The Mistake (Bad Bridesmaids #1) - Noelle Adams Page 0,11

was a little clearer. But she was having trouble keeping her eyes open, and with clarity came a heavy ache of loss that she’d successfully been holding back.

“I need a drink,” she whispered. Maybe to Robert or maybe to herself.

He looked like an old-fashioned movie star with his bow tie undone and his collar open. He’d been slouched down in his chair, holding a whisky glass that had been near empty for almost an hour now. He hadn’t taken the final sip. He reached out to slide a half-full glass of water toward her.

She curled up her lip. “Not water.”

“If you drink more champagne, you’ll start groping me again.”

Her huff of indignation was half-real and half-feigned. “I never groped you!”

“We’ll have to disagree on that conclusion.”

“Well, I won’t do it again. I was just trying to get you to dance.”

“I know that. I’m not fool enough to think you meant it, which is why I didn’t reciprocate. But I thought we’d gotten past the sloppy-drunk part of the evening. Do we really need to backtrack?”

It was the fact that he’d used the word sloppy. That was what kept her from insisting. She didn’t mind being a lot of things, but she couldn’t tolerate his thinking she was sloppy.

“I’m not sloppy.” Her voice quavered slightly. “I’m just...”

“Sad. I know. But drinking can only do so much to stop that.”

Once again, it felt like he could read her completely. All the way down to where her deepest secrets lurked. “I’m not sad. You don’t know anything about me.”

“If you say so.”

She didn’t even have the energy to argue with him, although he definitely deserved it. She took a couple of gulps of water. More than half the guests had left the reception now. Only four or five energetic couples were still dancing, and scattered small groups were sitting at tables, nibbling on remaining goodies or talking.

Taylor had left immediately after Stacey and Dave, saying she’d done her duty and could now go home to her dog. She’d asked if Robert wanted to leave with her, but he’d said he was fine.

No matter how infuriating he could be, she was glad he hadn’t left.

She would have been left all alone.

She kind of felt that way regardless. Like she’d lost her sister and her oldest friend and her dreams all on the same day.

“It’s just hard,” she murmured.

“I know it is.”

She turned at the quiet sympathy in his tone. “Have you experienced it? Losing everything you’ve dreamed about?”

His mouth twisted oddly before he replied, “No. I’ve never even let myself dream.”

She thought about that. It wasn’t easy because it felt like every thought she had was being drawn down into a dark pit of obscurity in her head. But she fought through it enough to nod. “That must be easier.”

“It’s supposed to be.”

“So you don’t have any dreams at all?”

He shook his head and glanced away from her. “Not about anything I can’t achieve.”

“Then those aren’t dreams. They’re plans.”

“That sounds about right.”

There was an edge of loss in his tone that she felt deeply. That spoke to her. “Maybe I should be like that. I don’t want to feel like this again.”

“You could try, but I think you’re a dreamer. Not everyone can be a cynical asshole like me.”

“That’s true.” She was so sleepy now that her head fell to one side. When darkness started falling, she popped her eyes open with a jerk. “I wasn’t asleep!”

Robert gave another one of those soft, warm chuckles. “I’d say it was touch-and-go there.”

“I’m not that tired. Just bored now.”

“If you’re bored, you probably want to get out of here.”

“Are you going to leave?”

“I’ve only been waiting for you.”

There was something about the words that made her feel good. Made her feel better. She gave him a fuzzy smile and leaned over toward him to put her head on his shoulder. She wasn’t sure why. It just felt like the thing to do at the moment. His shoulder was farther than she’d anticipated. Her lean turned into a fall. She squealed and flailed as she tried to catch herself.

He reached out to put an arm around her, saving her from the near tumble. “Okay. Now that you’ve almost fallen out of your chair, I think we should head home now.”

“Okay.” She sniffed. “I just need to say bye to my mom.” Her mother was still there, the center of attention at a table of her friends. Her father had left ages ago.

With Robert’s help, she gained her