“I’m going to ask my sister to be my maid of honor, but that’s it,” Alex continues. “My bestie from back home can’t make it, and this will mean Harriethasto come to New York.” Her mouth pulls into a wicked grin. “If she won’t come by choice, she’ll have to come for this.”
Geoff shakes his head, chuckling. “Alex’s idea of an evil plan: making someone visit New York.”
She laughs too as she takes a sip of her wine. “It’s been tough, though. My mother is beside herself that I’m marrying an American man and not moving back home, so I’m fielding hysterical calls from her.AndI have to convince the government that it’s not just a green card wedding because it’s so quick.”
Geoff nods over his merlot.
“I mean, sure, having the green card is going to help me a lot, obviously. But that’s not why I’m marrying Michael—I’m marrying him because I’m crazy in love and want to spend my life with him. Because he’s the one.”
Ugh, more of this crap. I grunt into my vodka, trying to push down the bitterness rising inside me.
“It’s true, Cat.” Alex turns to me with a smile. “I know you don’t believe in the one, but I do. And I’m certain it’s Michael.”
“You’recertain.” My tone is heavy with sarcasm and I see Geoff raise his eyebrows beside me. “Shit, sorry. I’m not trying to be a bitch. Just… having an off night.”
She puts a hand on my arm. “It’s okay. I know I sound like a romantic fool, but this is just what I believe.”
I gaze down into my drink, too agitated to reply. Her words keep replaying in my mind:I’m crazy in love with him…She’s so bubbly and happy and excited—thisis what love should be like. Myles told me he loved me but had this big secret from me—then he had the balls to get angry withme, to tell meI’mscared. He thinks he’s some kind of shrink, that’s what. He lied to me, then somehow made it out like things were my fault. And it pisses me right off.
“So…” Geoff starts in an elaborately casual tone, and I flinch. “Why are we here tonight then? Why not Bounce?”
“I told you. I’m sick of it.”
“Hmm.” He sips his wine. “Sick of the bar, or someone who works there?”
I try to give him a pointed look, but he’s staring down at his drink in thought.
“Alex and I went for a drink there last night. We figured you’d be in there, but you weren’t. Myles was, though.”
My whole body goes rigid at the mention of Myles. I’ve not let myself picture him behind the bar, but now the images flood into my mind uninvited: him tossing up the bottle, flirting with women, saying the same things he said to me. My stomach sours at the thought.
“Well…” I give a hollow laugh, pushing the feeling away. “He does work there, Geoff.”
“He didn’t look good,” Alex murmurs.
I shrug, refusing to get sucked into the conversation.
“He seemed pretty off his game. At one point he dropped a whole tray of glasses.”
I roll my eyes. I know Myles and his smooth moves—he’d never drop a tray of glasses. Now they’re just making stuff up to bait me—and I’m not going to bite.
“I spoke to him,” Alex says, eying me over her wine.
Anxiety spirals down through me like a corkscrew, but I do my best not to let it show on my face. I just lift a shoulder as if it’s the most banal thing I’ve ever heard, even though I want nothing more than to lean across the table and ask her what he said. If he asked about me. If he told her he missed me.
But what does it matter?I remind myself.What could he possibly have said that would make up for everything?
Nothing—that’s what.
“That’s great,” I mumble, itching to change the subject. “Anyway, I was thinking—”
“He said you had a fight,” Geoff interrupts, and I feel a dart of irritation. Can’t we move on from this already?
“He was surprised that we didn’t know,” Alex adds.
Well, that’s too damn bad isn’t it? I don’t owe anyone an explanation for what’s happened. If anyone should be explaining themselves, it’shim.
“He was quite concerned that we hadn’t heard from you,” she continues, “and he wanted us to check if you were okay. He really cares—”
