“And miss the show?” He grinned.
“So I’m great for a good time, laughs, and apretty face.” She could bite her tongue for letting something sopersonal slip from her mouth. “Never mind. That did not come outright.”
“I guess I’m not the only one who’d ratherkeep things to himself,” he said.
She wrung her hands together, refusing torespond.
Chapter 11
Television sets affixed to the walls infront of the cardio equipment: treadmills, stationary bikes, stairclimbers, and elliptical machines. Lance jogged in place on thetreadmill as Grant worked with the elliptical machine. Music alongwith heavy breathing, grunts, and groans occupied his hearing.Sweat slid down Lance’s neck and back while the pleasant burn ofhis muscles took over. His feet pounded the treadmill.
Nothing personal. The thought repeated in hismind like a commercial. He exhaled puffs of breath. He needed toslow down, but he was past no return.
Only a few more weeks and his troubles wouldbe over. Trouble? Not the best way to describe his situation, buthow did a man handle his future wife and ex at the same time?
He had friends that took pride in having morethan one woman, but for Lance, it only increased the tension in hishead. Thank goodness Chantelle had moved on with her life. Hecouldn’t handle it if she harbored bitterness towards him.
He ran harder. Sweat dripping from his nose.His t-shirt clung to his skin. He pictured himself walking into herhospital room. He had panicked seeing the blood. Lance called 911that night since Chantelle had needed help. He’d been clueless.Making those fateful steps to her room had been brutal.
It was the right thing to do—at least that’swhat his parents convinced him.
“You have your whole life ahead of you,” hismother had said.
His father had only nodded. “Listen to us,son. You and Chantelle are young. I’m proud of you for wanting todo that right thing, but this is too much for teenagers.”
Lance had sat in the empty hospital room withthem, listening to their opinion on his relationship. If he hadstayed, how would he support Chantelle? Lance hadn’t gotten thatfar. Then everything changed.
“Want to slow down there, bro.” Grantpanted.
Lance’s muscles twitched as they reached theend of their endurance. He blocked out the memories. If only hecould run from his problems. If only he could stop the tug-a-warinside. It tempted him to have Andrea to call off the wedding andmeet her in Paris. They could get married with no hassle.
He huffed. She’d never go for it. Andrealoved the camera and being in the spotlight. Lance despised it. Whydid the world need to know?
He asked her to marry him, and she said yes.Simple. Why did their wedding guest list have over five hundredpeople? Half of them, he didn’t know, but between Andrea’scelebrity friends, his friends and family, and his father’sbusiness partners, not inviting them would do more damage thangood.
Chantelle’s face flashed in his mind oncemore. She would’ve listened to him, instead of brushing hisfeelings under the rug. He’d forgotten what it was like to havesomeone listen. He didn’t have to fight for his place with her. Shealways understood. Except that one time.
Her eyes were cold as they bored into himthat night. “Are you kidding me?”
He didn’t respond.
“You want it to be... over?” Her bottom liphad trembled.
“I can’t handle it. Can you?” Lance had to behonest.
“Get out.” Her voice chilled his bones. Herstare burned like a burning coal in his soul.
He stepped forward. “It was a mistake. Can’tyou see that?”
Tears spilled from her eyes. “I should haveknown. Why did you even ask me?”
He couldn’t lie to her. “I love you.”
She turned to her side. “I guess it doesn’tmatter now.”
Lance’s heart raced as he pumped his fists.He couldn’t think about it anymore. It wasn’t fair to Andrea—or tohim.
“Lance?” Grant called out again. “Slowdown.”
“Why?”
“So you won’t fly off that thing,” his friendsaid.
Slowing the speed, Lance switched fromrunning to a slower pace. He grabbed his nearby towel, dabbed hisforehead dry, and wiped behind his neck.
“What’s up with you?” Grant asked.
“Too much going on.”
“The wedding?”
“That. Your sister’s back in town. Mymother’s taking over the wedding, and Andrea who wants to takeanother modeling gig in Paris.”
Grant bobbed his head. “Wow, that is alot.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Anything I can do? We can move up yourbachelor party.”
Lance chuckled. “No, I can wait on that.Besides, I have work to catch up on when I get home.” He waved hishand to dismiss his comment. “I don’t want to talk about meanymore. What about you?”
“Elise wants kids.”
Lance winced, but hoped his discomfort didn’tshow. He would listen to his best friend. “You don’t?”
“I do, but it makes me nervous.”
“Why?”
“Wouldn’t you be? Having a—” Grant shut hiseyes as if realizing his mistake. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t be. I’m cool.” He wouldn’t admit thetruth right now. “I say learn as you go.” He gulped from his waterbottle. “Nobody’s perfect and you’ll do great.”
“Thanks.” Grant wiped his own sweatyforehead. “You sure I can’t help with anything?”
“Like what? Picking out the food for thereception?”
Grant laughed. “I guess you’re right. Not mything either. Still, you can’t go wrong with chicken.”
A laugh escaped Lance’s mouth. “According toAndrea, maybe chicken or fish. No beef.”
Grant choked. “What! No beef?”
“That’s what I said. A man needs a burgersometimes. Even your sister eats burgers.” Did that slip out of hismouth? He and his best friend didn’t talk much about his past withChantelle. Grant and he had only grown closer in the last fewyears. Lance didn’t blame him for wanting to protect his sister.Though they buried the hatchet, Lance treaded lightly whendiscussing Chantelle with Grant.
“What’s up with you and my sister?” Grantasked.
“Nothing. We ate today at Jasper’s Diner.Nothing major.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.” What more did he need to do? Gethis word in writing?
His friend bobbed his head. “Cool, but do mea favor.”
“What?”
“Don’t hurt her.”
More sweat formed on Lance’s brow. He wipedit away. “Shouldn’t you worry about her hurting your best friend?”It was a long shot, but Chantelle wasn’t the only one who sufferedheartbreak. He may not have expressed it as she did, but he blamedhimself for years. Was the stress
