Chapter 1
Maddy
“We’ll just hang out by the bar,” Wes shrugs from the driver’s seat. “I’ll buffer for you. You don’t even have to talk to anyone. All you have to do is smile and look pretty.”
I chew on my lower lip, feeling the frustration building in the worst way. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk to anyone or stand in front of people… I just?—”
“You’re worried about walking down the aisle in those shoes I bought you.” Wes gives my legs a once-over. “Theyarehigher than your usual.” He lets out a hum. “But you know you’ll crush it, right?”
“Alright, so…” I let out an exasperated sigh, “It’snotthe freaking shoes. Would you just let me talk?”
Wes raises his hands briefly in surrender. “I’m sorry.Sorry.My bad. What’s wrong with you then?”
“It’s just that I’m really stressed…” I pause, my voice trailing off now that I suddenly have the floor. The air inside his car is suffocating, reeking of his cologne, a scent I normally like. I let out a deep breath, and squeeze my eyes shut, forcing out the truth. “But it’s not the shoes. Or walking down the aisle. Oranyof that.”
He puts his hand on my knee and squeezes. “Okay, so then just don’t stress about whatever it is. Tonight is going to be fun. Just chill out, Maddy.”
I resist the urge to yell at him. “Wes.”
“What?” He flashes that grin—the one that made me say yes the first time, and every time after. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I got fired,” I finally blurt.There.Just plop the truth out right before our friends’ big day.
He lets out a long sigh that makes my heart sink. “When?”
I swallow my nerves. “Yesterday. They called me in, said I wasn’t a ‘good fit’ and that maybe I’d be happier somewhere more…collaborative. Whatever that even means.”
He snorts, shaking his mop of dark hair. “So, they’re idiots and probably running out of money to pay you. Did you tell them about the time you organized your mom’s entire attic just for fun?”
“Wes, I appreciate the humor, but this is serious…”I might be homeless soon, and I might need to move in with you.
“Hey.” He turns in his seat, his blue eyes softening. “You’re smart. And you’re hot. You’ll get something better in, like, five minutes. I’ll help you with your LinkedIn. You just need a more attractive headshot.”
I know he’s trying to be helpful, but he’s only making me feel worse.
I look out the window, trying to calm my spiraling thoughts. “You can’t just get a new job in five minutes.”
“Okay,six.” He nudges my arm playfully. “Are you going to cry? Should I get tissues? There’s a roll of paper towels in the trunk, but they might smell like gasoline.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, and basically will the tears to stay where they are. “Never mind. It’s fine. I just… Yeah, never mind.”
He lets out a grunt that makes me wince. “Babe, if it’sthatbig a deal, why didn’t you say something earlier? Instead, you’re dropping this on me right before we’re supposed to be having a great night.”
“I was going to tell you,” I breathe out. “But you’ve been busy. And then?—”
“Maddy, listen to me.” He leans in, hand on my thigh. “That place sucked. They never deserved you.”
“Maybe they did let me go because of budget cuts. But also, I missed the deadline on two projects because of the shitty team I was put on, and I realize that I should’ve maybe been better about communicating.”And now I might not make rent because of those poor communication skills.
But I don’t say that, because Wes is giving me a look that makes me immediately feel stupid. Clearly, he thinks I’m just self-deprecating again, because that’s my brand, according to him. We ride in silence for a few moments longer, and then he finally lets out a long, dramatic breath.
“Let’s not let this ruin today, okay?” He reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “We’ll get you drunk and take a bunch of hot photos. I mean, look at you.”
He gestures at me like I’m a prize on some sort of game show, ignoring the fact that I am basically a dumpster fire internally right now.
Who gives a shit if I’m hot?
The thought is so ridiculous I actually laugh. “You’re such an idiot.”
