I laugh, leaning against the counter with a sigh. “I wasn’t planning on coming home anytime soon, especially not after Kenzie’s Instagram post.”
“Don’t go on Facebook.”
Groaning, I shake my head. “I did.”
“Why would you do that?”
“To torture myself?” I shrug, unsure.
“I still can’t believe he moved on with Kenzie. That’s a dick move, even for Asher. A man doesn’t move in on his ex’s best friend.”
“Ex-best friend,” I correct him.
The truth is, I can’t fathom how they could do this. I’m pretty sure they started dating before Asher ended our engagement. I don’t want to know for certain. It might break me.
“Here for Gina’s wedding?”
I look up at Ford, grateful he’s shifted the conversation. “Yep. Heading to the house now. How’d you hear about it?”
Ford Stokes has always been the quiet type. He and Asher are best friends—still are, as far as I know—but he never chats with people around town just for the sake of it.
“Your dad. He asked me to help with the wedding arch Gina and Lance plan to use. There are a few broken and chipped pieces.”
“I think my parents are just relieved that Gina’s finally doing something in the right order. None of us ever thought she’d get married, so there’s that.”
“It was a bit of a shock. Word around town is that she’s knocked up. Is that true?”
I shrug again. “Not that I know of. I just found out about the engagement yesterday.”
He frowns, and there’s something endearing about the way his forehead creases. “You weren’t there for it? Lance got down on one knee during dinner. At least, that’s what the town reported.”
Maybe it’s not just his looks that have changed. “I didn’t come home. Trust me, that would have overshadowed Gina’s engagement.”
“That’s true.”
“So, Asher and Kenzie are getting married on Christmas Eve?” I ask, disbelief creeping into my voice.
“I can’t believe he’s planning to do it at Starlight Manor, too.”
My jaw drops. “What?”
“You didn’t know?”
Silence fills the space between us. I can’t articulate how much I want to strangle both Asher and Kenzie. She took the man I thought I’d marry. She stole my wedding date. And now he’s using the venue?
The worst part? I’m pretty sure I paid for it. Asher claimed we couldn’t get any of my money back when he canceled, but I wouldn’t put it past him to keep it and use my money to marry another woman.
“Harper? Are you okay?”
“I have to go,” I say, forcing a smile as I head toward the door. Dorothy’s car is gone, so I know I’m in the clear. “It was really good to see you, Ford.”
“You, too. You really are a sight for sore eyes, Harper.”
If I weren’t in such a whirlwind, I might read more into that than there is, but I need to get home. I need to lock myself in my room and scream into a pillow.
Damn it, Gina. Why did you have to get married now?
Chapter 3
