Cole retrieved his bottle, lifted the alcohol to his lips, and slumped against the wall.
I called Lacey.
When Ellis and Jeremy showed up at my door thirty minutes later, Cole was out cold.
Ellis didn’t pry, only asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I assured him. “He’ll be hurting. Not sure how much he drank before he got here.”
Ellis stared at the floor, sucked in a breath, then confessed, “This is my fault. Tomorrow is the anniversary of his sister’s accident. We should’ve had the wedding on a different weekend.”
Speechless, I watched as Ellis and Jeremy hoisted Cole off the floor, and without question or judgement, carried him toward the elevator.
I locked the door and turned. Something sharp dug into my foot. “Jesus! Fuck!” I yelled, hobbling, “Ow, ow, ow.” I flipped the light switch and found a gold crucifix on the floor, dainty and too beautiful not to be hanging from a chain. One of the men must’ve dropped it. I curled my fist around the warm metal, then tucked the pendant into a pocket in my handbag.
I dozed poolside, a glass of orange juice and bottled water on standby. Two children squealed and splashed in the shallow end, their mother enjoying a book under the shade of an umbrella.
I dared the Vegas sun to scorch the Seattle pale clean out of me, enjoying one last dose of vitamin D before heading to the airport.
My phone buzzed.
“Lacey Lulu.”
“Nat Brat.”
“How’s Mrs. Chambers this morning?”
“Oh, my Lord. Say that again. I love being called Mrs. Chambers.”
“Mrs. Lacey Lu Chambers.” I sighed. “How was your wedding night?”
“Perfection. Are you joining us for breakfast? Everyone’s here.”
I hated letting my girl down, but I could not face Cole Adams. Not without self-combusting. “I’m sorry. I changed my flight. Heading home today.”
Lacey whispered, “Hold on one sec.” A chair scratched. Muffled voices. Lacey excused herself. Heavy breaths. “Okay, I’m alone. Are you leaving because of what happened last night?”
“No.” Yes.
“You wanna talk about it?”
“No.” Never. With anyone. Ever. Because admitting my feelings for an engaged man would make me a horrible person, though not as horrible as actually having those feelings. For allowing them to take root, let alone grow into a deadly jungle.
After a long, pregnant pause, she asked, “How did he end up at your hotel?”
Good question. I hadn’t told anyone which hotel I’d booked. “I don’t know, Lacey. He showed up. He was drunk. He babbled about Victoria. He passed out.”
“He looks like shit today.”
A red and white beachball bounced my way, and I kicked it back toward the pool. “I’m surprised he’s out of bed, honestly.”
“I wonder if there’s trouble in paradise? Victoria showed up in a separate car. She had a giant freaking hickey—”
“None of my business,” I blurted. Because I knew things already that I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to hope that there was trouble, that Victoria might suffer a broken heart. I wouldn’t be that person.
“Are you sure I can’t change your mind? We had a whole day planned, all of us.”
“I’m sorry, Lacey. Please don’t be mad.”
With a huff, she freed me. “I know you have your reasons. And I know you well enough not to push. Let me know when you’re home safe?”
“I will.” I paused, fighting tears, hating that I was letting my best friend down. I wanted to ask her about Cole’s sister, but again, none of my business. “Enjoy your first day of being Mrs. Chambers.”
Lacey laughed her genuine laugh, not her courtesy laugh. She would be fine without me. She had Ellis now. She would be better than fine for the rest of her life.
“Love ya,” I whispered, biting back tears.
“You, too.”
I enjoyed the sun for another half hour. Took a quick dip in the pool. Showered. Packed. Checked out. Waited outside for my shuttle to the airport.
My phone chimed.
Fucking cunt
I see you
Ugly cow
Hope ur plane crashes
My skin prickled. I didn’t look around. I no longer gave a shit.
“We need to talk,” came a weary voice over my shoulder.
“No,” I said, tucking my cell into my handbag, keeping my back to the man who seemed determined to ruin me.
“I’m sorry about last night.”
“I’m sorry I let you in.” I stared at the hotel sign across the parking lot.
Cole huffed, his breath blowing my hair, making me shiver.
“I was shitfaced. But I knew what I was doing, what I was saying. And I shouldn’t have dumped that bullshit on you. I was so fucking selfish, hoping you’d be the one to cross that last line, to give me permission to—”
“Stop.” I whipped around and clamped a hand over his mouth. “Just stop. We are not going there. Do you hear me? This is over. No more. We are never to be in the same space again, got me?”
He couldn’t answer, my hand sealed tight over his lips. He studied me, my entire face, his eyes liquifying. He blinked. Nodded. Took a step back.
My arm dropped to my side, and a hefty weight lifted from my shoulders. I would have to be the one to go. I would have to step away from my best friend so she could be happy with her new life. I would be the one to distance myself so Cole could move forward with his commitment to Victoria, torment free, temptation free.
“Walk away. I don’t want apologies. I don’t want to see you ever again. We are nothing.” I turned my back and exhaled, settling into my new reality.
“Thank you, Natalie.” His breath blew over my shoulder, making me shiver despite the desert heat. “Thank you for being stronger than me.”
The first tear fell when I spied the shuttle down the street. The next fell when his footsteps retreated. I straightened my spine, sucked up the emotion, and tamped that shit down tight, low in my gut, where it would be sure to fester and poison me later. But that was fine, because I was not going to lose my shit in public
