Becky and Katie made sense—Becky was Brock’s sister, and Katie was Tessa’s sister-in-law. She was married to Tessa’s oldest brother, Ben. “Krista?Really?” I wrinkled my nose.
Tessa bristled, annoyed at me. “Yes, really. Krista’s been my friend since Kindergarten. Just because you don’t talk to her any more, doesn’t meanIhave to cut her out of my life. She’s a good friend to me, and she didn’t betray you.”
I didn’t need the reminder—I knew perfectly well that it was Joanna Poole that had broken the girl code and made out with my boyfriend while we were still together. Still, Krista hadn’t told me about it out of loyalty to Joanna, and that had stung almost as bad as Joanna disregarding our friendship.
“Okay, fine. You’re right,” I amended, sighing. The corner of my lips tugged up in a reluctant smile. Tessa never hesitated to put me in my place when I needed it, and I loved her for it.
She inhaled deeply and brushed her hair out of her eyes as she looked at me. “I know you’re off this weekend…” She bit her lip again.
“You want me to come to Parry Sound with you?” I summarized, avoiding her penetrating, hopeful gaze. I saw her nodding out of the corner of my eye.
“Pretty please? Saturday night we’ll be telling my family and…Brock’s family at dinner, and Ineedmy best friend there,” Tessa pleaded, sounding unsure of herself. “Plus…you’ve always been my right hand man—er, woman, and what if Dad tries to talk me out of this?”
“He won’t,” I assured her. Bill Armstrong hadn’t been a fan of Brock Miller when he first came back to town, but he’d warmed up in the last several years when he realized how deeply Tessa loved him.
“I’m his only daughter,” she pointed out, arching a brow. “I think I could tell him I’m marrying the Prince of England and he’d still pitch a fit.” She was right—Bill had high expectations for his only daughter.
“Fine, I’ll go,” I frowned. “Enough with the guilt-tripping.” Tessa squealed with excitement and threw her arms around me again.
* * *
I tossed and turned all night, unable to get a good night’s sleep. Each time I finally drifted off, I was pulled into unwanted dreams of Braden’s remembered touches. I woke craving his hands on my skin.
Thoughts of Braden plagued me throughout work the next day. Tessa and Brock’s wedding would undoubtedly mean I would have to face him again. He was, after all, Brock’s younger brother. But I still hadn’t counted on seeing him in less than a week. I had no time to prepare.
I tried to console myself. Braden’s presence at the weekend dinner wasn’t set in stone. There was a huge possibility that he wouldn’t be there. But there was also a possibility that hewouldbe there, and my treacherous heart pounded at the thought.
It was stupid, the way my heart was reacting. If the look in Braden’s eyes the last time I’d seen him was any indication, whatever was between us was long dead. Seeing him again would only prove this, and it would cut my heart open all over again. I really wasn’t ready for that.
My only comfort was the thought that maybe he was even more miserable than me. Maybe one look would be all it took for me to wipe the slate completely clean and finally move on.
Or maybe I’d realize that moving on would be an impossible feat for me. My mother had never moved on from my father. He’d left us, and she hadn’t welcomed another man into her life since. Maybe I was destined to be like her. Maybe the Thompson girls didn’t heal once their hearts were shattered.
I was in a sullen mood the entire day, a fact that didn’t get past my partner, Alex.
“What’s wrong?” he asked me halfway through our shift. He leaned over, fixing me with a heavy stare, concern lining his light eyes. I scowled at him.
“Nothing,” I responded, trying to keep my voice nonchalant as I turned my gaze back to the front of the ambulance. We were parked just off the highway, waiting for the next call. This was one aspect of the job that I wasn’t a fan of—being stuck in the ambulance with Alex Hastings in between calls.
There wasn’t anything wrong with Alex, per se. He was incredibly attractive and fit. He had dark blond hair, a subtle, perpetual tan, and a dusting of facial hair over kissable lips. He also had gentle eyes and a sweet, trusting smile. He was one of those guys that truly didn’t realize how hot they were, which only added to his appeal.
He was a genuinely caring guy, and he was also into me. Alex was perfect on paper, but he wasn’t Braden, and the tingles I did happen to feel for him didn’t come close to what I had felt for Braden four years before. Not that I’d even give him a chance—we worked together, and I wasn’t about to make my work life awkward.
“Are you still thinking about yesterday?” Alex questioned, his brow furrowed. He leaned back in his seat, his eyes never leaving my face as he waited for me to answer. I knew he was referring to the accident on the highway.
“No, Alex,” I said, sighing. “It’s a long, boring story.”
“We’ve got time,” Alex pointed out, giving me a rueful smile.
I pursed my lips, contemplating. It’d be nice if I could expel some of my ugliness somewhere, and I definitely didn’t want to expel it on Tessa. It wasn’t her fault that the Miller brother she had chosen to fall in love with stuck around. Technically speaking, Alex was one of the only friends I’d really made out here.
I brushed a strand that had fallen loose from my tight ponytail out of my eyes while I contemplated. “My best friend just got engaged,” I said on an exhale, my eyes darting to Alex’s face. He looked confused by my statement.
“And?”
“And she’s getting married in like ten months, and I’m going to be her maid of honor, and her fiancé just so happens to be the older brother of someone I don’t particularly want to see again. Ever.” I summarized.
“Ahh,” he said, his lips pursing as he nodded his head with understanding. “Let me guess, he’s the brother of an ex-boyfriend.”
