I laugh. “Good to know. I’m maid of honor, so don’t worry about picking me up or anything; I’ll already be with the bride for most of the day. You could just meet me at the venue, if that’s easier. Honestly, you don’t even have to come to the ceremony part if it’s not your thing.”
“I don’t mind the ceremony. I like Ridge, and Dr. Keller’s a good boss. It’d be an honor, actually. I assume it would be to their wedding?”
I nod. “Yes, that’s right. I’ll see you there, then. It starts at three. I’ll send you the details.”
“You don’t have my number.”
I pull out my phone. He rattles it off, and I type it in, hit send on a quick message before I can second-guess any part of this. His phone buzzes in his pocket a second later.
“There you go,” I say. “We’re all set.”
“I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, Carla.”
I smile and turn to walk away, and the smile slips about two steps later, somewhere around the corner where he can’t see my face anymore.
Guilt is a strange thing to feel about a guy I haven’t even gone on a date with yet.
“What’s wrong with you?” Robyn is in the lobby already. She’s seen my smile fade. “You look like someone stole your puppy.”
“Very funny. I don’t have a puppy.”
“What is it, then? Did you accidentally eat an entire bar of chocolate and now you’re spiraling?”
“Ha ha ha. No.” I shake my head. “I asked Malachite to be my plus one at your wedding.”
“Did he say no?” She frowns. “That can’t be right,” she mutters to herself.
“He said yes.”
Her eyes go wide, and her whole face lights up. “That’s great! He’s such a nice guy. He’s been eyeing you since the day he started, you know. Two and a half months now.”
“Two and a half months?” I stop walking. “I thought he started a few weeks ago. Three, tops.”
“Nope. He’s been on this floor since the hangar got ripped apart. Ridge put him here for extra security.” She rolls her eyes, fond and exasperated at once. “He’s so protective. Why do you look so glum if Malachite said yes? He’s gorgeous. I figured you’d be thrilled.”
I shrug. “Because he’s so nice, Robyn. I basically warned him upfront that it’s just a date and it’s not going to turn into anything. I don’t want to lead him on.”
“You warned him?” She laughs outright. “That is not how dating works. You’re supposed to go out, have a good time, and see where it goes. You don’t preface the whole thing with a disclaimer. Poor guy.”
“I know, but—” I lift a shoulder. “I’m still off guys, I think. I’ll get back into the swing of it eventually. I don’t want to lead him on because he does like me and he is sweet.”
“Maybe Malachite is exactly what you need.”
“You know, you might be right.” I say it like I believe it, even though I don’t.
I do make myself a promise to try, though. I want to feel like myself again.
I want things to go back to how they were before Mistveil.
Before I was with him.
I’ll get there.
41
Magma
It’s the big day.
