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“Because she keeps doing stupid shit,” I grumble.
“Language,” Mom reminds me.
I roll my eyes. “Anyway, back to Alfred. We’re leaving any minute, so can you pick him up after work? I’ll come over Monday after classes and pick him up.”
“Sure. Come for dinner. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Two days,” I remind her. “We met for coffee. Two days ago. Remember?”
“Well, it feels like forever,” Mom teases. “Is it so wrong of me if I miss my little girl?”
It is when it’s all you ever talk about.
Ever since I moved out last year, things have been strained between us. It’s just the two of us, and I think she depended on me more than I realized. We used to spend a lot of time together, but now there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything I need done and make her happy.
No sooner than I finish talking with Mom, Lily pulls up outside and honks.
Shit.
Flustered, I put Alfred in his pen, the I race around to double check I’ve locked all the doors. I gather my bags and walk out, locking the door behind me. All while Lily repeatedly honks that damn horn.
“Jesus, calm down. I’m coming,” I growl, stumbling down the steps.
I’m already hating this trip.
She’s still honking the horn as I make my way out through the front gate and down to her car. Even as I’m throwing my things in the trunk, she bashes down on it. It’s like she’s oblivious to how much the noise might be irritating the people walking past. Or maybe she just doesn’t care? I open the door and scowl at her, but she eyes me like I’m the crazy one.
“Come on or we’ll miss our flight,” she says, trying to hurry me into the car.
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me the truth.” I stand there with my arms crossed and my eyebrows raised. “Is this trip about avoiding Julian’s wedding, or interrupting it?”
“I have no idea what you mean,” she says innocently.
“So, you’re telling me that you had no idea you booked us in to the same hotel that Julian’s getting married in?” I clarify.
“We’re going to miss the plane if you don’t hurry up,” she says again. This time, there’s panic in her voice. Her lip quivers, but I shake my head and stand my ground.
“Then we miss it.” I shrug. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me the truth. Did you know the wedding was being held there?”
“It’s not like that,” she finally says, her dark eyes pleading with me.
“Really? What’s it like, then?” I ask with a laugh. “Do you think I’m stupid, Lily? You didn’t think I’d find out?” I shake my head. God, she makes me angry sometimes. “And what are you planning on doing? Interrupting the wedding so you can declare your love for him?”
“Of course not.” She glares at me, her eyes flashing. “I don’t think you’re stupid at all. I just figured if we were already there when you worked it out, then it would be too late for you to leave me,” she mumbles. “And I’m not going to do anything, Katie. I promise. I just want to see him. Is that really so bad?”
“His fiancée might think so,” I mutter. I sigh and look her in the eye. “You know that this is a really, really bad idea, right?”
“I just want some closure,” she pleads. “Things ended so badly. He moved on so fast … I hate that I’m still so messed up over him.”
“I just don’t think this is going to help,” I say gently.
“But isn’t that my mistake to make?” she asks. “Besides, you’ve never been in a real relationship to understand what this is like.”
Did she really just say that?
I stare at her. All I can do is laugh, because it’s obvious she has no idea how offensive that sounded.
“You know what?” She pops the trunk. “Get your things. I’ll just go by myself.”
I sigh and close the trunk. I know exactly what she’s doing and it’s working. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t go alone, but I’m not confident enough to call her on her bluff. With a groan, I flop into the seat and slam the door shut.
“You’re coming?” she asks, surprised.
“Yes,” I grumble.
I quickly text Darcy a message, then I put my phone down.
“Now, let’s go before I change my mind.”“Okay.”
Lily’s eyes dart nervously around the hotel foyer. I’m doing my best not to laugh at how obvious she’s being but fuck it’s hard. I’m surprised she isn’t dressed in black spandex and wearing a ski mask, because she’s acting like we’re about to pull off a heist.
“You go and stand over there by the elevator. I’m going to check us in. Then I’ll text you what floor we’re on. You go up first. I’ll wait five minutes, then meet you outside our room.”
