* * *
Evan wasn’tin the penthouse when we returned.
“He already went back to New York City,” Mika said with a yawn, swiping on her phone. “That’s weird. I can’t believe he just left without saying anything.”
I mulled it over on the plane ride back the next morning and then on my way to meet up with my friends to organize the rehearsal dinner.
“Maybe I was too harsh,” I said to Amy as I helped her put out the flowers and decorate the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.
It was a sports bar in a typical old historic building that looked as if it hadn’t been renovated since the eighties. It had small tables, a bathroom right off the main space, and baseball memorabilia thumbtacked to the crumbling plaster walls. I would never in a million years choose it for the rehearsal dinner of my worst enemy. Not even Imogen deserved this, but Teddy had insisted.
“You weren’t harsh. You barely know the guy,” Amy assured me.
“But it’s not his fault, it’s Camilla’s. I should have at least talked to him about it. That would have been the adult thing to do.”
“And he could have told you about it, considering he’s known for days,” Amy countered. “But money can’t buy class, as we can all see.” She gestured around the restaurant. One of the ancient baseball posters finally gave up the ghost at that moment and clattered to the floor, its Plexiglas frame cracking.
“Was Imogen seriously all right with this?” Grace asked me as she took some test shots from on top of a ladder. “This is a pretty dinky restaurant.”
“Rehearsal dinner is hosted by the groom’s family,” I said with a sigh. “I offered to organize a different venue. But Teddy wouldn’t hear of it.”
“Man, I love this place!” Teddy whooped as he staggered in with his lacrosse buddies, who were still drunk from their postgame celebration. They almost ran into Sophie, who was delivering the requested bright-blue-and-red New York Giants-themed cake. Teddy slapped his hand on the long bar along one side of the restaurant and announced, “A round for everyone here. Even you ladies!” he said, pointing at us.
I winced as Imogen stormed up to him. “We’re trying to have a classy rehearsal dinner.”
“I know,” Teddy said, draining his glass then burping. “That’s why we brought a karaoke machine.”
I left them to squabble and went to set out the smaller gift sacks that were to thank out-of-town guests and members of the wedding party who were attending that evening. Evan arrived as I helped the restaurant workers rearrange the tables.
“Evan,” I called, going over to him. I lifted my arms to hug him, but he turned away from me.
“You have some nerve,” he said, voice tense with… was heangryatme?
“I have some nerve?” I sputtered. “You’re the one who—”
“Yes,” he said, cutting me off. “You’re such a hypocrite and a liar. After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me? You’re just as bad as Camilla.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, and I didn’t care. “You can’t compare me to her. I’ve been there for you, always. For fuck’s sake, I hid you after your wedding!”
“Yes, you found poor alone me and thought, ‘Oh, look, there’s someone I can stick my claws into,’” he spat. “As soon as I met your mother, I should have known you were just as trashy as she was. I’ll pay you for your work here, but after the wedding tomorrow, I never want to see you again. I wish I had never met you.”
“Fuck you, Evan Harrington.”
He turned away from me before I could say anything else. My fists balled as I forced myself not to cry. I went to the nearest table and fussed with the flower arrangements. On the other side of the room, Camilla wrapped her arm around Evan, kissed him on the cheek, and shot me a triumphant look.
“Guess I win,” she said, sauntering over to me, rubbing her still-flat belly. “I don’t know why you even bothered. Evan was just using you for sex. I’m the one he’s in love with. And I’m going to make sure everyone knows you were trying to ruin my marriage. No one will hire your firm ever again.”
I could feel the tears coming, and I turned and fled to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I couldn’t face Evan. The bathroom opened right out into the main restaurant seating area, and I muffled my sobs so that they couldn’t be heard through the door.
Ivy:So fuck Evan…
Grace:Girl, what the hell? Is that man back with Camilla now?
Amy:Let her have him. There are better men out there.
Ivy:I don’t want Camilla to hurt him.
Ivy:He’s not in his right mind.
