it had truly flipped, but God did it feel like it. The hair on the back of my neck stood, and I wanted him by my side. My eyes followed him all the way back to his seat. When he sat, his glance caught mine. Both of us smiled.
The toasts by Ali and Ryan were filled with memories held by lifelong friends. Friends that would be friends forever. I had only a couple of close friends. Austin’s history was full of positive, fun memories. Mine, well, it wasn’t. For the first time in my life, I had hope.
The tap on my shoulder startled me, and when I shifted around, Nick stood glaring at me. He wore his jeans, Harley boots and sleeveless shirt.
Chapter 10
Phoebe
Unexpected Visitor
“NICK!” I GASPED mortified and then immediately ushered him away from the reception so there wouldn’t be a scene. Thank God everyone was preoccupied with the wedding couple at that moment. “What in God’s name are you doing here?” I hissed scrambling away.
How was him being there even possible? This was ridiculous. He had to have hopped on a damn airplane as soon as Austin hung up on him last night.
“I know you don’t love him. This is bullshit. This is about the money, Pheebs.”
He wore the Harley Davidson shirt that I’d bought him last year. I couldn’t stand him.
I negated his words with my head shake. “No. You’re wrong. This has nothing to do with the money. You need to leave. Now,” I gritted through clenched teeth so scared that Austin and I were only in the middle of working through this. It was too soon for something more to happen.
“I’m sorry,” Austin growled from behind me. “You’re who the fuck?” he spat out at Nick. God, how was this happening? I wanted to cry. I wanted to run. I didn’t look at Austin.
“I’m Nick.”
“I had a feeling. May I see your invitation?”
A confused expression crossed Nick’s face.
“Oh, you don’t have one?” Austin asked. “In that case, get the fuck outta here. We are not gonna do this here. Not tonight.”
Nick stepped closer, expanding his chest like this was going to come down to a pissing match. “I’m not goin anywhere, pretty boy.”
“Trust me, you do not want to do this,” Austin threatened.
“You touch him or her, and you will not walk away from this town.”
I spun around to see Zach glaring at Nick. Zach! The freaking groom was out here dealing with my shit. Grant, Ryan, Connor…they were all there behind Zach and Austin. Ryan towered over all of them, then stepped next to Austin and crossed his arms, clearly sending a message. Through mental telepathy, I begged Nick to walk away.
Nick’s eyes didn’t leave me. “Will you please come with me so we can talk?”
Honestly, I thought Austin might answer for me, but he simply looked at me, waiting for my answer. I think he was trying his own mental telepathy. There was no way I was going to screw this up again.
“No, Nick. I’m here with Austin.”
Austin glanced back at Nick.
“I came here to talk with you. Please Phoebe.”
Taking another step toward Nick, Austin threw his arms out to the side. “What the fuck are you not understanding?”
The pleading look on Nick’s face turned to anger in a flash. “This isn’t over.”
“It’s as over as this goddamn conversation is,” Austin said, holding his hand out to me. I took it instantly, but guilt curled in my stomach. Nick had traveled all this way to see me, and I had turned my back on him. For months, I’d asked, begged and demanded to be left alone. Our paths only crossed when Sloan’s drama took front and center. Even so, with each step I took away from him holding Austin’s hand, I heard his heart crack. In his own messed up way, I knew he loved me, and I hated to hurt him. I replayed the night he raised his hand to me to keep me motivated.
“You ok?” Austin asked as the rest of the guys walked past us to rejoin the reception.
I stared at the people in the tent. The camaraderie, the fun, the lifetime of memories, the money…God, all of it…that these people had together. Those guys had left the wedding celebration—not to protect me—but to have Austin’s back. Because that’s what friends do. They go through fire for each other. That’s why this felt so wrong. I was choosing someone I’d known for a month over someone who’d had my family’s