I glanced at Griffin one last time. My vision blurred over.
“I would’ve loved you with my whole heart,” I whispered.
If only I’d met him in another life.
I pressed two fingers to my lips and held them out to him.
Then I slipped through the door and out of his life.
Chapter Nine
JULIETTE
Twenty minutes later, the Uber driver eyed me in the rearview mirror. He’d been doing that since the moment I sat down. At first, I thought it was because he recognized me, or at least thought I looked familiar. But the further we got from the hotel, the more he watched me. “Uh, ma’am? Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I wheezed, sniffing and wiping my nose. Why couldn’t I stop crying? Why couldn’t I catch my breath? Andwhydid my chest hurt?
Wait. Was I having a panic attack?Whywould I be having a panic attack? Worse things had happened than this.
Stop crying. It’s not like you actually love Griffin. You hardly know him.
But if that were true, why couldn’t I send this stupid message? I’d typed it out over ten minutes ago.
Juliette
Okay, deep breaths. I mean, it’s a fun thing to mark off the bucket list—Get married in Vegas—check! Pretty unhinged, amirite? No need to freak out. I’ll call my lawyer, get it annulled, and you’ll be back to your bachelor era before the ink’s even dry.
Thanks for the memories.
—Jules
It was flippant and mean. I knew that. I’d stolen his virginity. At that thought, my sobs started back up. But I didn’t change the message—because finding out I was a selfish jerk might make it easier for him to get over.
“Just send it,” I hissed to myself. I lifted my finger to try again, and my heart bucked like a train about to come off the tracks. Now I was seeing floaters. I blinked. Still there. Oh, that couldn’t be good. I pressed my palm flat against my sternum and breathed out a shakyhoo-hoo, hee-hee, like a woman in labor.
“That’s it,” the driver said, stomping the brakes. A horn blared behind us as we narrowly avoided being rear-ended. “I’m not insured for heart attacks.”
“It’s—” I gasped. “—fine. Just… pull over. Starbucks.” I pointed. “I need—” Gulp. “—caffeine.”
“Caffeine is exactly what you don’t need right now,” he muttered. But he did as I asked.
Once my phone disappeared into my pocket, my heart began to right itself. I climbed out of the car and motioned for him to roll down his window. “Stay,” I ordered. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” As soon as I could get control of my appendages and involuntary organs.
“Clock’s ticking,” he said. “I’ve got someone waiting.”
“I’ll pay you double.” I flashed him my award-winning smile. Seriously, it had won awards.
Itworked. He went slack for a second, like I was Will Smith and he’d just been neuralyzed. Then he blinked again, back to normal. “I’m charging you, even if I’m parked,” he warned.
“I’m good for it.”
But hesitation flickered across his face.
“Would you like a drink?” I asked, hoping to bribe him to stay put. “Dubai Chocolate-Inspired Matcha Latte? Or Iced Brown Sugar Oat milk Shaken Espresso?” I shot him with a finger pistol. “How about a slice of warm quiche on the side? Whatever your heart desires.”
“No quiche.” He shuddered. “Disgusting.” He slunk down a bit. “Pink drink with pearls, please,” he mumbled so quietly I almost didn’t catch it. “Don’t tell my friends.”
“A pink drink guy.” I offered him a fist bump. “You got it.”
