“Then me and my ex-girlfriend started talking and having sex again, and she said something that’s been on my mind ever since.”
“Step away from the door so I can get the hell out of here.”
“You’re not the settling-down type, James,” she said. “It’s true.”
“It’s not that hard to take two steps to the left…”
“I’ve never been committed to anything for longer than eight months in my life, and I leave every job after about two years—max. Hell, I left my latest job last month and I still haven’t told Peyton.” He shook his head. “She’s going to have to pay the rest of what we owe on this wedding by herself.”
Before he could confess anything else, I moved past him and opened the door.
And then I looked over my shoulder.
“Feel free to take this however you wish,” I said, “but you aremorethan a bad person. You’re afucked-up one.”
* * *
“What do you mean he got cold feet?” The bride’s screams were loud enough to rival a freight train. “How can he be ‘too depressed to go through with it?’”
She let out a wail that made me feel the heaviest pang of guilt I’d ever experienced.
“Where the hell is he?WHERE IS HE?”
“He’s on a flight home, Peyton,” a soft voice that sounded all too familiar said. “I’ve just spoken to his therapist.”
“His therapist? What about him?”
“He’s not answering his phone…”
“What about us and the three hundred people who are waiting to see us get married Sunday?”
“I’m sorry,” Katie said, sounding like she was about to cry, too. “I’ll handle letting everyone know, if you’ll allow me to do so. And I’ll happily handle?—”
“Get out.” The bride cut her off. “Get the hell away from me. Now.”
The suite’s door opened within seconds. Katie stepped into the hallway, looking down at the floor.
Looking beautiful as ever, she was wearing a light grey dress I’d never seen her in before, and her hair was falling in long waves past her shoulders.
She let out a slow, unsteady breath, and then she looked up at me.
For several moments, she said nothing. Then she moved toward me with tears pricking her eyes.
“Is there a word stronger than hate in the dictionary?”
“I’m sure there are quite a few.”
“Well, look those up and know that in this moment?—”
“That’s exactly how you feel about me.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Exactly. On the other hand, you look happy. I’m glad someone is smiling today.”
“I’m not happy about this one at all.” I grabbed her arm. “I can assure you of that.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because if I knew what I know now, I would’ve never taken him on as a client.” I pulled the handkerchief from my pocket and dabbed her eyes.
