Dragon's Fake Wedding Date - Riley Storm Page 0,21

Trent, and of course, Samantha and Sache, the lovebirds. Her friends Andrea and Jamie were also there with their guys, both of whom were clearly feeling somewhat self-conscious next to the chiseled physiques of the other men.

But they all have partners. They’re all in love. Everyone but me.

The event almost felt like more of a wake for Gayle’s dead love life than it did a birthday party.

“Are you going to be glum for the rest of the night?” Claire asked, leaning in from the chair on Gayle’s left.

“I am not glum,” she protested.

Claire lifted her eyebrows in silent question.

“Glum is far too nice of a word to describe what I am,” Gayle said, managing to laugh at herself without having to fake it. “I’ll be okay though, I promise.”

“Are you sure?” Claire asked, reaching out to pat her knee in physical support.

“I may not be the happiest person right now,” Gayle admitted. “But I’m being completely honest when I tell you that I am happier now, with all of you here, than I would be just moping around here on my own.”

“Well, that’s good,” Lilly said from her spot across the coffee cable. “I’ve never been called a party-pooper before, and I certainly don’t intend to start now. That will be on my birthday, thank you very much.”

The group had a laugh, Gayle included.

“No, seriously,” Gayle added, addressing everyone. “Thank you all for coming. This is without a doubt been the shittiest birthday weekend I may have ever had—and that includes my sweet sixteenth when my crush left the party instead of having to make out with me during spin the bottle!”

More laughter ran through the group, and once more Gayle joined them, her spirits temporarily lifted.

“You were no good for him anyway!” Jamie called across the room. “It never would have worked out.”

Gayle stuck her tongue out. “That’s only cause you had the hots for him too. He had no problems kissing you in the closet. Of course, that’s probably because you let him feel you up, you hussy!”

Jamie gasped in mock surprise. “It was over the shirt!” she protested, even as the crowd all burst out laughing.

They all devolved into smaller conversations after that. Many of them turned to their partners.

Partners Gayle didn’t have.

The darkness loomed up over her again. She tried to fight it back, but she couldn’t.

“Back in a sec,” she said to Kristin as she got up. “Need some more ice.”

Kristin gave her a look but just nodded, as if sensing that Gayle needed a moment.

Her walk out of the living room into the kitchen was slow and calm, but once she was out of sight of everyone, Gayle slumped back against the cupboards.

“What am I doing with myself?” she moaned silently, her brain filled with pictures of her friends and their men.

I will not have a breakdown yet. Not until after everyone leaves!

She took some deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

Sam came into the kitchen about a minute later.

“Hey,” she said, walking right up to Gayle and wrapping her in a hug.

Neither of them said anything. Sam just held her, a support, a true friend, someone that wouldn’t betray her. Gayle shuddered several times, but she fought back the actual tears.

“He’s a dick,” Sam said. “Forget him.”

“It’s not just him,” Gayle said, sighing. “It’s everything, Sam. I’m turning thirty tomorrow, and I have nothing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m feeling lost. I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. I’m thirty, no children, no man, not even a dog. Nothing that I envisioned I’d have by now. Mikey and I dated for two years. I was ready to get engaged, plan a wedding, and think about having kids soon. All of that. Yet here I am with absolutely none of it.”

“Oh,” Sam said.

“Honestly, in regards to splitting with Mike, I’m doing better than I expected when it comes to that. It’s more feeling lost. Alone. A bit of a third-life crisis,” Gayle finished with a hiccupy-laugh.

Sam grinned. “You’re still young enough to figure this all out without issue though. Certainly better than getting a dog, kids, and a marriage to someone and then finding out he’s a douchebag.”

Gayle nodded. “I think that’s part of the reason why I’m maybe not as heartbroken over Mikey in particular as I might have been. It’s more just feeling alone that’s getting to me, I think.”

“You aren’t alone though,” Sam said. “You’ve got a room full of people back there that love you. That are here for you.”

“I