I heard you two had broken up, I wanted to ask you out. But I didn’t want to be a rebound. So I forced myself to wait, to give you time to get over him.”
My legs threatened to give way, so I dropped into the chair. “But you seem to play the field. Like you never want to settle down.”
He reached for my hand, tracing my palm in small circles until his baby blue eyes met mine. “I’d settle down with the right girl.”
My pulse galloped. “Oh?”
He took a deep breath. “My ex-girlfriend and I were together for three years.”
That straightened my spine. “Who? How? When?”
Stunned? Me? No, not much.
“We went out in college and a couple years after we graduated.” He shook his head a little, but continued tracing my hand. “You seem surprised.”
“Well, yeah.” I pressed my lips together and fought to make sense of what he’d just told me. “You’re like a date-aholic.”
“I date, sure.” He shrugged, his hand still holding mine. “But if it doesn’t feel right I’m not going to lead a girl on by pretending it’s going somewhere when it’s not.”
I stared at him, processing everything I’d just learned. “How could it feel wrong with that many girls?”
His eyes held mine. “Because they weren’t you.”
My heart flipped and an overwhelming rush of emotion flowed through me. Joy. Passion. Fear. Way too much fear. Phantom feelings of excruciating heartbreak flooded my chest, twisting and gnawing at me.
Self-preservation kicked in and I yanked my hand away. “I’m dating Ethan.”
“But you wouldn’t have kissed me if—”
“I had a lot to drink, okay?” I stood and threw my arms up. “I’ve told you no a thousand times. Why can’t you take a hint?”
He flinched as if I’d slapped him.
Instead of putting my arms around him, like I wanted to, I bit out a laugh. “I just told you I choose Ethan. Do you think it’s right to encroach on another man’s girl?”
His lips thinned and he slowly rose to his feet. “No. Of course not.”
My hands clasped together in prayer position. “Then please, please, leave me alone.”
His blue eyes cooled as he pivoted to open the door. “You got it.”
The door closed with a click behind him.
Breathing hard, conflicting feelings rolled through me. Run after him. Let him go. Beg him to see through my words and know it terrified me to risk being hurt again. My eyes burned and I brought my fist to my mouth as the first silent sob escaped, followed by another and another.
Better to feel the pain now. I knew from my experience with Derek it would’ve been much worse down the road.
****
Chirp! Chirp! My phone called out to me as I was about to take my practice walk down the aisle with Henry’s groomsman, Josh. “Sorry.”
I unlaced my hand from his arm so I could get my phone from my purse and turn off the ringer. Wondering if it might be Chris, I took a breath and opened it up. George: Need you to meet with me. It’s urgent, okay?
I let out a breath. George had kept me hanging for a decade and now he had the nerve to call something urgent? Whatever. I sent back my reply: I’ll think about it.
“Everything all right?” Josh looked down at me as I dropped my cell back in my handbag.
“Just groovy.” I shouldn’t be sarcastic when Josh was just trying to be polite. But he was married with an adorable baby. What did he know of the traumatic plight of the singles? “Thanks for asking though.”
The rehearsal went smoothly. Wait here. Step there. Nothing too complex. Until Rach gave her Maid of Honor speech and surprised us all—not in a good way—by bringing her miniature beagle out for what can best be described as a live prop.
I’d been dragging since lunch, but witnessing the depth of Rachel’s affection for her dog had me putting a hand to my mouth to hold the laughter in. “Oh no. She didn’t.”
“Oh, yes.” Kristen raised her brows, nodding. “She did.”
After Rachel’s heartfelt speech about how Ellen and Henry owed their marriage to her dog Chester, Ellen pulled Rach aside and went a little ballistic. Okay, a lot, actually.
Ellen’s hands fisted at her sides. “How could you bring a dog to my rehearsal dinner?”
“It’s not a dog.” Rach explained with exaggerated patience. “It’s Chester. If it hadn’t been for my asking you to baby-sit him and his choking on your hairbrush, you never would’ve met Henry at that vet clinic.”
“It’s dog-sit, not baby-sit and he had hair from my hairbrush in his throat, not the actual brush itself.” Ellen closed her eyes and took a breath. “I’m very appreciative of Chester. You know that. But, how could you bring a canine to a 5-star restaurant?”
“He only popped in to say hi and my mom took him away five minutes later, so I fail to see what the big deal is.” Then Rach gestured to the groomsmen, Josh. “He brought his baby here. Why can’t I bring mine?”
“Because his boy is human.” Ellen’s voice rose several octaves, then she took a deep breath. “Please tell me you don’t plan to bring Chester to the wedding.”
“Of course not.” Rach scrunched up her nose. “My mom’s attending the wedding, so it’s not like she can get him and take him home again. Although, if you’d allowed him to be your ring bearer, like I suggested, I would’ve hired someone to baby-sit him . . . ”
Kristen and I decided this was the perfect time to hit the bar and knock back a couple of tequila shots.
I licked the spot between my thumb and index finger, then shook some salt on it. “How was your day, Kristen?”
