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“And I was there for you until he got back.”
“Yes. What’s the point of all of this? That was a long time ago.”
“Yeah, well, while you were crying your eyes out” — Tug grabs my arm roughly and yanks me in front of Tori — “He was fucking her. Tell her, Maria. Tell her how Brady came to see you, how it was you he was fucking when he left Tori with a broken heart.”
Tori’s eyes widen. Her body goes still. She stares at Tug with something close to hatred but says nothing.
Thick tears well in my eyes. I don’t want to blink, because then they will fall and remind me what a naïve, foolish girl I am. I rip my arm from his grasp and rub the spot that I know will bruise later, leaving me with a reminder of Tug.
“You fucking asshole!” Liv yells, and pushes her palms into Tug’s arm. He doesn’t budge. “Get out of here now.”
Tug takes a few steps backward, raking his hands through his hair.
“Wait!” Tori shouts, and looks at me. “Is your name Maria or Monica?”
My mouth is dry, and I try to swallow. My lips barely open as I answer her. “Monica is a stage name.”
Tori marches toward Tug, anger blistering her features. “Get out of here, and don’t show up at my wedding.”
“You had a right to know.”
“Know what, Tug? That Brady used to be fucked up? I know. He told me about her. How he used to talk to her to vent, how he helped her financially, and how awful he felt when he left me and nearly fucked her.”
“No.” Tug turns to me. “You said …”
I cut him off, ignoring the tears spewing from my eyes. “I said he came looking for more. I never said it happened. He left before it got that far, and I haven’t seen him since.”
“Fuck!”
“You used me!” I scream at him.
His indignant laugh is like a knife through my heart, but it’s nothing compared to the pain that comes with his next sentence.
“That’s rich. You’re a hooker.”
He storms out of the room and I fall to the floor, crying hysterically. I realize I’m responsible for ruining Tori’s day, a day that should be the happiest of her life.
I peer up at her through my hair. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea who he was.”
Liv bends over and grabs my arm. “Get up off the floor, sweetheart. You don’t have to be sorry. Tug is an asshole.”
“I don’t blame you,” Tori says softly.
I brush my tears away with the back of my hand. “He told me his name was Ryan, and …”
“Oh, dear,” Liv says, and shoots a look over my shoulder at Tori. “She likes him.”
“I did,” I admit. “But I was foolish. I thought he liked me. A guy like that would never actually fall for me.”
Tori and Liv swap glances. Tori puts her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be so quick to judge. Tug isn’t who he seems.”
I stand without responding. “I’m going to catch a cab to the border. Again, I’m sorry this happened. I wish you the best.”
When I reach the door, I hear Liv say, “Nonsense. You’re not taking a cab. The wedding doesn’t start for a couple of hours. I’ll drive you.”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
She shoves a hand on her hip and replies, “You’re not asking. Come on.”
