“Think about it.” I gestured vaguely at everything. “Tensions are already nuclear, and we don’t need to add relationship detonation to the mix. I just…I don’t want this to ruin their wedding day.”
He studied me, something shifting in his expression. “So we wait until after the wedding, when they leave for their honeymoon, and by the time they get back, we’ve all miraculously worked out our shit?”
I nodded.
“I’m not sure how to do that.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding into every syllable. “Things are already so awkward between Cam and me…”
“You’ve been…”
The door opened.
The words died in my throat.
“Jax,” Owen practically yelped, rocketing out of his chair like he’d been electrocuted. The guilt radiating off him could have powered a small city.
“You ready?” Jax asked, checking his phone. “We’re running late.”
Owen nodded, then glanced back at me. The look lasted maybe three seconds, but felt like an eternity, heavy with everything we weren’t saying. He nodded again, some kind of silent agreement passing between us, before following Jax out.
The door clicked shut behind them.
I dropped my forehead onto the table with a dullthunk.
“Fuck!”
CHAPTER 6
OWEN
I saton the wooden bench, fingers working the laces of my skates. The locker room was empty except for me and the millions of voices in my head.
You can’t break up with Cam right now.
Harlow’s words circled through my brain like a vulture.
Was this a great idea or the worst plan ever? The jury was still out.
I pulled my laces tight, tighter than necessary, feeling the bite against my fingers.
Three more days.
We leave for the beach house tomorrow. The problem was I’d never been good at pretending, and I hated lying. But Jax and Kaia deserved their perfect wedding, and they didn’t deserve to have all of my relationship drama fucking everything up.
Harlow was right. If this blew up now, it would be catastrophic. It could be what destroys real friendships.
At least that was the lie I kept selling myself at 3 AM.
I moved to my right skate, my hands steadier now that they had something to focus on. The locker room door creaked open. I didn’t have to look up to know who it was. Bennett had a way of existing loudly even when he was trying to be quiet.
“You ready?” He held the door open, one eyebrow raised. “We got an hour.”
“Yep.” I pushed up from the bench. “Let’s do this.” I followed him into the hallway. “Is anyone else coming?”
He nodded. “Yeah, Jake and Ty are waiting at the gate.”
We met them at the entrance to the rink. Jake was mid-story about some girl.
Their laughter bounced off the walls while my thoughts circled the drain.
