“I don’t know. It’s all still so new.” I looked down at my strappy heels, giving her the same line I had given my mom earlier.
This got the attention of the other girls in the room, and now they surrounded me. It brought back memories of being at college together before I’d moved to Waterford. Amy and I had met the other bridesmaids during our freshman year in the dorms, and we’d become fast friends. I’d missed them so much the past couple months.
“Okay, start from the beginning,” Amy said excitedly.
“We don’t have time for this,” I said, trying to get out of explaining Slate. “We need to be getting ready and focus on your wedding.”
“Well, at least tell us how you met.”
“We ran into each other, like Iliterallyran into him,” I said, grateful to be able to tell the truth. “Then we happened to have a class together, and we also live across the hall from each other. We slowly got to know one another, and now we’re here.” I rattle off the information, hoping to gloss over the details and move on from any more questions.
“Oh, my gosh, it’s like kismet!” Amy was getting way too excited about this. I probably should have told her he was just a friend and nice enough to do me a huge favor so I wouldn’t have to come here alone, but for some reason I kept my mouth shut.
“Slow down there,” I said, hoping to calm Amy down. “Like I said, it’s new. I’ll introduce him to you at the reception. Now, let’s get back to getting you ready to marry the love of your life.”
A dreamy expression filled Amy’s face. “I seriously can’t wait. Is that weird? We’ve been together forever, and I’m still excited about spending the next forever with him.”
“That’s how youshouldfeel on your wedding day,” I said, happy that she was so happy.
The door opened, and Amy’s mom poked her head in. “It’s time!”
We all squealed and left to go take our places. Josh and I were going to have to walk down the aisle together, and I just hoped I had the strength to get through it.
* * *
The ceremony was beautiful. Amy and Tyler’s vows they’d written for one another had most of the crowd in tears.
When I’d had to take Josh’s arm to walk down the aisle, I’d seen his look of appreciation as he took me in, and it sent a feeling of pride through me, giving me the strength needed to keep my face neutral. I’d found Slate in the crowd, and when our eyes had locked, he’d winked at me, making me almost laugh and instantly relaxing me, for which I was extremely grateful.
After the ceremony, we’d all made our way over to the Wilson’s barn for the reception. They’d swept the floors, strung twinkly lights overhead, and added stands of flowers around the large area. Round tables with white tablecloths and pictures of the couple as centerpieces filled half the barn, leaving the other half open for dancing.
Slate and I had barely walked into the barn before Josh and his date, Lexi (surprise), were standing in front of us. I mean, I really shouldn’t have been surprised he’d brought Lexi. I’d had a feeling there was more going on there, with how he’d acted when we’d broken up, but it still stung.
I hated to admit it, but Josh looked good in his gray suit, tailored to his lean physique, and Lexi looked beautiful with her sleek dark hair complimented by her light-blue dress. She was at least five or so inches taller than me, her body slim and willowy. Her hand was tucked into his arm, and they looked like quite the couple.
Were they together? Was he already in a relationship with her so soon after our breakup? A pang of hurt went through my chest at the thought of him caring so little about our years-long relationship.
Slate’s hand grabbed mine, his touch breaking through my thoughts. I looked down at our joined hands and then up at him as he smiled down at me and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I smiled back, grateful he was here with me and that he’d noticed I needed some reassurance.
Josh gave Slate a look of disdain before turning his attention to me. “How desperate were you to get a date that you had to ask the campus merry-go-round to come with you?” His voice was sharp and condescending before he looked at me in disgust. “And what did you have to do for him to get him to say yes?”
My mouth dropped open in shock and hurt at his cruel words.
Slate stepped in front of Josh, towering over him. “Excuse me? What makes you think you can talk to Isla that way?”
Josh cowered at first, but from the little view I now had, I could see him mustering his courage as he pushed back his shoulders. Slate was a large and intimidating guy, and I could only imagine the stare-down he was giving Josh right now.
“I’ve known her way longer than you,” Josh argued. “I’m just looking out for her.”
“Is that what you call it? Insulting her is how you look out for her?” Slate’s voice was cold and threatening.
“I wasn’t insulting her. I was insulting you,” Josh threw back at him.
“Ha,” Slate mused. “That’s funny, that you think I give two shits about what you think of me. Using Isla to get at me is the cowardly way. If you want to say something to me,then you say something to me.” His tone was demanding, and if I had been Josh, I’d have been nervous.
I stepped slightly to the side to get a better view, and I could see the anger on Josh’s face mixed with embarrassment—which probably only I noticed since I knew him so well.
“Fine,” Josh conceded. “What the hell are you doing here?”
