“There you are.” Gabby rushed out of the restaurant. “I’ve been looking for you.” She gave me a disapproving look.
“I’m here. What do you want?” I asked her and looked at the side of her head. I was too embarrassed to look into her eyes. I didn’t want her to see my shame.
“I wanted to say sorry.”
She bit down on her lower lip, and I looked up at her in shock. Say what?
“Huh?” I looked at Alice, who also looked like she was in disbelief.
“I wanted to apologize to both of you.” She sighed. “I’ve been a bitch and been rude to both of you.” She looked into my eyes, and I was surprised to see a look of sincerity as she gazed at me.“I guess I’ve always been jealous of your friendship, and I lashed out this morning. I shouldn’t have.”
“What?” I said and swallowed hard.
Why did she have to choose today to change into a loving and changed big sister? Why did she have to choose the moment right after I betrayed her? Why, oh why?
“I’ve been rude and mean.” She grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things this morning or the other day.”
“I, uh … what brought this about?”
“I had a talk with Chett,” she said softly. “He knew about the baby before. And he knows it’s not Xander’s.” She bit down on her lower lip. “I’m in a really lucky position to have found a man like Xander.”
“Oh?” I smiled weakly.Please do not say you’re in love with him now. Please, please, please.
“He didn’t have to take on me and a baby that wasn’t his.” She nodded. “I know that, but I’m so grateful he is?—”
“I’m so excited for you,” Alice interrupted her.
I had never been more grateful to her than I was in that moment. I wasn’t sure I could stand there and listen to Gabby go on and on about Xander anymore without throwing up.
“You must be so excited to plan the wedding.”
“Yeah, I am.” Gabby nodded and sighed.
“Must feel nice to know that a handsome man like Xander wants to date someone like you.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Gabby snapped, and I froze at her tone.
Alice and I looked at each other for a few seconds, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. Had Gabby really had a change of heart, or had someone put her up to this?
“There you are.” Xander and Henry walked out of the restaurant, and I avoided his glance as he looked my way. “Didyou speak to your sister, Gabby?” Xander asked, and I knew he had put her up to her apology.
“Yes,” Gabby snapped, and Alice and I smiled at each other.
“Good.” Xander walked over to me and tapped me on the shoulder. “You had us all worried.”
“What? Why?”
“You just disappeared.” His eyes burned into mine.
“Disappeared …”
“Yes.” He gave me a small smile. “I was worried you had disappeared or fallen into a hole or something.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you were.”
“She’s fine.” Alice stepped forward with a frown and glared at Xander. “There’s no need to worry.”
“Okay.”
