Page 85 of Weddings, Revenge & Fake Dating

On the other side, I find Ruby. She’s dressed in a tropical-patterned shift dress with two bright orange leis around her neck. She leans on the door frame, breathing hard like she ran miles to get here.

“You’re late for the luau.” She barges in, turns on the light, and searches for something.

“What time is it?” I rub my tired eyes and yawn.

“Sophia’s freaking out,” Ruby explains from the closet. She unhooks a dress from a hanger and tosses it in my direction.

I catch it, but I’m still checking the terrace and bathroom for Nathan. He’s nowhere to be found. We never chatted earlier, and we need to. I want to talk about Roman, now that I’ve had time to digest the information.

“Have you seen Nathan?”

“We don’t have time to search for him.” Ruby digs through my closet, stopping to grimace at a long lacy white dress before moving on to the next item. She finds a dress that matches hers and a pair of lime-green pumps with palm trees propping up the heel. “These will work.”

With her rushing me along, I peel off my clothing and shimmy into the dress. I brush out my hair and twist it into a knot. Ruby produces a flower and pins it into my hair. Then she removes one of her leis and places it around my neck. Now we match.

“What’s wrong with Sophia?” I ask as I hop on one foot, sliding on the second heel.

“No one knows. She’s on the verge of tears. She said she needed to talk to you, ASAP.” Ruby holds open the door, waiting for me.

I freeze for a second, scared of what’s about to happen.

39/

jeanie

Fabulous Fever Dream

The pool deck of the hotel has been transformed again, this time in a rendition of a luau.

Tiki torches outline every walkway. Onstage, a man wearing banana leaves performs a fire dance. Happy partygoers wear flower patterns and leis. Music booms over the sound system.

I spot Sophia in an elaborate high-back wicker chair, drumming her fingers on the armrest. Bridesmaids flutter around her, trying to comfort her. She appears distressed, but she’s not crying, which is a positive development.

“You’re here!” Sophia jumps from her seat.

“Sorry I’m late.”

I’m still unsure why she’s upset when she hooks her arm with mine and tugs me away from the group. She stops behind a catering tent where we’re alone. Perhaps this is the part where she gouges out my eyes for trying to steal her groom.

“That’s not the problem. That is.” She drags aside the fabric panel of the tent. From here, we can view the entire party. She singles out a petite brunette with bobbed hair who’s wearing a stunning red dress.

“Who’s that?”

“Natasha.”

“Your maid of honor? That’s great. She made it.” I meet Sophia’s gaze, but she still looks like she’s about to cry. “Fifi, I was only filling in. She can still be your maid of honor.”

“You’re missing it. Look closer.”

I glance around the draping fabric and that’s when I see him. Nathan stands beside Natasha. I tilt my head and study their actions. Her hands gesture sharply. Nathan shakes his head and inhales. They appear to be having an intense conversation, and neither of them looks happy.

My mind churns for a moment but then lands on the answer.

Natasha, Sophia’s missing maid of honor, is also Nathan’s agent. That’s why Nathan danced at Sophia’s bachelorette party.

How did I not make the connection before? I thought it was a coincidence—two people with the same name. Nathan and I never talked too deeply about the situation.

This is why Nathan came to the party without me. To see her.