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“Please, you were just working for a paycheck. You didn’t give a shit about my happiness.”
“You are absolutely right. Because from the moment I met you, there wasn’t one single redeeming quality that made me feel an ounce of compassion for you. You’re in a position to actually make a difference to someone; a kind word or action from Sonora Star would be something people could hold onto. Women idolize you, until they actually meet you and find out what you’re really like.”
Marley could tell Sonora was reaching the boiling point but she was too far gone to care. All the threats, all the abuse… it was too much and someone had to put an end to it.
“You do not have the right to belittle anyone else’s existence. You’re a former drug addict, a has-been, and a cheater. You’re just as flawed as all the people you look down your reconstructed nose at.”
Sonora’s face turned cherry red. “You’re fired!”
“Fine by me. You go out and explain why you lost another maid of honor.”
Marley headed for the door, picking up the taffeta skirt to quicken her steps. As she left the door to the bridal suite, she slammed it and released a whoop. She’d just officially screwed herself; there was no way Sonora wasn’t telling Kelly about this.
But Marley had fulfilled her end of the contract. She’d organized and made sure that Sonora a beautiful wedding. Even if Sonora’s parents made Marley give back her bonus, Kelly got to keep the money for Something Borrowed. She was protected from brides firing their bridesmaids and maids of honor the day of the wedding in order to get out of paying full price. If the firing had been unjust, Marley could have fought for her bonus, but she was just glad it was over.
At least she was free. Free to leave this train wreck, free to go home and never have to deal with the wicked bitch of the stars again…
Free to see Luke out in the open if I want.
Marley rounded the corner with a definite skip in her step, but slowed when she heard hushed voices. She scooted closer to the closed door, curious. She recognized Kendall’s husky tones immediately, choked with tears.
“I don’t understand how you can marry her. I know you feel something for me. I feel it every time we’re in the same room together.”
“I do have feelings for you.” Marley covered her mouth to smother a gasp. That was Brent. “If I had met you first, I’d have married you within the first week. But despite your sister’s faults, I made a commitment to her, and I am not going to humiliate her by leaving her at the altar to run away with her sister.”
But Kendall persisted. “Isn’t it better to end it now, rather than to get divorced later when it doesn’t work out? You’re both going to get hurt, and despite the situation we’re in and the differences we may have, I love Sonora. I don’t want to hurt her, but I do want you.”
“It’s just better if we forget whatever it is we think we feel.”
Marley didn’t believe him, and clearly neither did Kendall. “Better for who?”
Brent didn’t respond for several heartbeats and then, his voice choked with emotion, muttered, “I’m sorry.”
Marley ducked around the corner when she heard Brent’s footsteps coming toward the door. She watched him, her heart aching as he took a shaky breath and ran a hand over his eyes.
Oh, my God, he’s crying.
Whatever had been going on between the two of them this summer was no longer one sided. Brent cared about Kendall too.
And she was right. He was about to make a really big mistake.
Marley waited until he was gone before she snuck into the room.
Kendall glanced up, her pretty face streaked with tears, and she frantically wiped at them. “Marley. Sorry, were you looking for me?”
Marley sat next to Kendall on the loveseat and held her arms out. “You look like you need a shoulder.”
Kendall’s face crumpled and she threw herself against her. Marley stroked her hair, whispering nonsensical encouragement. When Kendall’s tears finally slowed, she sniffled. “Were you sent to find me?”
“No. Actually, I was leaving. You sister just fired me as her maid of honor.”
Kendall pulled away. “What? Why would she do that?”
Marley grinned mischievously. “Because I finally went off on her and told her what a horrible person she was.”
“Wow. You would think she would learn that you just have to be nice to keep friends.”
Marley tucked one of Kendall’s blond curls back into place. “Well, to be honest, we were never really friends to begin with.”
