Cameron laughed. “Of course I can believe that. Look at him, for God’s sake, Ann. He’s gorgeous. I’m sure he’s dated everyone.”
“Yeah. But this bitchy woman from town said everyone always thought they’d get married.”
“Who gives a shit, Annabelle. He didn’t marry her. He married you.”
I paused for a second, feeling nauseous again, realizing that, between work, Holden texting me every five minutes, now this Laura Anne thing, and not being able to get pregnant, my emotions were getting the best of me—and my stomach lining.
I sighed. “Fine. You’re right. I mean, I know you are.” I kept walking, wondering if the damp golf course grass was getting chemicals in my bloodstream.
“Does he know about every little fling you’ve ever had?”
I sighed again. “No, Cameron. He doesn’t know about every little fling I’ve ever had. Okay?”
“Well, then count your blessings that you were the one to finally tame that hunky, sickeningly sweet man and cut him some slack.”
“I hate you. I hate it when you’re right. And I need you to come visit immediately.”
“No way. Too boring.”
And with that, Cameron was gone. Some people would probably be offended, but Cameron was Cameron. You loved her or you hated her. And she couldn’t care less either way. I smiled, thinking back to our conversation right after I broke the news to her that Ben and I had eloped.
“I would like to be sorry,” I said, when she called seconds after receiving my text, “but I think we’re good enough friends that you can appreciate my overwhelming bliss.”
Cameron sighed. “I’m not that mad about Ben, but the fact that you didn’t let me be your maid of honor is totally unforgivable.”
I smiled and could picture a ten-year-old Cameron, blunt pixie cut, baggy jean shorts and 2 percent body fat, saying, “Gag. Who would ever want to have to wear one of those horrible dresses and be in a wedding? Don’t you dare ever ask me, because I will say no.”
I had reminded her of that moment outside our fifth-gradelockers, and she said, “I thought that was the beauty of best friends. I thought you knew when ‘no’ means ‘yes.’”
I had laughed at my friend and said, “When we have a big party to celebrate later on, I’ll have a special corsage made for you to wear around the party, and the favors will have a little card inside saying that you’re the maid of honor.”
“Ugh, I don’t want to have to wear some stupidflowers.”
That meant she was thrilled. Ben had wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed my neck. I giggled, and he said, “I just finished a new song for you that I want you to hear.”
“How is it possible that you stole my life?” Cameron had said. “I mean, honestly, I am never taking you out ever again.”
“Well, the good news is that I’m married, so every other man now belongs to you.”
“Yup,” Ben said in my ear. “You’re mine all mine until the day I die.”
“I think someone else already wrote that line, sweetheart,” I said, kissing him.
“Gross,” Cameron said. “I need to go now. I have to go wedding dress shopping so that I can wear a big white dress to your party and steal your day like you stole my man.”
“Knock yourself out,” I said. “You’ll make it about ten minutes in that crinoline.”
Cameron sighed deeply like she’d been defeated. “You’re right. I’ll never survive.”
“I love you, sister I never had.”
She had sighed. “Fine. I love you too. But you owe me some serious nights out as payment for this life-altering slight.”
It occurred to me, walking through the golf course that day, remembering that call with Cameron, that I could use a serious nightout too. Before I could get through the front door of what had been a sex-filled love nest when I left and was now a frigid den of lies, “Why on earth didn’t you tell me about you and Laura Anne?” was cascading out of my mouth in a tone that matched my crossed arms. I knew deep down that Cameron was right. He married me. So why did anyone else matter? But, probably because I had spent the day at a baby shower, I was sad and frustrated, and I needed to take it out on someone.
“Did Laura Anne tell you that?” Ben asked.
“No,” I said, pouring myself dramatically onto the couch. “That bitch Mrs. Taylor told me. And then I looked around the room and finally realized why I—me, the person who has always had a million friends in every corner—have yet to get close to one single person in this entire town.”
