The Mistake (Bad Bridesmaids #1) - Noelle Adams Page 0,24

the mouth. “I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”

She almost—almost—suggested doing it again. She knew he only did casual relationships, but they could still be casual and have great sex more than once.

But she also knew herself. She wasn’t a casual person. She could handle this much without a problem, but any more and she might start to get attached.

And the biggest mistake she could make was getting attached to this particular man. He’d never let himself get bound by emotional strings, so it would only bring her frustration and heartache.

She was smarter than that. She’d already had her heart broken by harboring feelings for a man who didn’t want her. She wasn’t going to do it again, not now that she was finally recovering.

So this would be it. A heart-stopping memory. And nothing more.

“So I guess I’ll see you around then,” she said. “I’m sure there will be another wedding soon.”

He smiled and stood up. There was a flicker of something bittersweet in his expression before it disappeared behind his typical cool composure. “Absolutely. There’s always another wedding.”

“For people who aren’t us.”

“Exactly.”

She nodded. She felt kind of strange but basically good. She could do this. It didn’t have to be a big mistake. “Okay. Well, drive safe going home.”

He gave one of those soft huffs of laughter that he did a lot around her. “I always do.”

“Okay. Bye then.” She thought about getting up and walking him to the door. Maybe that was the normal thing to do. But it felt awkward. She felt better staying right where she was.

“I’ll lock the front door behind me,” he said before he walked out of the room.

Then he was gone. She listened and heard the front door close. Then his SUV start up and drive away.

He’d left. Her one-night stand was over.

It was too late (or early) to message any of her friends and tell them about it. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to spill. So instead she lay back down on the bed, hugged her knees to her chest, and giggled privately.

The night definitely hadn’t turned out the way she’d expected.

five

ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON, Amanda was trying on another bridesmaid dress.

Weddings—like babies—seemed to happen in clusters. Her good friends were mostly those she’d made at school, so they were all around her same age. Most of them had gone to college and/or grad school and started careers for themselves. But they were all approaching thirty now, and it seemed to be the year when they were deciding it was time to get married.

Not her. She hadn’t had a date since her one-night stand with Robert five weeks ago. Her dry period wasn’t because of him. Of course not. She knew exactly what their night together meant, and she wasn’t foolish enough to expect or hope for anything different. It was only because she hadn’t been asked out by a guy she had any interest in.

She wasn’t holding out for Robert. He’d sent her a text the day after that night, saying he’d had a good time and he appreciated everything she’d given him. She’d been surprised and touched by the note and had worked on her response for a ridiculously long time, making sure she sounded sincere but also not too clingy or naive. But she hadn’t heard from him since.

It was fine.

It was all good.

It was just as well.

She didn’t want Robert for anything but sex anyway.

Currently she was a bridesmaid for another of her school friends, and they were out in Azalea at Ri’s bridal shop for the final fitting before the wedding.

This wedding was more casual. Outside in a garden. The dresses were fun and flirty in a lovely dusky pink with a wide, twirly skirt. Maybe they were over-the-top girly, but Amanda didn’t care. It was the best dress she’d ever had as a bridesmaid.

She gave a silent, happy squeal as she spun around in front of a multipaned mirror. The dress made her look lush and curvy, and the color was great with her skin and hair.

“I love it!” she said, turning around to face Ri, who had on a duplicate of the same dress.

“I do too. I think they’re gorgeous.” Ri came over to stand beside her, spinning in front of the mirrors the way Amanda had. “Yours looks perfect. Is it too tight in the boobs?”

“No. I don’t think so. It feels right. Is it pulling weird?”

“No.” Ri gave the fabric a few tugs and nodded in satisfaction. “It’s great. What I’d