“Good morning.”
“I still can’t believe people pay thousands of dollars for one day of their lives.”
“The best day of their lives,” I corrected him. “There’s a difference.”
“If I propose to you, will you do our wedding at a discount?”
“Depends.” I slowly turned around. “How far away is the proposal?”
“Not that far.” He brushed a few strands of hair away from my forehead. “Probably after we’re ‘on’ again.”
I held back a sigh and forced a smile at the not-so-subtle reminder of our relationship status.
I’d almost forgotten that this was a “work” trip for him. That his business retreat and this wedding had happened to collide on the same weekend, and we were sharing a suite as “just friends.”
Small touches and kisses here and there? Fine.
Talks about the future or anything intimate? Off-limits.
“I need to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.” I slowly stepped out of his arms. “I’ll see you later tonight?”
“Maybe at the bar later.” He looked at his watch. “I have a private reservation with my team tonight.”
“Okay, great.” I held my fake smile as he kissed my forehead, then I slipped back into the suite.
Taking a quick shower, I pretended not to notice the tears that pricked my eyes.
I’d yet to read a romance where a relationship like mine ended in a happily-ever-after, but I was holding out hope that I could defy the odds.
Besides, romance was fiction. This was reality…
I toweled off and put on a grey dress and pinned my “planner” nametag against the fabric. Then I pulled my hair into a low bun and secured it with a glittering silver clip.
Stepping into my favorite pair of nude-colored stilettos, I grabbed my bag and headed to the door.
I stood still for several moments, waiting for Brad to look up from his laptop and tell me I looked pretty, for him to rush over to me for a long kiss and declare that we were “back on” and demand that we have sex right here, right now, but the moment never came.
His fingers continued tapping against his keyboard, and the only thing that touched his lips was the coffee mug at his side.
Stop waiting, Katie. Just leave.
I stepped out, and as much as I wanted to slam the door to get his attention, I didn’t.
* * *
The rehearsal dinner was already underway by the time I stepped into the ballroom.
Waiters and waitresses weaved in and out of the kitchen, balancing the first course on their trays as they served the largest wedding party I’d had to date.
With thirty bridesmaids and thirty groomsmen, it was a miracle that everything had gone smoothly from the start.
“I’d like to make a toast, if I could!” The best man tapped his glass on stage, and I stepped into the hall to check on dessert.
Tiramisu? Check. Chocolate mousse with strawberry garnish? Check.
“The grim reaper is here.” Madison rushed up to me. “He’s freakin’here.”
I gasped at her mention of that code name and scanned the table for Asher Brooks.
