Page 119 of I Choose You

Kody stepped closer again, rubbing his arm. “But we’ve got a past with her. And, uh, she hates his guts.”

Colette raised her brows while Tristan narrowed his eyes.

“I don’t think she hates me,” I told him. She just doesn’t feel anything more than tolerating me for forty grand. “She just wanted to get revenge.”

Her brows shot higher and Tristan laughed.

“But she’s civil,” I said, remembering that night I counted off the boxes Brooke checked. “And beautiful.”

Colette smiled.

“She is hot,” Kody confirmed. “Now. She’s hot now.”

I punched him again. “And she’s not likely to cause a scene.”

“Except she wants to exact revenge?” Colette asked.

“No. Not anymore.”

Kody shrugged. “She just thinks our souls are black pits.”

I rubbed my forehead, wishing this could sound better.

The couple glanced at each other, dubious.

“Well, okay,” Colette said carefully.

Tristan patted my back. “Good luck with that.”

40

BROOKE

Saturday morning, I went through my usual routine and tried not to think about my plans for the day. Because I knew it would be a challenge.

Talking things out and spending the night at Mom’s helped me immensely. And taking off Thursday to relax and talk with her more furthered that good feeling. But Friday came, and while I didn’t have to deal with Kaden, he was on my mind.

I knew, deep down, that the coldness he showed me in his office would return at this shopping thing. Maybe it would be even worse. I agreed with what Mom said. Perhaps a step back would help us both chill. There was also the chance that his anger would deepen.

He told me that he’d forgiven me. I appreciated that, but I hadn’t been ready to be cut out of his life in every other way, like a stranger.

All through Friday, my apprehension took a stronger root. I had to face Kaden and pretend we were together. And then there was my bone-deep fear of this clothing thing. I had a hard enough time trying on clothes in a store, in a fitting room. At some rich people’s shopping party? Parading around clothes and jewelry like those wild people in the Great Gatsby movie? That wasn’t me. It would be so much worse.

“Just get it over with.” That was the pep talk I settled on as I got in the car Kaden had hired. He probably assumed I’d bail and hired a ride for me. If I hadn’t fucked everything up wanting revenge, maybe he would have picked me up himself.

Just get it over with, I reminded myself again as I mentally started a countdown until I could come back home.

Once I arrived, I no longer had any time to freak out. With a slight detour, the driver took too much time getting me there. I was late—a cardinal sin in my book—and that set the stage for nauseating stress.

I just had to go with it—alone.

Kaden was cool with his greeting, and he made sure to stand apart from me. It almost could have made sense. Tailors and designers tended to the men while a horde of more designers corralled us women to the other side. Boys there and girls here. Still, I saw several couples meeting in the middle while they waited their turns.

It was, in short, terrifyingly insane.

I’d never been part of an outrageously wealthy event like this, and I quickly felt overwhelmed, like I didn’t belong. Mercedes was my only hope of keeping my cool. She’d sneaked a look at a price tag and mouthed holy shit. But she didn’t seem like she was floundering. As the maid of honor, she had the bridal party to hang out with.

Expensive clothes were hung everywhere, and I was too nervous to touch them, thinking if you break it, you buy it. Boxes of jewelry sat out, sparkling fortunes I didn’t approach. Why would I? I was only here to fake it.