Okay. Fuck him for good this time…
Twenty-Six
PRESENT DAY
KATIE
Two days later
Agusty wind whipped across the beach, sending my notebooks flying to the ground.
Sighing, I stooped down to pick them up and flipped to the page where I’d left off.
The Amari and Clyde Wedding.
It was eight months from now, but I’d rather spend my remaining time here focusing on things in the future. Anything to prevent my mind from looping through my last argument with Asher or trying to figure out why the hell he’d switched so hard.
How could his anger just come out of nowhere like that?
I shook away the thought and clicked my pen.
Peach and ivory accent flowers with hints of eucalyptus…
“Um, is there a reason you’re not getting ready for the ‘friends and family’ night?” Madison blocked my sunlight.
“Because I’m not going.” I flipped a page. “Have a good time, and tell me how it goes.”
She didn’t move.
She stood there, glaring at me, continuing to block the light.
“Is there something else I can help you with, Madison?” I asked. “I’m focused on helping one of our very high-profile clients.”
She groaned and moved closer, snapping my folder shut.
“Let’s go,” she said. “Now.”
“Or else what?”
“I’ll tell the team where you’ve really been for the past several nights.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Guess what, guys?” She crossed her arms. “You know the guy that has sabotaged a good chunk of our work over the years? Yeah, our boss has been in his room every night, and I don’t think they’ve been swapping apologies…”
“You promised me you would never say a word.”
“And you promised us—all of us—that you would always keep it together.” She gritted her teeth. “Keep it together.”
I held back a sigh and stood to my feet.
She motioned for me to start following her, but my feet felt like anchors.
“Come on, Katie,” she pleaded. “You know I wouldn’t really tell anyone about Asher, but?—”
“We’re done with each other.” I interrupted. “For real this time… I was a fool for ever thinking we could be anything real.”
“I’m sorry…” She moved closer. “Dare I ask what happened?”
