Chapter 3
LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME
Taking a few quick breaths, I plastered a smile on my face as Luke made his way over.
He walked toward us like he owned my townhouse, six foot two and tailored to perfection in a navy blue suit that hugged his broad shoulders as if stitched on by the gods.
His blond hair was just ruffled enough to look effortless.
It didn’t take very long for our eyes to meet, and when they did, it was as if no one else was in the room.
My breath caught. Luke always had that effect on me (and every girl he came across), and he knew it.
"Am I too early? The weekly 'we hate men and nobody can change our mind' meeting is still going on?"
"Yes," Alex teased.
Mei and Demetria chuckled, but I rolled my eyes.
"I hear congratulations are in order," Demetria said, then stepped forward and gave him a hug. Mei and Alex followed her lead. Luke looked at me. Begrudgingly, I went over and wrapped my arms around him.
"Congratulations," I said, my voice sweet enough to pass as supportive, even as my stomach turned. For a second, it felt like my jaw might actually lock. As I pulled away, I lowered my head to hide the tightness.
Luke wrapped an arm around my shoulder and held me by his side while he spoke to my girls. "You'll all be invited. I want everyone there to celebrate with us."
"Wouldn’t miss it for the world," Mei said flatly.
I flashed her a warning look.
Thankfully, Alex spoke next. She was someone I could depend on. "I always expected you to end up with someone else."
Well at least I thought she was someone I could depend on. What the hell? Didn’t I just tell them the friendship was more important? I wouldn't risk losing him.
"Like who? I'm curious to know who this group thought I’d settle down with," Luke said.
The three looked amongst themselves, and I quickly spoke up. "Anyone you've known more than six months."
Luke looked down at me. "I knew you'd have some reservations; that's why I came to assure you I hadn't lost my mind."
"The thought did come to me."
Demetria grabbed her purse. "We should get out of the way and let you two talk."
"Don’t let me rush you girls. You're free to stay and enjoy some champagne. The more the merrier."
My friends’ eyes widened.
"Oh yeah, Dorothy forgot to get any. We can't celebrate," I lied.
Luke's smile never left his face. "No worries. I figured a busy woman like you would forget to tell Dorothy. So I brought a chilled bottle; she’s opening it now. I know you too well."
I didn't forget. I just wasn't keen on celebrating him getting stolen out from under me.
Alex shook her head. "Maybe next time. You two celebrate your upcoming wedding. I have a man waiting for me."
Mei and Demetria giggled. Alex was the queen of putting men to good use.
"Lucky man," Luke said, then turned to see that the others were also leaving. "Guess there will be more for us."
Silently, I nodded and thought about how I'd get through tonight. Dorothy entered with the open bottle of champagne and glasses. Luke wasted no time lifting both from the tray. When he handed one to me, something electric passed between us. Startled, I looked up and caught him watching me. The bubbles in my glass weren’t nearly as dizzying as the nervous heat rising in my stomach.
"So, go ahead, let me have it."
I took a seat. "What do you mean?"
Luke stared at me. "Come on, I should've told you about proposing before I did, but–"
"Why didn’t you?"
He ran his fingers through his hair. "She's not one of your favorite people. I just ... wanted to follow my heart for once."
"Your heart's leading you to Serene."
The corners of Luke's mouth turned upwards. "See, you've never even said her name correctly; it’s Solenne."
"Blame her parents for giving her a stupid name. What does that have to do with you not telling me, and what drugs are you taking that make you think there's anything special about her?"
I forced a neutral smile, though it was slipping around the edges. If any part of Luke's heart beat for that woman, it should be examined by a doctor.
"So, you aren’t happy for me?"
"I didn’t say that. You're my best friend. I have to make sure you're not making a mistake."
Luke took a sip. "Liv, we’re getting old, we can’t run around having fun forever. I'm ready. I know you aren't. You may never want marriage. Which is okay; we just want different things."
The words stung, even though that was likely not what he intended. It was as if Luke was filing us into separate boxes.
"Admit it, Liv, you hate everything about weddings. I'm surprised you haven't single-handedly cancelled Fox why's she staying?"
He chuckled. "Only you could compare my fiancée to dental hygiene."
"Luke, I'm serious. What would possess you ..."
"Love," he answered, his eyes shining, carrying a smile too wide to contain.
He couldn’t contain his happiness.
The word slammed into me like a brick. My throat felt as if it were closing, and I tightened my hand around the glass.
I felt ill. He was in love with someone, and it was her. Her!
"I know for you, love is a concept you can’t grasp, but Solenne and I are in love, the sort where I don't want her to be away from my side," Luke said, his smile trembling at the corners of his mouth, like even he couldn't believe what he was saying.
My stomach twisted so hard I thought I might be sick right there; each word he spoke was like a kick in the gut that I hadn't braced for.
However, I kept my cool. "Well, marrying Serene is certainly a way to keep her in your life."
"Our lives. She'll join our little world. You and I are a team."
Lucky fucking me. I could see it now: me, him, and Serene, skipping down the street, me the third wheel to their Laverne and Shirley act.
"I want you to be my best man. It's unorthodox, but you’re the closest friend I have, and I just couldn’t imagine getting married without you by my side. Besides, you'll look better in a tux than half my friends."
I choked on my champagne and nearly sprayed it across the rug. The words didn't compute. It was like Luke had learned a new language that I did not speak. My stomach was in knots. Best man? Watch him promise forever to someone else, while I smiled next to him.
"What? Best man? Me?"
Luke smiled. "Hell yeah. You're the only one who knows every single embarrassing story about me, and I can trust you won't tell a soul."
Since he had no brother, and I was the next best thing, it made sense, but I didn't fucking want to do it.
"Luke, have you really thought this through? My parents are divorced, so are yours. I thought you were smarter than that. My best friend can't have been an idiot this whole time."
"Love makes us normal people do unexplainable things."
I stayed silent. Was he saying I was abnormal?
What gave Luke the impression I was incapable of love?
Beside me, he went on about new beginnings and how things would change, when all I wanted was for them to stay the same.
The more Luke rambled, the more I realized that I was losing the man I'd secretly loved my whole life—well, since I’d been old enough to fall in love.
"Will you do it? Be my best man?"
Even though every part of me screamed ‘Say no!’, I held my poker face steady, and out came the word, "Yes."
"Knew you'd come through for me. You always do," Luke said in a softened voice.
I would stand by his side and watch the only man I’d probably ever love marry another woman, and when it was over, I'd cling to the friendship I had sacrificed everything for.