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I sat there for a long moment, looking at my empty glass. The server asked if I wanted a refill but I shook my head. Addie had paid for brunch, which was good because at the moment, I was living paycheck to paycheck.
The five grand that Adam had offered me would really help. I told myself that was the real reason I was doing it—revenge against Toby and Rachel and because I needed the money, not because I was attracted to Adam.
But Iwasattracted to Adam. He was universally handsome with his piercing blue eyes, full mouth, and strong jaw. I foundhim even more handsome than Toby, if I was being honest with myself.
But that had nothing to do with why I was doing this.
As if he knew I was thinking about him, Adam sent me a text.
You have an appointment in fifteen minutes.
An address arrived immediately afterward, and then he quickly sent another text.
After your appointment, meet me here.
I was about to text him back and ask how I was supposed to pay, when my phone dinged with yet another text.
It’s on me.
Wow. He really did have money to burn. I sighed and tucked my phone back into my purse.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, wondering if I should text him back and tell him I decided to back out.
But then I thought about how horrible I felt when I caught Toby and Rachel together. I thought about how I could barely get out of bed for weeks. I believed Toby was the love of my life, my everything, and that we’d end up getting married.
And he’d betrayed me in the worst way with a friend.
Addie was right, and so was Adam. Toby deserved this.Ideserved this, to get closure.
I walked out of the restaurant and wondered if I was going to regret it, or if maybe it was the start of something new.
Either way, I’d made my decision, and I was sticking to it.
Chapter 5
Adam
Ipulled up to the wedding venue, groaning when I thought about how much it was costing me. I was paying for the whole wedding and their honeymoon, not because I wanted to, but because I felt obligated.
Toby loved to play the dead parents’ card, and since I hadn’t had the best relationship with them and Toby was the golden boy, I knew that my parents would want me to take care of him. I’d been taking care of Toby since they died, though, and it was getting more and more difficult, and more and more expensive.
Toby and Rachel would be getting married outside by the lake behind the building of the venue. The guests would be staying at the bed and breakfast located next to the lake. Sprawling trees and grape vines were all over the property, and the air smelled like sweet honeysuckle. It was a really beautiful place, and I had spared no expense.
At times it was just easier to give in to Toby’s whims, and after all, I had the money. I’d been much more successful than my younger brother, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit victorious about it. He’d ruined my life in plenty of ways, so it was bittersweet that I’d managed to do better than him financially.
But things had gotten worse since he’d been engaged to Rachel. She was pushing Toby to ask me for a loan, which I knew he would never pay back, in order to buy a house. If Toby hadn’t blown through his inheritance by partying, he’d have the money to take care of his soon-to-be wife. Instead, I found myself footing the bill.
Again.
“Would you mind getting our bags?” I asked the driver who’d driven Colin and me to the venue. He nodded quickly and said, “Yes, sir.”
I usually would do it myself, but my driver knew that I tipped well, and he was eager to help. Plus, I had to wake up Colin, who would probably be grumpy, and get him inside.
I unbuckled him and gently shook him. “Hey, buddy, we’re here.”
“Finally,” he said, pouting slightly.
I chuckled. “I know.”
