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“Mhmm… If you say it enough times, you might even believe it yourself.”
“I do believe it! Besides, we were talking about you, and you’re evading my question.”
“Am not.”
“Liar.”
The door pulls open, and Kate appears in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. “Well, I guess that makes two of us.”
“I guess it does,” I huff.
“Soon.” Kate takes my hand in hers and gives it a firm squeeze. “I promise. I have my reasons.”
So she does know, but she’s keeping it a secret.
I could deal with that.
“I know. I just worry.”
“I worry about you, too,” Kate whispers softly. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing? You were…”
“I know how I was. But things are…” I let out a sigh. There was no sense in keeping it from her when she clearly figured it out. “Complicated.”
“Aren’t they always? I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“I’m not. I’m not the girl I was back in high school. This time around, I know exactly what I’m getting into. At the end of this, he’s going to go back to Austin, and I’ll stay here, and I’m fine with that.”
Kate watches me for a moment. “Are you really?”
No, I wasn’t. But what choice did I have?
“I am.” I force out a smile, but I don’t think she believes me. “This is our goodbye. A real goodbye.” Needing to change the subject, I tighten my hold on her. “C’mon, let’s get you back to your groom before he sends out a search party.”
Together, we join the others. Kate spots Emmett, who’s talking to his college friends, almost immediately.
“You coming?”
“I’m going to check my phone. I’ll find you later?”
With one last look in my direction, she nods her agreement and goes to her friends. I walk to our table and grab my champagne flute before pulling out my phone—no new text messages. Taking a sip of my drink, I look up. People are dancing and laughing all around the backyard, clearly having fun.
My attention goes to my friends. Emmett takes Kate’s hand and pulls her on the dance floor, and his friends follow suit.
I spot Miguel on the other side of the room. Our eyes lock for a moment, and I can feel that familiar warmth spread inside my belly.
Until Kate’s words flash in my mind, so I turn back to my friends.
Kate noticed something was going on. I didn’t need somebody else to question it, too.
Taking another sip from my drink, I feel a stab of envy as I watch Kate and Emmett dance.
It should have been us.
This moment.
It should have been us.
But our lives went in separate directions a long time ago.
