“I was Kenzie’s friend. She was never mine. But the truth is, Asher, we live in a small town. We’re kind of stuck together.”
“Why him, Harper?” Asher sounds hurt.
Asher never sounds hurt. Now I can’t figure out his angle. Everything between him and Kenzie feels like a game, but is he trying to guilt me? Or is he attempting to show real feelings?
“Do you want to hurt me? Because it won’t. To hurt me, I’d have to care.”
And just like that, he’s back.
“And I stopped caring the moment I had the best sex of my life with Kenzie while you wore my ring,” Asher says.
As much as I hate to admit it, that one stings. Asher was never interested in sex, and now I can’t help but feel responsible. I’m the reason he didn’t want me.
Ford appears out of nowhere, just like Asher did, and I realize I need to start paying better attention. I’m setting myself up for a heart attack if I don’t.
“Harper doesn’t need you accosting her outside the bakery. And we both know Kenzie won’t like it when the gossip gets around that you were talking to your ex on Main Street,” Ford says, stepping between us.
Asher opens his mouth, but his phone rings. I know it’s Kenzie, and I want to laugh as he walks away, but his words still linger like a bruise.
“Are you okay?” Ford asks.
I blink away tears and force a smile. “Yeah.”
“Come on,” he says, guiding me into his shop a few doors down. “What did he say?”
“You’re not just taking pity on me, right?”
“What?”
I hate the tears, and I can’t meet Ford’s gaze. “He basically said it was my fault he cheated. I suspected for a while that he didn’t want me anymore, but now it feels like it might be me.”
He wraps his arms around me, and I hug him gratefully. “It’s not you, Harper. There’s no pity from me. Asher’s dumb and blind.”
“He really does know how to hit where it hurts, huh?” I say with a dry laugh.
“It’s not you,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head. “Trust me, it’s not you.”
I want to believe him, but it seems my relationship with Kenzie isn’t the only one that wasn’t what I thought. Now I have to dissect my relationship with Asher to uncover the truth behind the facade. Happy Holidays to me.
Chapter 22
Tracy
Annoyed, I trail behind Kenzie and Aunt Dorothy as we step into Moonlit Petals. I’ve been dragged around all day against my will, but no one seems to notice. My envy for the flask Auntie discreetly sips from grows with each passing moment. And yes, I’m watching.
“We’re here to check on the floral order for Kenzie Marks,” Kenzie announces, her smile wide and bright. “I’m the bride.” As if Martha doesn’t already know who she is. She’s been around longer than Auntie, and everyone in town knows about the ridiculous wedding between Kenzie and Asher. But sure, go ahead and remind everyone you’re the bride, as if they could ever forget.
“That order was canceled,” Martha replies flatly.
“What are you talking about?” Kenzie gasps, clutching her chest.
“Exactly what I said. You called last week to cancel your floral order. Fortunately, it was before we placed the order. If it had been after, we would have had to charge you.”
Kenzie blinks at Martha as if she’s just spoken in a foreign language, and I struggle to stifle a laugh. I hadn’t even considered the floral order, but Alex clearly did.
“I did not cancel my order! I’m getting married in just over a week, and you’re telling me I don’t have any… any flowers?” Her face flushes bright red, and I instinctively step back, bracing for an explosion.
“I’m sorry, but you did,” Martha insists.
