“That girl.” Macy ground out as she turned back to our table. “I hope she grows out of that attitude.”
Maggie, unknowingly, had saved me from crying in front of everyone. After that, the conversation steered towards her, and then teenagers, in general. I was forgotten and made it through the rest of the courses without anyone else asking me questions about myself.
The bar was being transformed for the night’s festivities, so everyone who was attending the party just hung aroundand drank while they waited. I stayed close to Macy, knowing that I was off-limits for Andrew’s talk if I was with his sister. Avoidance was the key.
Just after Macy got up to go check on the bar, Megan sat down next to me before we moved to the bar, her smile gentle. “You doing okay?”
I knew my own smile was brittle, but I was at my limit. “Sure. How are you?”
She squeezed my hand. “You can talk to me if there’s something going on. We’re all worried about you.”
More tears peppered my eyes but I fought them back. “I’m fine. No one should be worried about me. Everyone should be focused on Macy and Jason.”
“In case you’ve missed it, Macy and Jason are sick of the attention. I’ve heard Macy mutter at least four times that a two-week-long wedding event was a stupid idea.”
I shook my head. “Still.”
“Still nothing. We can tell there’s something going on with you and we’re worried.” She sighed when she saw Maggie headed our way. “I’m on Maggie duty tonight. I’ve got to wrangle her out of here and back to her parents. I’ll be back.”
The moment she got up, Warren slipped into her seat. He casually draped his arm along the back of my chair and leaned into me. “Cupcake, you’re killing us.”
I stiffened, trying to build up my reserve. I felt weak and I wanted to fall into his arms and cry, but I couldn’t. They weren’t mine, and they could never be mine. I just had to get that through my head.
“Dammit. Even I’m losing my patience, Cupcake.” He cupped my chin and turned my face to him, studying my expression before I pulled away. “Why are you doing this to yourself? Because of what that shit-for-brains said?”
“Bar’s ready!” Macy called out, receiving a round of cheers from everyone.
I practically flew away from Warren. I’d been strategically planning my presence at the party since I’d woken up that morning. I was going to somehow make myself known in the beginning and then hide for a while before finding Macy and talking to her again for a bit before leaving for the night. Just two showings of my happy face and then I could retreat to my room.
I settled at the bar, not even truly seeing the decorations hung around the room. The little bit of dinner I’d eaten was sitting awkwardly in my stomach, and the idea of drinking made me want to throw up, but I ordered a ginger ale and sipped at it. The group was already having a good time. Music was playing loudly, and the wedding planner was organizing some sort of game in the corner of the bar.
I sat there, glued to the bar seat, trying to sort out what to do or say to make Macy notice that I was there for her. I was just frozen, though. No matter what I thought I should do, I couldn’t make myself do it. I felt sick with worry and grief, and all I wanted to do was cease to exist in that room.
I wasn’t even sure how long I’d been sitting there when Macy appeared beside me, her face tense. I looked at her, at the stiff way she stood, at the phone clasped in her hand, and I knew that she knew. Maybe I wanted her to find out because I almost felt relieved. Nothing could ease the ache that the anger and distrust in her eyes caused, though.
“I need to talk to you outside.” Her voice shook, and she took a step back like she couldn’t stand to be that close to me. “Now.”
Nodding, I pushed myself off the seat and moved with feet like lead to the doors leading out of the bar. It was all over, I knew. The secret was out, however she’d found out, and I was about to lose it all. The other shoe had finally dropped.
Macy’s gait was tight and fast as she exited the bar and turned right. She walked down to the ballroom, away from everyone milling around, and then snapped around to face me. “How could you?”
My stomach knotted, and I put my hand on the wall to brace myself. “Macy...”
“It’s true, isn’t it? I knew it the moment I got the fucking text from Milo. You’ve been so off, and I knew something was going on, but I didn’t know what it was. How could I have ever guessed?”
“I’m so sorry, Macy. I...”
“You what? You forgot that they were my brothers? Jesus, Sara! What kind of twisted shit are you into? All three of them?” She scrubbed at her face, rubbing her eyes like she could shove away the images the idea was clearly giving her. “He took pictures of the four of you going into one of the rooms. They’re all over you, and you’re clearly loving it. I don’t get it. Make it make sense.”
Pictures? I leaned against the wall and fought back a wave of nausea.
“I’ve lost friends over them attempting to sleep withoneof my brothers, Sara. You know that. You know it, and you still did it! What the fuck? You’re supposed to be my best friend. You lied and went behind my back this entire time.” She grabbed my shoulder. “Say something. Please! Tell me how it happened. Tell me it’s not true.”
I felt the first tear leak out and opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I’d ruined everything, and I didn’t know what to say.
Macy threw her hands up and backed away, her own tears flooding her eyes. “I need space right now. I don’t think you should be in the wedding tomorrow. I don’t think you should be there at all.”
Chapter 22
