him. He’s great.”
I was going to be sick. Right here on the expensive linens.
Kate sat up straight in her chair. “Is he available?”
Again, Alicia looked at me from the corner of her eye. “He sure is.”
I wanted to yell and scream my warning to the girls, Stay away from Cameron Hakes, he’s a monster. But my ability to form words eluded me. There were too many people around, too many sets of ears to hear what I wanted to tell them about Cameron. These girls had no idea what they were messing with. Flirting with Cameron was like flirting with a rattlesnake. Utterly and completely dangerous.
“Good,” Rose said before downing the rest of her mimosa. “Nothing perks a wedding up like a groomsman to flirt with.”
The floor swayed beneath my chair. I’d spent ten years working to get over that name, to forget that person, to wipe any and all memories involving him out of my brain altogether. Yet no matter what I did, no matter how independent I was, and no matter how strong I pretended to be, nothing could erase what had transpired between Cameron and me so long ago.
Scooping my purse up off the floor, I pushed my chair back. “Well, thanks for inviting me. Just let me know when and where to meet you for the fittings, and I’ll be there. And if you need help with anything else, please call me. I’m always happy to help out.”
Alicia looked relieved. “I’m sure you are. I’ll be seeing you later.”
I plucked the bacon off my plate as I stood. “It was a pleasure, ladies.” I started toward the exit, light coming through the glass doors like a beacon. I wanted to get the hell out of there and call Landon. I needed a serious dose of positive energy.
“Oh, Vi?” Alicia called.
I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and turned on my heel. Only Gabe called me Vi. Ever. “Yes?”
Her face was kind as she got up from the table and approached me, but the frostiness in her eyes could have turned the marble floors into an ice skating rink. “I’m sorry about that.”
My knees locked into the upright position while the rest of my body wanted to keel over. What did Alicia know about Cameron? Gabe didn’t even know the whole story. My bladder squeezed, making me need to escape to the restroom so I could lose control of all of my bodily functions at once. Underneath my weight, my ankles began to tremble, and perspiration sprouted from all my pores. Instead of replying, I just shook my head.
She rubbed my arm with sympathy that felt more theatrical than sincere. “I’m sure it’s awkward for you to be in the wedding with Cam.”
“What?” My throat clenched, and it was hard to squeak even one word out. I was not only going to be in Gabe’s wedding, but I was going to be standing next to Cameron Hakes while I did it.
Her perfect chin went down, and her green eyes iced over. “You know, with yours and Cameron’s sordid history. Gabe and I are just hoping you can make it work. For our sake.”
I spun around and stomped away, jetting past the hostess. Bursting through the double doors, all eyes in the Silver Cascade were on me as I practically ran past the windows, holding my breath, willing myself not to fall apart where they could see. I walked a full three blocks before I finally let the dam burst, my tears falling while I kicked the wooden post of a stop sign over and over again.
“Son of a bitch.” The wood was still hard and partially frozen, and it tore open the toe of my shoe.
Every single day, every single hour, every single minute since the night I was wound up in Cameron’s bedroom, I’d begun the process of preparing myself for the moment when I would face him again. Now I was going to have to stand next to him at Gabe’s wedding, pretending that everything was all right in front of the five hundred guests who would be watching me.
I worked so hard at keeping the truth about what happened a secret from Gabe. I fought with everything I had inside to never reveal my most shameful mistake to anyone. Especially Gabe.
My warm tears cooled in the chilly February air while I waited for the bus. I felt like the tiny, perfect bubble I’d created for myself had been popped, and now I was left