Chapter 27
27
“Tell me everything . Colton Freaking Maddox ? How did you meet him?”
“How do you even know who he is?” I ask Jess.
“I follow him on Instagram.”
“You do ?”
“Lila, he’s got, like, millions of followers. He’s not on there that much, but he occasionally posts photos of himself, like on super yachts or at an event in some swanky night club in New York.” I’m thankful she doesn’t say it. Surrounded by women.
“I’ll have to look him up.” Not. Unless I’m overcome with sadomasochistic curiosity.
My stomach does that swooping thing again, which happens every time I’m reminded of Colton’s playboy lifestyle, like I was so rudely at 3 a.m. this morning.
“I’ll tell you everything, Jess—and I have a lot to tell you. But it’s going to have to wait. Right now we’re focusing on you and your wedding.” Swoop. A vague memory resurfaces, of Colton on one knee in the chapel in Vegas, sliding the Tiffany ring he chose for me—the biggest, shiniest one, that I also vaguely remember cost two million dollars . Surely I dreamt that. “This dress is so gorgeous.”
Jessie’s standing in front of a huge window with a view of the ocean down below. “It’s more understated than my usual.” The dress is a low-cut white silk sheath dress. My bridesmaid’s gown has a similar cut but is pink and shorter.
“I love it. It’s so flattering. And this house ? Is this Jacob’s?”
“Yes. Can you believe this?” Jessie has tears in her eyes. “My baby’s room is going to have a view of the water.” My stomach does yet another swoop.
I really need to google a few things.
Some of Jess’s helpers and another bridesmaid arrive. The bridesmaid—I’m guessing because she’s wearing the same dress as mine—is holding three bouquets. She has long honey-blond hair and green eyes. She’s stunning.
“Lila, meet Lexi Black. Lexi and I met around a year and a half ago, just before you left for New York. She interviewed me about the short film I made—remember?—called The City of Guardian Angels . We’ve been hanging out ever since. Lexi’s the artistic director and co-owner of Downtown.”
Of course I’ve heard of Downtown. It’s a trendy and wildly successful company that has its fingers in a lot of pies here in L.A. They have a movie studio, a lifestyle magazine, a publishing company and a bunch of other divisions. It’s always being written up as one of the hip places to work in California.
“Lexi, this is my bestie, Lila Bailey. She ran off to New York for a while but I’m trying to convince her to move back home.”
“So nice to meet you, Lila,” Lexi says, hugging me. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Now that I think of it, Jess did mention Lexi to me during one or more of our conversations, and how she’s married to some big shot who also happens to own the investment company Jacob works for. I was always so distracted and exhausted—or both—during our phone calls, I’d forgotten.
“Nice to meet you too, Lexi. Wow, artistic director of Downtown. That must be an amazing job.”
She smiles. “Well, my husband is technically my boss. So I was basically allowed to create the job of my dreams. I got very lucky. But, yes, it is amazing. I love working there.”
I like her immediately. She’s humble and soft-spoken but you can tell she’s not easily intimidated.
“You might have gotten hired because your husband is obsessed with you, Lexi,” Jess says, “but you’re also very good at your job. I’ve seen you in action first-hand and Downtown is lucky to have you. ”
Lexi laughs, smoothing one of Jess’s errant curls. “Thank you, Jess. I like to hope so.”
Jess’s mom, Sandy, rushes into the room in a flowing yellow gown. She’s basically my second mom and has been since Jess and I were tweens. Sandy’s face lights up when she sees me and she gives me a huge hug. “Welcome home, honey. We missed you so much.”
“I missed you too. And congrats, mother of the bride…and soon to be Grandma.”
“Can you believe it?” Sandy obviously approves of Jacob. She’s absolutely glowing with pride. “When are you going to find that special someone, honey?”
Jess answers for me before I get a chance to dodge the question. “Mom, her plus one is Colton Maddox .”
“Who’s Colton Maddox?” Sandy asks. At least someone on the planet hasn’t heard of him.
“He’s the youngest of the Maddox brothers,” Jess explains, “the most eligible billionaire bachelors in New York.”
“You’re dating Colton?” Lexi hands me my bouquet of pink roses. “He knows my brother-in-law, Max. Max runs Black Investments, so he and Colton have a lot of contacts in common. Max is here at the wedding with his wife, Peach. We met Colton at an event here in L.A., just a few months ago.”
“Oh.” No doubt with a different date. Or three of them. Lexi’s kind enough not to mention it.
And I’m relieved when Sandy changes the subject. “ Let’s go, girls. Jacob and his brothers are waiting. Rafe’s ready for you downstairs, Jessie.”
“Rafe?”
“Rafe is Lexi’s husband,” Jessie explains. “Since I didn’t have anyone to give me away, he offered. It’s so nice of him, Lex.”
“He’s honored to do it,” Lexi says.
Of course I know the whole story of Jess’s parents’ bitter divorce, which happened a few years before we met. Jess hasn’t talked to her father in a long time and I’m not surprised he’s not invited.
Lexi hands Jess the biggest bouquet, of beautiful white roses.
“Let’s do this,” Jess says, like she’s psyching herself up for her brand new life.
I kiss her cheek. “Congrats, sweetie. You deserve every good thing and the happiest happily ever after.”
“You’ll get yours next,” she whispers back.
Swoop.
“There’s Rafe,” Sandy says breathlessly. The man she’s staring at is waiting for us at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in a tux and scrolling on his phone. When he sees us, he slides his phone into his pocket and watches us walk down the grand staircase.
Rafe Black is a stunning-looking man. He’s tall with black hair and a dark, powerful vibe, like he’s used to getting his way.
“You look beautiful, Jessie,” Rafe says, but he’s having trouble keeping his eyes off his wife. He can’t quite hide how besotted he is.
Jessie introduces us and Rafe shakes my hand.
Then Jessie takes his arm and we get ready for the procession.
For a second I find myself wondering what it would feel like to be looked at the way Rafe Black gazes at his wife.
But I already know.
Because I see Colton in the second row and…he’s looking at me the same way. Like he’d kill anyone who tries to come between us.
He’s changed into a beautifully-cut suit. His blue shirt is open at the collar and shows off a hint of his powerful chest.
It’s extremely connective to lock eyes with a man and know exactly what he feels like.
I still have bruises from the grip of his hands as he surged inside me.
I know what he tastes like when I swallow him in milky mouthfuls.
He looks so beautiful with his thick, breeze-blown hair and his fiery blue eyes.
I love him.
And I hate him.
Why does he have to go around breaking all those people’s hearts and earning himself titles like the freaking King of Heartbreak?
He shouldn’t be looking at me like he is right now. It’s Saturday. Our time is up. Okay, the marriage has complicated things but I’m sure he can figure out how to solve the problem easily enough. Solving problems is what he does best.
It’s probably jealousy holding him here. Some male conquest that means he can’t walk away until he’s proven a point.
I wish he’d spare me the agony.
I wish I’d realized that my period was actually due yesterday.
I wish he’d walk away before I’m too far gone to recover from him.
But it’s too late.
Way, way, way too late.