The hurt look in her eyes made me want to reassure her and tell her exactly how I felt about her and Kaylee but I had no idea how to reconcile the way I felt about them with the way I felt about Kayden. We were new and undefined, but we sure as hell weren’t just a fling and my feelings for the three people in this situation felt like way too much to process or sort out in the middle of a stressful situation.
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to remain even. “You know I love Kaylee, Liv. I’m not asking you to tell Kayden so I can give up my role in her life. Ineverwant that.”
Olivia sniffed loudly. “Then I don’t see what good will come of telling him about her.”
I shook my head sadly and closed my eyes. “She could have us both, Liv. Having more love in her life will never be a bad thing.” I turned on my heel and walked back to my office before I broke down. I didn’t know what else to say and I couldn’t be there for her if I didn’t compose myself first. I turned to face her from the doorway of my office. “I need to finish a few things and then we can take off early to get Kaylee if you want.”
Olivia nodded and wiped her eyes. “Thanks. Are you still coming over for dinner?”
“Of course, Liv,” I said, shutting the door gently. I tipped my head back against the closed door and let go of the emotions I’d been stifling. I was pretty sure my loyalty to Liv and Kayden’s secrets was going to kill me if this lasted too long.
Chapter Fourteen
Olivia
Four Years Ago
I’d been going througha late streak lately and apparently, that was not ending today. My boss had cornered me on my way out the door when he—once again—felt that it was an appropriate time to make completely inappropriate remarks about my clothing, and now I was running straight past the steps of the small wedding venue toward the fenced-in area on the property where the ceremony was taking place.
Despite having graduated from college with a business degree, I’d spent the last two years since then waitressing. Truthfully, I hadn’t been all that inspired by most of the jobs out there. Without a passion to build a business on, my degree didn’t seem all that useful in the real world, and right now, I really enjoyed the restaurant industry, so I was in no hurry to leave.
Besides, I’ll probably be hit on inappropriately by men in business just as much as I am by the man who runs the restaurant where I work now.
A small blonde woman stood at the open fence and gave me an impatient look as I scooted by her and slid into an open seat in the back row of white chairs. The wedding was packed, and I looked around for some of my friends from college. Not seeing any familiar faces, I quickly glanced at everyone in my row.
Where the hell is everyone?
The bride, Jasmine, was a friend from college who I hadn’t spoken to in quite some time, and I’d been surprised when I’d received an invite to the wedding.
I’m sure I’ll find someone I know after the ceremony.
The man sitting next to me turned toward me. “You made it just in time,” he said, nodding to the fence that was being shut.
“Lucky me. Now I get to watch two people profess their love in front of all the family and friends who will be supporting them through a divorce in ten years,” I said.
He chuckled and raised an eyebrow at me. “I don’t think you’re supposed to say that out loud, especially at the wedding. Say it inside your head like the rest of us, at least.”
He smiled affectionately at me and my heart beat faster as I laughed. His smile was a needle-in-a-haystack kind of smile. It was big, without being too big for his face, and he had dimples that accentuated the shape of his lips. I tore my eyes from him before I could be accused of staring.
It had been several months since I’d appreciated the company of a man. Every guy I met on the dating app I used turned out to be someone who I could barely make it through dinner with.Maybe I should get a new app. Or forget apps and troll weddings for a date.
The officiant standing under the arch at the front of the ceremony stepped up to the microphone to welcome us to the Stewart-Reynolds wedding.
Weird, isn’t Jasmine’s last name Parker?
“I’m Kayden,” the guy next to me said quietly. I glanced at him again, letting my eyes roam over his dark brown, slightly tousled hair and the square, dark-rimmed glasses covering his face. His complexion was light, and his eyes were a deep brown that was nearly opaque. He was pretty cute, in a librarian-who-probably-has-lots-of-spreadsheets kind of way.
Yeah, I should definitely start looking for dates at weddings.
I held my hand out with a small smile as the officiant prattled on. “Olivia.”
“It’s nice to be seated next to someone equally jaded, Olivia.” Kayden smirked at me nervously as the fence behind us opened and the groomsmen started filing in. I turned toward the aisle to watch them walk in. I didn’t expect to recognize any of them since I barely knew Jasmine’s fiancé. The smiles of the crowd across from me grew as the last man walked down the aisle and stood next to the officiant.
Okay, I don’t know a lot about Jasmine’s groom, but I do know that he’s Black and this guy is white.
I looked around the crowd again as the procession lulled. The bridesmaids started walking in and I panicked, looking back at Kayden. “Are you here for the bride or the groom?” I whispered, trying to sound as casual as possible.
“The groom,” he said, nodding to the front of the ceremony. “We were friends in college. You?”
