Chapter 2 #2
Miles held out his elbow as we walked through the restaurant door that evening.
I’d chosen to skip the actual rehearsal since I wasn’t in the bridal party.
I’d been so relieved when Colette had told me she was only doing a maid of honor and best man—no bridesmaids or groomsmen.
Of course, her identical twin sister, Chloe, had the honor.
There was no way in the world I would have been able to stand up at the altar and smile while watching my first and only love promise eternity to my stepsister.
Even if I now realized Brendan and I would’ve never worked long term, and if what they’d both sworn was true—that nothing happened until after we broke up—it was a tough pill to swallow.
“You look amazing,” my best friend whispered. “You got this.”
I stood a little taller, grateful that Miles knew what I needed in the moment.
And he was right—I did look amazing, thanks to Mom’s glam team and this incredible dress.
She’d picked out a simple burgundy slip dress, silky with a loose, flowing fit that seemed effortless, yet elegant, but paired it with a set of vibrant turquoise sky-high heels that made a statement.
I never would’ve thought to put the colors together, but then again, I didn’t have Mia Newport’s style.
Maybe that’s why she was on husband number four, and I was still a damn virgin.
“Thank you.” I nodded and took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
The dinner was being held in the private back room of a popular restaurant.
The double French doors were shut as we approached, but I could see Brendan’s mother through the glass.
She spotted me, and a look of pity crossed her face.
That was the absolute last thing I needed or wanted.
The next forty-eight hours were definitely going to be a challenge.
Husband number four, my stepfather Edmund Newport, must’ve noticed us walking through the restaurant. He opened the door with a welcoming smile. “Sutton, it’s so good to see you, sweetheart.”
I kissed his cheek. “You, too, Edmund.”
Mom’s husband of seven years was in his mid-sixties—fifteen years older than she was. He had salt and pepper hair and a slightly crooked nose, but he was handsome in his own way. “You remember Miles, right, Edmund?”
“Of course. How are you, son? My wife was so excited you could make it back for the wedding. Mia absolutely adores you.”
“The feeling is mutual, sir.”
Chloe walked over and hugged me. “Eep! I’ve missed you!”
“I missed you, too.” The last time I’d seen my stepsister was when I’d come home and found out about Brendan and Colette. Chloe was supposed to come out to California to visit this spring, but then she got the flu and postponed the trip, and it never happened.
“I’m so excited that you’re back for the summer,” she gushed. “I have big plans for us. We need to go out to my dad’s house in Montauk on weekends. We can get tans during the day and go clubbing in the Hamptons at night. I think there’s also a wreck out at Culloden Beach, if you want to go diving.”
“That sounds great.”
Edmund chimed in. “The owner of my company is a diver, like you. I could ask him about diving spots.”
Chloe leaned close to me and whispered. “His boss is also gorgeous. I might forget to invite Ryan that weekend.”
I knew she was teasing. She was head-over-heels for her boyfriend of five years. The only reason they weren’t engaged already was because Ryan had just finished medical school.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted Brendan and Colette.
They looked at each other, said something, and started to make their way over, hand in hand.
Miles must’ve noticed, too, because he snaked his arm around my waist and squeezed my hip.
The happy couple had only been together a year and a half, so I’d never actually seen them together—at least not clothed, in the upright position, in public.
It felt like someone had punched me in the stomach by the time they got to me.
“Hi, Sutton!” Colette hugged me. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I forced a smile. “So do you.”
An awkward silence fell, and all eyes shifted to Brendan. He leaned forward like he was considering hugging me, and Miles stepped in and squashed it by extending his hand and offering a curt nod. “Brendan.”
I knew the last thing in the world my best friend wanted to do was make nice with my ex, so his sacrifice made me love him even more.
Not wanting Brendan to go for a second attempt at physical contact, I offered an awkward wave when he finished his shake with Miles.
Thankfully, he took the hint and stuffed his hands into his pockets, and Edmund jumped in to make small talk.
“Everyone at Apex is looking forward to meeting you on Monday, Sutton.”
I smiled. “I’m a little nervous, but I’m excited to start.”
“Did you see the article that included Apex on the list of most-coveted summer internships in the financial world?” Miles asked. “Nine-thousand MBA graduates applied for the six open spots.”
“And she landed the position without my help, I might add,” Edmund said. “Sutton didn’t even tell me she’d applied until she got the spot.”
All of this was common knowledge in our family.
Miles was just trying to make me feel good about myself because he knew seeing Brendan and Colette arm in arm made me feel the exact opposite.
He also probably loved shoving my professional success in Brendan’s face, because he knew my ex had applied for a job at Apex after college and didn’t even get a callback for a second interview.
“Speaking of Apex,” Edmund said. “I see that the boss has arrived.”
I thought it was odd that my stepfather would invite his boss to the rehearsal dinner—the wedding, yes, but tonight was a small gathering of only family.
Though from what I’d heard from Mom, they spent a lot of weekends schmoozing with businesspeople.
Relationship-building was part of her husband’s role as CFO of one of the biggest new investment firms.
Colette lifted her chin. “Jagger owns this restaurant. It’s one of the most popular in the City right now. He canceled a reservation they already had on the books, just for Dad.”
Jagger? That had to be a coincidence.
But when I glanced up and my eyes met a set of piercing blues, my heart nearly stopped. Holy shit.
The guy from the bar last night was my stepfather’s boss?