“One word.” She licked the salt on her hand, swallowed the shot of tequila, then bit on a lime. Her mouth puckered. “Sucky.”
“Bet mine was worse.” I mimicked the same motions, the smooth liquid warming my insides. “You go first.”
A minute later, she turned over her second shot glass. “I broke up with Jake today.”
“What?” I tossed back my second shot, then shook my head. “No way. That’s awful. Ellen’s going to freak if you ruin her headcount.”
We both burst out laughing.
“How about you?” Kristen accepted the glasses of water we’d ordered from the bartender and handed one to me.
“You know my friend from work?” I pulled at the back of my head to stretch my neck from side to side. “Apparently he’s not a player. He even had a girlfriend in college for three years. And he asked me out.”
She tilted her head, running a finger over the rim of her water glass. “So, what did you do about it?”
I sobered up immediately. “I told him I was taking Ethan to the wedding and kicked him out of my office.”
“Good call.” She made a face that showed she thought the opposite. “How’d he react?”
“He left.” Remembering the look on his face made me sick to my stomach. “On the bright side, he’s out with this gorgeous blonde from our office as we speak.”
“Well, G
ina.” She raised her water glass high in the air. “Here’s to our sucky day.”
“The absolute suckiest.” I lifted my glass and clinked it into hers. “To us.”
We sipped together, then Kristen stood and placed an arm around me. “We’d better get back to the bride. She’s probably finished reaming Rach out by now. I’ll let her know Jake’s not coming and that you finally invited Ethan to the wedding.”
“I didn’t ask him to wedding.” I rested my head on her shoulder as we walked.
“Then why did you tell your friend . . . ?” Her eyes rounded as she saw mine fill with tears.
“To make him go away.” I blinked rapidly, then shrugged. “I was scared.”
Her expression filled with compassion. “Oh, Gina.”
“I’ve never fallen this hard for someone before.” My voice shook as I admitted this. “Like I said. Super duper sucky day.”
She gave me a tight squeeze. “Don’t worry. We’ll get what we want because we know what we want.”
Yeah, right. What I wanted was a lasting relationship with the man I loved.
And I’d blown my chance.
CHAPTER NINE
All of us girls were drinking champagne on the satin couch of the honeymoon suite in the Victorian hotel where Ellen and Henry would be married in less than thirty minutes. The photographer had taken a gazillion pictures of us, the bride with her bridesmaids, over the last hour and it was heaven to have a moment with just the girls. The room was a sea of perfume, flowers, and laughter.
“Truth or Dare?” Kristen thankfully had been looking at Ellen when she said this, but the words left a pang of regret inside me anyway.
Ellen giggled as she tapped a finger to her cheek. “Since I’m wearing a white silk dress that cost more than one of my paychecks, I’ll go with Truth.”
Kristen’s eyes squinted as if she were trying to think of something good. “By marrying Henry, what are you most looking forward to?”
She responded immediately. “To he and I becoming family.”
“Awww!” We gushed simultaneously.
“Hear, hear.” Kristen clinked her champagne flute to Ellen’s, then with the rest of ours.
“Truth or Dare.” Ellen raised a finger, circling between the three of us bridesmaids, and finally pulled her trigger finger on Rach.
Rach swallowed the champagne she’d just sipped. “I’ll go Dare.”
A wicked grin crossed Ellen’s face. “Henry has a friend—”
“Truth!” Rach waved her arms in protest, nearly sloshing champagne onto her strapless red gown and we all gasped.
Seeing the dress had staved off danger, Ellen shook her head. “Too late. No changes. You chose Dare. So, let me tell you about Wayne and the fantastic date you’re going to have . . .”
Ellen’s words echoed inside my head and I admired how she took charge of things. She didn’t wait on life, for herself or her friends. She made it happen. Suddenly, I realized my mistake with George and wished I could go back in time and change it.
Urgent. It suddenly felt urgent to talk to George. The sooner, the better. I’d call him tomorrow or stop by his place. . . .
My eyes widened as I realized I’d thought of the apartment as his place. I didn’t even feel bitter about having to move out or drive to work. Kristen’s place felt like home now and I could most definitely see why Ellen had kept their childhood friendship going all these years. Kristen was rapidly becoming a very dear friend.
“Hello? Gina?”
Startled, my eyes darted to Rach. “Did you say something?”
“Wonder where her mind’s at.” She exchanged looks with the other girls. “I said, Truth or Dare.”
I bit my lip and smiled. “Dare. Most definitely, always, Dare.”
****
Josh and I glided first down the aisle, just as we were taught the night before, and it felt surreal. Canon in D played as we walked down the lacey runner and at the end stood Henry next to the best man, his cousin Mike. If I had to describe Henry in one word, I’d say proud. Second would be handsome. Very handsome in his black tux as he waited for his bride.
Josh and I exchanged a small smile as we parted ways and stood on our respective sides at the front. Kristen and Adam came down the aisle next, looking ultra glamorous together. Rach appeared a few seconds later, coming toward us with her hair held up on the side with rhinestone clips that matched the ones Kristen and I wore in our hair.
