Chapter 2 #2
Her buttery blonde hair falls in waves down her back. The gold shines under the lights. People gather around her like a moth to a flame. And the dress she’s wearing, shit, it makes me want to fall to my knees.
Dark red silk clings to her perfect curves, stopping just above her knees. It shows off her long legs that are toned and smooth. The back of her dress dips low, showing off creamy skin.
My heart speaks to me, telling me to go to her, hug her. It whispers to me that I need her. I’m grateful to have people offer me help when I need it most, but she’s the only person I trust.
I feel my pulse quicken when she locks eyes with me. The corner of her lip tugs into a smile, bright enough it can knock anyone off their feet, before she looks away.
“You good?” Beau asks.
Clearing my throat, I take a hefty swig from my glass. “Yeah, why?”
Beau’s gaze bounces between me and Riley.
My lips turn downward, and I give him a shrug. “I’m just looking around the room.”
“Really? Because I can see some drool in the corner of your mouth, dude.” He winks at me with a smug grin.
“Did you notice they set up the dessert table?”
Beau’s head swivels in the direction I gesture my head to. The waiters bring out large dishes of every sweet you can think of. Macaroons, slices of cake and fudge, tarts, sugar cookies with white icing on top that reads, ‘Congratulations’ and ‘Cheers,’ written in gold.
He runs toward the table at a speed that leaves an outline of smoke.
“Hey, August,” Ellie chirps, appearing behind Rowan. We pull each other in for a tight hug.
We weren’t the kind of siblings who’d hug until we were much older. The closest we’d get to hugging is when we would wrestle each other over the remote or who gets to eat the last ho-ho. Mom was fed up and made us wear a large T-shirt that said, ‘OUR GET ALONG SHIRT’ for the rest of the day.
That lasted until we were fifteen.
“How’s your night going?” I ask.
Ellie’s white boho dress sways from side to side as she rocks back and forth.
She peers around the room, nodding. “It’s a lot, to say the least. If I had a dollar for every question I’ve had to answer tonight, I could retire early.” The white wine in her glass swishes as she takes a drink.
Rowan nods behind her and tucks his hands in his pockets. “The number of times people have asked me when we plan on having kids is astronomical. Isn’t that a little invasive?”
“The entire town is invasive,” Ellie says.
A chuckle escapes me. “Imagine your wedding day.”
“You don’t think I have a game plan for that day?” She surveyed Rowan. “I’ll be eating chicken nuggets while getting my hair and makeup done. I refuse to be one of those brides who get pulled into every conversation that ends up not eating. If I need to hide cookies in my bra, I’ll do it.”
I snort.
Her eyes widen with glee. “I should get a dress that has pockets! Oh my god. Where’s Riley? I need to tell Riley.”
Before Ellie has a chance to run off, screaming her best friend’s name, someone clinks a glass, grabbing the room's attention.
Riley stands in the middle of the room, all eyes on her.
“Hi, everyone.” The sound of her voice reminds me of wind chimes. I love wind chimes, and anyone who says otherwise is a moron. “First, I’d like to thank everyone for coming to celebrate my two favorite people, Ellie and Rowan.”
Every head in the room swivels toward them, while I awkwardly stand there. I take one step to the left and out of the spotlight. Riley glances at me, rolling her lips in to suppress laughter.
“Ellie, Rowan—I knew from the moment Rowan asked you to be his girlfriend during our freshman year of high school, that you were meant to be together forever. After Ellie became a big shot pastry chef in New York, I still knew it wasn’t over for them.”
Ellie and Rowan are wrapped in each other’s arms. They have that rare kind of love, the kind people would kill for—that I would kill for. But the last time I shared my feelings, it ruined things.
“I like to think that our small town has some type of magic. It pulls people together, whether that be friendship or love. Or both. As I’ve watched Ellie and Rowan’s relationship bloom, it’s made me believe that anything’s possible, that there’s someone out there for all of us.
” Riley scans the room, and heat covers my cheeks when she glances my way.
Seconds feel like minutes before she breaks eye contact and goes back to the engaged couple. “Ellie, I couldn’t have asked for a better friend than you. I’m the luckiest girl.” She turns to Rowan. “And Ro.” She raises her glass. “You finally got the girl.”
“Hell yeah, I did,” Rowan boasts, bending down to kiss Ellie.
“Rowan, some advice. If she ends up having to leave town again, please go with her.”
The room fills with laughter as Rowan dips his head.
Riley raises her champagne glass, and everyone follows suit. “To Ellie and Rowan. May your future be bright as you continue to shower each other with love and adoration. Cheers.”
Riley walks up toward Ellie, her golden eyes glassy as they hug. They rock back and forth while they whisper into each other’s ears. Then Riley gives Rowan the same hug.
“Continue to treat her like the queen she is.” Riley swings her arm around Ellie’s shoulder.
Rowan winks at Ellie. “Until my very last breath.”
“That was a great speech,” I say to Riley. “You almost had me crying.”
“Almost?” She lifts her perfectly shaped brow. “Hm. Maybe I should have recited from Marley and Me, then?”
“I cry one time, and you’ll never let me forget it. That was a depressing movie.”
“August, you were sobbing.” Her laugh is warm and sweet.
“It’s sad!”
“Aw,” Riley coos. “That’s what you get for making me watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It was payback.”
“Only because I won our bet? How is it my fault that the movie gave you nightmares?”
She narrows her gaze at me. “You didn’t win that bet. You cheated.”
My brows pinch together while I tap a finger to my chin, thinking. “Hmm. I don’t think that’s right. I finished the blue icy before you, fair and square.”
“But then you threw it all up,” she exclaims. “Technically, that should have been my win.”
I shrug. “Don’t hate the player.”
Riley gives me an eye roll, and I love watching her do it.
“I’m gonna walk away now.” She turns on her heel and struts across the room.
I can’t help but stare at her perfect, round ass. A smile pulls at my lips, but it quickly falls when I’m reminded that we aren’t friends anymore. Not like we used to be. I’d do anything to get us where we used to be. Unfortunately for me, that won’t happen.
I’m the one who messed things up between us. I’m the one who made her runaway.