Clearing my throat, I turn to the room. “Thanks, Mel,” I say jovially, forcing a laugh. “We don’t need the prequel.”
There’s a smattering of nervous laughter around the room, and I catch Myles watching with concern. Mel stops, her severe gaze cutting to me. Then—I cannot believe this—she simply turns back and starts speaking again. The nerve!
Now I’m not so much worried for Alex as I am pissed off. Who the hell does she think she is? She shouldn’t evenbehere right now, let alone standing up to speak. It’s time to put her in her place.
Before I know what I’m doing, I grab her arm and pull—shit, she’s strong—and somehow manage to yank her away from the table and out through a side door into an empty corridor. It’s not until the door has slammed shut behind me and I’ve let go of Mel’s arm that I realize what I’ve done.
Shit.
36
Mel wheels around. “What thefuck?”
I inhale carefully, trying to calm my frenzied pulse.You can do this, you can stand your ground. You’re not in the wrong here, she is. But she takes a menacing step forward, towering over me in her stilettos, and her eyes are so dark with fury that I actually cower a little.
“You can’t give a toast,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s not appropriate.”
“What?” she spits—literally—and I take a step back. “I can do whatever I like.”
I shake my head. “Not here. This is Alex’s wedding, and—”
“Oh for fuck’s sake. She’ll be alright. She’s abiggirl.” Her lips twist into a smirk and I realize she’s trying to insult Alex’s body. It takes all my strength not to slap her.
The door opens beside us and I turn, surprised to find Myles poking his head into the corridor. He slips through the door and looks at me, ignoring Mel. I’ve only known the guy five minutes but I’ve never been so relieved to see someone in my life.
“What the hell do you want?” Mel snaps, but Myles holds his hand up in her face and she jerks back.
He continues to ignore her, speaking to me. “You okay?”
I look at Mel. She folds her arms over her chest, glowering down her nose at me. And something inside me says that I need to do this on my own. I’m strong enough to fight my own battle.
I give Myles a firm nod. “Yes, thank you.”
He reaches for the door handle, but it opens and Dena steps into the corridor. He glances between Dena, Mel and I, hovering. His eyebrows rise in silent question and I nod again. May as well face these two together. Two birds with one stone and all that.
“I’ll be right in here.” Myles gestures to the door and gratitude winds through me as he steps inside. How sweet of him to look out for me. Plus, I get the sense he’s about ready to destroy Mel too.
The door clicks shut and Dena turns to Mel. “Are you alright?”
Mel huffs, shifting her attention back to me. “You know, you and Alex might be the new girls around here, but you’re just nobodies from some hick town in the middle of nowhere. You’re nothing compared to the real women here in New York.”
Despite the sting of her words, I force myself to keep my gaze tethered to hers. This is misdirected anger, it’s not about me. She’s unhappy because of Michael and Henry’s toasts, she’s mad at Alex for marrying her ex, she’s a narcissist who doesn’t like to be challenged. I know that. But that doesn’t make her any less intimidating.
“Just because Alex has snagged Michael doesn’t mean you get Luke.”
My heart jolts. “W-what?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t think we don’t know what’s going on.” She challenges me with her gaze and I glance at Dena, but she just shrugs.
“Let’s go, Mel. It’s not worth it.”
“Oh, really?” Mel says, trying to stir the pot. “You’re not bothered that she’s moving in on your husband?”
“Ex-husband,” I say shakily. “And I’m not—” The words lodge in my throat as Mel takes a step towards me, backing me closer to the wall. My pulse surges and my eyes fly to the door.Myles,I was wrong. I can’t fight this battle alone. Come back.
Mel’s hands go to her hips. “It must be so humiliating being here as Luke’s dirty little secret.”
“I’m not—”
