Rate a Date by Monica Murphy Page 0,79

the truth. “I got in too deep, and I couldn’t figure out what to say next.”

“So you built a lie on top of a lie then.” She sighs, the sound full of so much disappointment. I swear to God I just felt my heart crack wide open. “I gave you my trust, Mitch. I thought what we had was special.”

Her using the past tense about what we had is freaking me out. “It is special, Eleanor. You mean a lot to me. Our weekend was—everything. Our talks every night, they get me through the next day.”

“Right. The next day when you’re out on the football field and conducting interviews on ESPN or whatever the hell,” she says snottily.

My heart drops. Did she see me on ESPN?

“Yes, I saw you,” she says, confirming my internal question. “My friend found you on the internet. I told her your first and last name, and she looked you up. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner. I guess I’m just too trusting.”

The imaginary knife in her hand just keeps stabbing me directly in the heart. “Eleanor, please. Know that I never meant to hurt you.”

“Well, you did.” She sounds like she’s holding back a sob, and holy hell, that sort of makes me want to cry too. “Goodbye, Mitch.”

The call ends.

My phone slips from my hands, landing on the floor with a thunk. I sit on my couch, staring into space, going over what she said to me. What I said to her. What I could’ve said that might’ve made a difference.

I come up with nothing. I’m a liar. I lied to her. I hurt her. This woman, who matters to me more than any other woman I’ve met in my life, I hurt her. Destroyed her trust in me. So stupid.

Running my hands through my hair, I leap to my feet and start pacing. How can I fix this? I need to fix it. I can’t let her go. No way. No fucking way. She’s mine. Eleanor’s going to learn real quick...

I don’t give up that easily.

Twenty-Four

Eleanor

It’s Caroline’s wedding day and I look like I’ve been crying for the last forty-eight hours straight.

Oh, maybe that’s because I have been crying for the last forty-eight hours. Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but that’s what it feels like. The crying started Thursday night after I ended the call with Mitch. He never apologized. He never once said he was sorry for lying and hurting me. Seriously, what a jerk.

Friday was tough. I worked all day, and I was grateful for the distraction, even though I felt like I was in a semi-daze most of the day. Then I had to go to the wedding rehearsal and dinner afterward. The wedding is being held at the Wilder Hotel in Pebble Beach, of course. It’ll be an outdoor ceremony, the reception afterward in a giant tent constructed on the grounds, all of it overlooking the ocean. It’s going to be beautiful.

The rehearsal went smoothly. I’m a bridesmaid, and I’m walking with one of Alex’s college friends. He’s nice enough. Single. Very friendly. Probably looking for a wedding hookup.

Pass.

The dinner afterward was held in a ballroom at the hotel, and the food was amazing. At least, that’s what everyone said.

I could barely eat.

Late Saturday morning and we’re in a suite at the hotel, getting ready. The ceremony is at four, with photos immediately afterward and the reception kicking off at five. Caroline is sitting in a chair in front of a mirror, clad in a pale pink robe that is butter soft. I know this because we’re all wearing matching ones. The back of Caroline’s robe says Mrs. Caroline Wilder.

Just seeing those words scrawled across her back earlier when I first arrived made me tear up. Made me realize that this is actually happening. One of my very best friends is getting married today, and I couldn’t be happier for her.

But I’m also filled with so much melancholy, it’s hard for me to smile. Hard for me to feel joy. All the joy has been sucked right out of me, thanks to Mitch.

I miss him. I want to be able to forgive him, but I can’t worry about that. Not today. He’s tried to text me, but I ignore him. He’s tried to call me as well, but I ignore those too. I can’t talk to him right now. There’s too much going on.

What I really need to do is put my own issues aside