She winked at Henry who grinned back at her and this is where things started to get very emotional. Ellen and Henry were getting married. Such an epic moment in their lives, committing themselves to one another, and we had the privilege to witness this beautiful ceremony. The music faded and after a short pause, a string quartet rendition of Here Comes the Bride began playing. Everybody stood, pivoting toward the back of the room.
Seconds later, Ellen appeared in her strapless white gown, elegant and stunning. With her mother at her side, they held hands as they drifted down the aisle together toward Henry. It wasn’t until her mom lifted her veil that my eyes welled. Her mom dabbed a handkerchief to her eyes as she told Ellen how beautiful she looked, gave her a kiss on the cheek, then placed Ellen’s hand in Henry’s.
As the minister began speaking, I gazed out into the audience at the sea of friends and family here to celebrate this special union. My eyes swept across the room, then jerked to a stop on baby blues staring right at me. My body went on red alert. Chris? The way his lips turned up in the corners told me he knew I’d spotted him. But, what was he doing here? I’d seen the guest list and his name wasn’t on it.
Although it was obvious he’d caught me practically gaping at him, I moved my eyes around the rest of the room as I pretended his stare hadn’t affected every part of me. Then I spotted Ethan. What the . . . ? Ethan looked hot in his suit and he watched the bride and groom with a serious expression as they exchanged their vows.
I swallowed the bundle of nerves creeping up my throat and turned my attention to Ellen as she placed a ring on Henry’s finger. I hadn’t invited Chris or Ethan. So what in the world were they doing here? Since I was a bridesmaid, it’s not like I could slip out of here and avoid whatever confrontation they surely wanted. Maybe I could hide in a corner. Nobody would miss me in a corner and I could pop out if Ellen needed me. . . .
“You may now kiss your bride,” the minister said.
Henry gazed into Ellen’s eyes with a look that seemed to come from his soul, then he leaned down and kissed her. The room erupted in clapping and everyone stood, the minister wrapped up with a few sentences, and suddenly they were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holbrook III.
Loud organ music blasted for the recessional and Ellen retrieved her rose-filled bouquet from Rach before heading down the aisle with her husband. Rach and Mike followed, then Kristen and Adam, and Josh and I brought up the rear.
As I passed by where Chris was sitting, it was all I could do to keep my eyes focused straight ahead. Especially when I could physically feel his gaze on me.
My heart raced and I had a feeling all my bad decisions were about to catch up with me.
****
While we were sitting at the head table, I found out that Kristen had invited Ethan to be her date to the wedding. Anxiety built inside me every time I caught a glimpse of him. And Chris too, for that matter. One would’ve been tough enough to take, but both here together?
I narrowed my eyes at Kristen. “How could you?”
It didn’t appear that this catastrophic problem she’d created had fazed her in the slightest. “You had your chance with him.” She shrugged. “And I needed a date.”
I shook my head, unable to believe her callous attitude toward the misery she’d caused.
She lifted her wine glass. “Did Rach give you your Dare yet? Or is she still leaving you hanging?”
Way to change the subject. “Payback, Kristen. It will come.”
“I’m sure it’ll be worth it. Who wants to dance al
one?” With a tilt of her head and a smile, she sipped her Chardonnay. “I guess Rach didn’t want to dance alone either.”
With that, I followed to where she’d fixated her sights, then I gasped. Rach had her arm around Chris as she leaned down to tell him something at his table. “She invited Chris to be her date tonight? She said she was going stag!”
“You’re the one who left the extra spot in the headcount that needed to be filled.” Kristen’s tone was way too amused.
Rach got up to make her way back to the head table so I lifted my wine glass and approached her. “You’re supposed to be my friend.”
“You’re shooting lasers with your eyes, babe.” Rach smirked, then reached around her groomsman for her own wine. “Something up?”
“Nothing.” I stepped back a couple feet and lowered my voice so the entire wedding party wouldn’t hear us. “Just thought there wasn’t anything going on between you and Chris?”
Rach sipped her Chardonnay. “What makes you think something is?”
I hated that she didn’t answer my question. “He’s your date to the wedding. I thought you were going stag.”
“It’s nice to have someone to dance with.” She gave a light shrug. “He told me he asked you out, but you turned him down. Having second thoughts?”
Yes. “No.”
“Gina, you’re being ridiculous. Anyone with half a brain can see you’re jealous that he’s here with me. Even though we just came as friends.”
Friends, right. Where had I heard that before?
Finally, she let out a laugh. “You really don’t know.”
“What?” I bit out, exasperated. “What don’t I know?”
“Why I brought Chris with me.” She shook her head as if I were the most clueless person on the planet. “I’ve worked down the hall from Chris for five years. I even flirted on occasion...albeit, years ago. He had every opportunity to ask me out, to ask any of the girls in the office out. Any guesses why he didn’t?”
“Yes.” I grabbed my neck and pressed down, trying to rub out the stress building up there. “A girl from work broke his heart once. Now he doesn’t date people from the office.”
The look she gave me made me feel two inches tall. “Who do you think that girl was, Gina?”
