Page 135 of Spurred On

It had made it harder, when she lay in her bed at night wanting him. Made it harder for her to acknowledge the pitiful truth.

She hadn’t been mad at him about those twins in his bed.

Hurt, yes. Annoyed, certainly. But not mad. She’d responded with a knee-jerk reaction—as she had so often in the past. She’d railed at him. She’d refused to listen to his explanation. She’d stormed out.

But in truth, what she’d really done was snatch the chance to end it before he could.

That was how convinced she’d been that he would, at some point, dump her.

But dumping him first had given her no great satisfaction. In fact, it had sent her into a deep abyss. She wallowed there in the shadows, well aware of the unmitigated truth that she was, in a word, a coward.

And as a result of her cowardice, she was miserable.

The trouble was, when a person was an admitted coward, the obvious solution was not an easy one. And when someone was as naturally stubborn and intractable as she was, it was even harder.

So going to Cody and admitting she was wrong, pleading for another chance, became an impossibility.

Ergo, she deserved her misery.

Porsche shot a brilliant smile around the circle, but when her gaze landed on Sidney, it faded.

Crap.She’d forgotten to pretend. She quickly rearranged her features into something resembling delight, but Porsche wasn’t fooled.

“So,” she said, standing and smoothing out the wrinkles in her gown. “We agree this is the one?”

“Yes,” Claire said. “Although you will need a tiara.”

Porsche primped. “Naturally.” She turned to Sidney and held out a hand. “Help me change.” It was not an invitation. It was a command.

Sidney set down her champagne glass and stood, following Porsche to the dressing room. But once they stepped behind the curtain, Porsche whirled on her. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you. In private.”

Egads.Porsche’s expression was beyond fervid.

“All right.” Sidney tried to step behind Porsche and begin undoing the line of tiny pearl buttons down her back, but Porsche kept turning with her until Sidney gave up with a sigh. “What is it?”

“You do know Cody didn’t sleep with those girls.”

Oh good lord.She winced because she was pretty sure all the others had crowded around and were listening. “Porsche—”

“No. Listen to me. I’m the bride. You have to listen to me. It’s the rules.”

“You’re not the bride today.”

Porsche waved manically at her dress.

“So you’re standing in a dress shop wearing a wedding gown. That doesn’t give you unrelenting power over all creation.”

Porsche sniffed. “Nonsense. Now listen.”

Sidney rolled her eyes.

“I know you’re still mooning over him.”

“I’m not—”

“You’re not allowed to lie to the bride. It’s bad luck.”

“That’s not—”