Keysha:I’m so sorry. Take it easy. Everything is under control here.
Tally:Thank you so much. I don’t deserve you.
Keysha:Of course you do. I’d better not hear that nonsense from you again. Don’t forget to hydrate and shower. You’ll feel better if you do.
I probably would too. But I needed a little more time to get myself together first, and that meant coffee.
With a grunt of effort, I tossed the covers back and swung my feet off the bed. They hit the floor, and I gave myself a moment to adjust before standing. I wandered through the apartment to the kitchen, phone in hand.
I had a good quality coffee maker, which I started up, and meanwhile, scanned the room for any mess remaining from last night. There wasn’t anything. Alec must have tidied up before he left. God bless the man. I wondered whether he’d gone home last night or if he’d slept on the couch before driving in for practice bright and early.
Hopefully, the former. The couch wasn’t built for a man his size to use as a bed.
I scanned the fridge, trying to recall whether I might have left anything good inside, and spotted the creamy cardboard wedding invitation held to the door by a magnet. The elegant gold calligraphy stared at me accusingly.
My lower lip wobbled.
Damn, I’d forgotten about my cousin Lake’s wedding next month. Lake was Coral’s older sister, and Thad and I had already RSVP’d to attend her destination wedding in Hawaii together.
Now, I’d have to go alone.
Not only that, but I was confronted by the very real possibility that all my extended family may know—or hear sometime between now and then—what had been going on between Coral and Thad behind my back. I’d have to face their pity or judgment.
It would be humiliating.
My throat tightened and my eyes prickled, but I was all out of tears. That was something, at least.
The machine beeped and I served myself a mug of coffee and drained it in seconds. I refilled and placed the mug on the kitchen counter while I tapped out a message to Lake. If I was going to have to embarrass myself, I might as well get the first step over with while I was already wallowing.
Tally:Thad won’t be accompanying me to your wedding anymore. Sorry for any inconvenience.
There. That sounded polite. Professional. There was no silent accusation about whether she might have known that her younger sister was screwing my boyfriend.
I took my coffee to the couch and set it down while I lit the vanilla-scented candle in the center of the coffee table.
Lake:I know. Coral called last night and said he’d be coming with her. Sorry if it’s awkward for you, but chin up. There are plenty of fish in the sea.
My jaw dropped. What. The. Hell?
It had never occurred to me that Coral, the man-stealer, might blatantly bring my ex as her date to her sister’s wedding. There would be no hiding the situation either. Coral was a bridesmaid, which meant people would pay attention both to her and her partner.
I buried my face in my hands to muffle my scream.
I should pull out. Just not go.
That would be the best thing to do. Then I wouldn’t have to see Thad and Coral playing at being a happy couple and no onewould be whispering about my failed relationship behind my back.
But I already had the plane tickets. I’d booked a non-refundable room at the resort where the wedding was being held. Was I really willing to give up a week in Hawaii because of those two awful human beings?
It might be worth it. The humiliation factor would be huge. But still. I’d never been to Hawaii before, and if I didn’t go now, then it would look like I was ashamed and hiding away. Perhaps the hiding part was accurate, but I had nothing to be ashamed of.
They were the ones who ought to be ashamed.
I wrapped my hands around my cup of coffee and drank deeply, hoping the caffeine would make the right course of action more clear. Unfortunately, all it did was make me aware enough to realize I hadn’t brushed my teeth last night and no doubt had terrible morning breath. I undoubtedly also could use an all-round freshen up.
I considered leaving the rest of the coffee but decided the extra kick might be nice, so I finished the mug and headed for the shower.
Once I’d been scrubbed from top to bottom and my mouth was minty fresh, I dressed in jeans and a top and debated how to fill the day. I could just flop on the couch and finish watching Pride and Prejudice, but I’d done enough wallowing last night. I needed to keep myself at least slightly busy.
