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“Happy birthday, Evie!” She pulled me into a tight hug, though my stare was still on Caleb.
I couldn’t read his expression, and I never wanted to know what he was thinking or feeling more than I did in that moment.
When she added, “I’m sorry we’re so late!” I cocked my head to the side, repeating, “We’re?”
Jax arched an eyebrow, silently asking the same question I was. I’d never seen them together. I had no idea they were friends. Yet there they were, holding fucking hands.
At. My. Birthday. Party.
From that point forward, everything stopped.
Everything.
From my heart, to my breathing, to the reckless thoughts creating havoc in my mind, holding me captive where nothing made sense. Suddenly, a surge of panic flooded through my core. I just knew whatever she’d reply would hurt.
Badly.
To the point of no return.
Caleb looked over at her, eyes laced with an emotion I couldn’t place.
“Tessa,” he warned in a familiar tone.
He’d use it on me often, and I hated that he was now using it on her.
It was mine.
He was mine. Right?
At first it was like a movie, and the anticipation of knowing what was coming was stronger than the ability to stop it.
She caressed the side of his face with the back of her fingers, softly expressing, “Is it so wrong that I want to share and celebrate our news?”
I tried to act unfazed. The last thing I wanted was for Jax to realize there was more going on between me and his best friend. I wasn’t just his client’s little sister. I was more than that…
At least I thought I was.
With the intensity of her question, the entire room became heightened by some sort of cosmic energy. An alternate universe where my worst nightmare was becoming my reality. Right before my eyes, a spinning web of lies.
Did I mean anything to him? Had I ever? What was she doing with him?
I couldn’t hold back any longer, trying to swallow the lump in my throat before I asked, “What news?”
Our gazes connected again. However, this trance between us was different than anything I’d ever felt with Caleb. We’d been doing this dance with our eyes for as long as I could remember.
As soon as she wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning into the side of his chest, I was almost certain he sent me a sad smile, but I might have imagined it.
Hoped for it.
I knew the second the words fell from her lips that would be it. The end of us. I just never thought it would only lead to the beginning of them.
Everything happened so fast, yet it felt like it played out in slow motion.
My heart beat out of my chest as she flung her left hand out in front of us, declaring, “We’re getting married!”
BAM.
This was what getting hit by a freight train felt like. I stood there motionless, unable to speak, to do anything but feel the weight of her statement falling on top of my head.
