Unless… maybe I could tell Alex I’m unable to help with wedding stuff after all? That I’m here to see the city, and…
No. I can’t do that. Not after everything I’ve already put her through with refusing to come over here in the first place. I’m not that selfish.
Maybe I can do it without Luke’s help. That could work, right?
But what if Alex asks why I can’t work with Luke? What will I tell her then?
Fuck. This is a nightmare.
I tiptoe from the bathroom across the hall and snatch my phone up off the bed. It’s after eleven but I’m too wired to sleep. I grab a key and pull Alex’s jacket off the back of the door, trying not to think about the fact that my luggage is still nowhere to be found. Every time I do, I feel sick.
I guess that’s the least of my problems now.
When I step outside the building, the cool air hits me in the face and I pull the jacket tighter. I spot a tiny coffee shop across the road with the nameBeanieon the glass. Warm, yellow light spills from the front window onto the dark street, and I head over and push inside. I’m enveloped by the smell of espresso and cinnamon, and for the briefest moment I forget my troubles as my eyes feast on the glass cabinets filled with rows of delicate pastries and colorful macarons, topped with a gleaming espresso machine. This place is just like the sort of cafe I want to create, but with stacks of board games lining the wall and sumptuous sofas to sink into.
I order a chamomile tea—God knows I need to calm down—and find a table near the window. After doing some timezone calculations, I find Steph’s name in my contacts and press the call button, popping my earphones in. She answers after only three rings.
“Hey! How’s it going?”
I lean back in my chair, rubbing my temples. “Not great, Steph.”
“Uh-oh. What happened?”
“Well, for starters, I accidentally slept with the best man.”
There’s a pause on the other end, and I glance down at the screen to check the call is still connected. “Are you there?”
“Yes. Sorry, I don’t think I heard you properly.”
I draw a breath and repeat myself, more calmly this time.
“Okay, I did hear you.” Another pause. “So… how did that happen?”
“It was bloody Harriet 2.0! You and all your talk about being more adventurous.” The barista places my chamomile tea on the table and I send her a strained smile.
“What?” A laugh bursts down the line. “I never told you to bone the best man!”
“I didn’tknowhe was the best man, did I? Or I wouldn’t have…” I can’t even hear myself over the roar of Steph’s laughter, and I’m trying to keep my voice low in the quiet coffee shop. “You and that stupid condom you put in my bra, I swear—”
“Oh myGod!” She’s howling now. “You actuallyusedit?!”
“It’s not funny, Steph! This is an absolute disaster.”
More laughing. I hear her gasping for breath, and it’s a full minute before she calms herself down enough to speak. “But… why?” she manages at last.
“Because—” I falter. I’m not totally sure why, but it is. I mean, he certainly wasn’t pleased to see me. And if Alex finds out I had sex with her fiance’s brother, won’t that be kind of awkward? It’s almost a bit incestuous, isn’t it? I know it’s notreally, but it feels wrong, and the last thing I want to do is make her uncomfortable at her own wedding. “It just is, Steph. The best man is Michael’s brother—Alex’s brother-in-law-to-be. We hooked up before I knew, and then tonight I saw him again, and… Ugh, it’s just weird.”
“Yeah, okay. I see what you’re saying. This does put you in a tricky situation.”
I reach for my chamomile tea and inhale the fragrant scent before taking a sip. I might need something stronger.
“Maybe you’re overreacting,” Steph says. “Alex will understand. It’s not like you did it on purpose—you didn’t even know who he was. And it’s not like it will happen again, right?”
I cradle the steaming cup in my hands. Before I can stop it, my mind slingshots back to the plane. I think of the way Luke growled my name, the way he touched me and made me feel pleasure I didn’t even know was possible. A delightful thrill runs up my body. I don’t want to make things awkward for Alex, butGod, if he wanted to do it again, would I be able to say no?
“Harriet?” Steph’s voice cuts into my thoughts.
“Er, well… no.”
