“And she made sure everyone knew it,” I add, rolling my eyes. “Especially when Drew picked her over me.”
Chloe nods. “She definitely rubbed it in Lainey’s face every chance she got. Like it wasn’t enough that she already had everything.”
Janelle raises an eyebrow, her sympathy morphing into irritation on my behalf. “Wow. She sounds like a piece of work.”
“She was,” I say with a dry laugh. “But like I said, it was a million years ago, and I’m over it.”
“Wait,” Janelle interrupts, her gaze narrowing. “So, does this ‘Mr. Perfect’ hunt have anything to do with Drew?”
I hesitate, fiddling with the edge of my coffee cup. “Not… entirely,” I say, avoiding their gazes. “I have my checklist and was already on the hunt for a date and had them lined up for this week. I just… I don’t want him to think I’m still hung up on him. That’s all.”
Chloe and Janelle exchange a look before Chloe speaks. “Lainey, Drew’s not going to care if you’re single or not. You don’t need to prove anything.”
Janelle nods. “She’s right. But I get it—you want to feel like you’re in control of the situation.”
Chloe’s voice softens. “Lainey, you’re amazing, date or no date.”
I sigh, glancing down. “I just… I want him to see that I’ve moved on. It’s silly, but I don’t want him to think I’m still pining over him just because I’m single.”
Janelle nods thoughtfully, then places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with being single, you know. Look at me—I’m single, and I’m perfectly fine.”
Chloe laughs softly and nudges Janelle. “And you’re sexy as heck as a single woman. I’m sure you have men falling at your feet that you’re hiding from us!”
Janelleresponds with a wicked smile but says nothing, letting the implication linger as she turns her focus back to me. “Lainey, maybe your checklist is holding you back,” she says gently, her tone full of meaning.
“It’s just that… sometimes it feels like if I’m not checking off all these boxes, I’m somehow not moving forward,” I admit, glancing down. “I know it sounds silly.”
Janelle’s expression softens. “Not silly at all, Lainey,” she says gently. “Sometimes, what we think we want isn’t exactly what we need.”
“Exactly,” Chloe chimes in, a playful glint in her eye. “Maybe your Mr. Perfect isn’t a checklist at all. Maybe he’s the guy who makes you feel alive, even if he’s not… well, perfect.”
I roll my eyes, trying to brush it off. “I’m just being practical. It’s not like I can go around letting my heart lead the way without thinking.”
“Maybe that’s exactly why you should try it,” Janelle says with a wink.
Before I can respond, the bridal consultant steps into the room, carefully carrying a gown so stunning it momentarily silences us all. “Here it is,” she says with a warm, practiced smile.
We refocus on Chloe’s dress fitting, my friends letting the topic of my love lifedrop—for now. As Chloe steps into the gown and twirls in front of the mirror, she looks like a vision straight out of a dream, every inch the glowing bride.
But even as I watch her, admiring how perfectly the dress suits her, my mind drifts back to Zach and the easy laughter we shared last night. Just for a moment, I let myself wonder if maybe, just maybe, I’ve been focusing on the wrong things all along.
Chapter 3
Zach
Ishiftinplaceas the tailor pulls at my jacket, muttering something about the fit around the shoulders. Tuxedo fittings aren’t exactly my idea of a good time, but if I’m going to be Wyatt’s best man, I’m going to look the part.
Wyatt, standing beside me, is messing with his cuffs while Mark, our agent, straightens his own tux, looking just as unenthused about the process. Mark’s been more than just an agent to Wyatt—he’s like a big brother, which is probably why Wyatt insisted he stand with us as a groomsman. Now he’s stuck here with us, enduring this marathon of measurements and adjustments.
“You know,” he starts, “I figured I’d bring up some business while we’re all here and focused.”
Wyatt groans, tugging at his sleeve. “Come on, Mark. Can’t we just focus on looking good?”
“Looking good is part of it, my friend,” Mark replies, grinning. “But in your line of work, there’s also the part where you keep the public invested.”
I shake my head, tuning out slightly as he starts to list off upcoming appearances and endorsements he thinks we should consider. My mind keeps drifting back to yesterday and the way Lainey managed to slip out of the hotel room before I even got out of the shower. I don’t usually let people get the last word, but she… well, she played that one perfectly.
As the tailor moves to adjust my cuffs, I glance at Wyatt and smirk. “You know, I promised Lainey you wouldn’t show up to the wedding in jeans, so let’s get this over with.”
