“Sorry to hear that.” He shook his head in disappointment. “So, what’s the story behind your fake engagement?”
“Funny thing is she’s the same girl.”
He crossed his arms. “No freaking way.”
“Yep. By chance, we recently reconnected and, to make a long story short, I offered to be her plus-one at her sister’s wedding, and she asked me to be her fake fiancé. Before I knew it—”
“You said yes.”
I opened the box, revealing a sparkling Harry Winston diamond engagement ring. “At least I have a ring for the occasion.”
He adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, then peered at the five-carat. “Indeed, you do.” His gaze flicked from the ring back to me. “What made you hold onto it all these years?”
I thought about his question for a moment, then said, “Hope.”
“That’s why you agreed to help her out; you still love her.”
“Never really stopped. But since the past may hinder our future—hurt feelings, etcetera—I doubt I’ll ever get a chance to ask her to marry me for real.”
Head tipped to one side, the man studied me, face rumpled with curiosity, as though he were reading my soul. “Word of advice?”
I offered a clipped nod. “Sure.”
“Harbored feelings and resentment only keep the past alive. But to move on, the past must remain buried.” He cleared his throat. “My father once told me: when life gives you a second chance at love, it’s because you weren’t ready for the first.”
A flight attendant handed us each a bottle of sparkling water, and we both twisted the caps and gulped a few sips.
“Fate,” he continued, “has brought you two back together for a reason.” He bobbed his head matter-of-factly. “Trust me; you’ll get a chance to marry her after all. Just wait and see.”
CHAPTERTEN
Giana
Sofie: Are you on your way??? The tablescapes are SO wrong.
I rolled my eyes. Why did my sister think my job as her maid of honor was to doeverything?
We agreed my only responsibility was to plan her bachelorette party and arrange the menu for the rehearsal dinner.
Done and done, thank you very much.
Cindy, her wedding planner, was responsible for the rest.
Me: Cindy should be there to take care of that. See you in ten minutes at the chapel for rehearsal.
She replied with a thumbs-up emoji, which according to Urban Dictionary, meant F-you.
I had no energy for her bullshit bridezilla tantrums. My stomach was already knotted in coils.
The conversation with Noni about Reed pushed me down a rabbit hole of what-ifs.
What if we landed in bed?
What if I fell back in love with him?Assuming I ever fell out of love with him.
What if he had no interest in me other than doing this good deed?
What if the stupid past shrouded a glimpse into our future?
