Chapter 22
Amy gripped her shoes so tightly the straps dug into the palm of her hand. She still couldn’t believe Daniel was back or that
Britt had been seeing him on the sly for so long. He had to be manipulating her somehow. Being sneaky was his MO, not Britt’s.
Anger coursed through her, and it wasn’t until she was halfway to her house that she remembered she was in the car with Max.
She hadn’t experienced that type of blind rage since... since she’d been married to Daniel.
She glanced at Max, who hadn’t said a word since they left the Picketts’. He stared straight ahead, the oncoming headlights
on the other side of the road illuminating his face... and his stone-set jaw.
Looking at the strappy heels in her lap, she slightly relaxed her grip as reality replaced fury. I kissed Max. This was bad, really bad. Not the kiss, although she honestly couldn’t remember it. She’d been so furious at Daniel for,
well, everything, that she acted without thinking, wanting to drive the point home to him that she’d moved on. Which wasn’t
true at all.
Another truth hit her. She’d used Max, who had been nothing but kind to her since the second she met him. It was something
one of her high school freshmen would have done. Immature and thoughtless.
Max remained silent as he turned into her driveway. Her outdoor light turned on, flooding the driveway with bright light. He put the car in park, then killed the engine. They sat in silence for a moment.
“Max...” She swallowed, mortified by her behavior. “I’m sorry.”
“About the kiss?”
He was facing her now, and she could see his full expression. Gone was the mild-mannered Max she knew. He looked hurt, confused...
and angry. “I—” She glanced at her shoes again. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
“I don’t know what happened back there. To be honest, I don’t want to. But it’s probably a good thing.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, surprised.
“I was starting to really like you. Not just as a friend.” He ran his palm over his tuxedo pantleg. “I know we agreed that
we wouldn’t date, and I truly meant it at the time. But I was changing my mind. You’re fun, Amy. You’re witty and pretty,
and I’d be crazy if I didn’t fall for you.”
Her heart squeezed. “Oh, Max—”
“Let me finish. I’d hoped you felt the same way, or at least could at some point. But when you kissed me, I knew you didn’t.
You weren’t thinking about me, were you?”
“No.” Her eyes burned. “I wasn’t.”
He faced the front just as the garage light turned off. “I don’t think we should see each other again.”
She started to protest, then simply nodded. “Good night, Max.”
“Goodbye, Amy.”
She hurried out of his car, the light turning back on. She’d barely opened the door when she heard him back out of the driveway
and speed off. She leaned her forehead against the doorjamb. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She’d let her anger at Daniel ruin a friendship that may have eventually turned into a romantic relationship. Now I’ll never know.
Amy went inside and shut the door. She didn’t expect Britt to be home, and when she checked her room upstairs, it was empty.
She went to her bedroom, plopped onto the edge of her bed, and tossed her shoes on the floor. Her heart hurt to think that
Britt was with Daniel. How could she do this to me? She slipped out of her beautiful, expensive dress, letting it fall in a puddle next to her bed, and shoved on an old T-shirt
and shorts.
Then she lay down, hugging her pillow to her chest, her heart in pieces. “How could she betray me?” she whispered.
***
“I’m confused.”
Britt didn’t respond to Savannah as they left swanky University Park.
“If I have this straight,” Savannah said, “you were at a party with your dad, and your mom showed up with her date? Boyfriend?”
“I have no idea what he is,” she said flatly. “Mom never mentioned him.”
“So she never told you about her guy and you never told her about your dad. Oh boy. That had to be a mess.” When Britt didn’t
answer again, Savannah said, “Are you okay?”
“No.” She wondered if she’d ever be okay again.
Her phone buzzed for the third time since Savannah had picked her up. She didn’t bother to check who it was. It had to be
her father, or her mother, and she didn’t want to talk to either of them right now. She knew for sure it wasn’t Hunter. He’d
had his fun and laughs at her expense. He was probably out having a grand time with that woman he was with. Or maybe even
multiple women. “Whatever.”
“What’s that?”
“Can you take me home?” she asked, on the verge of tears again.
“But you just said you wanted to stay at my house.” Savannah maneuvered her car onto the freeway that was always crowded,
no matter what time of day it was.
“I did, but...”
“Britt, talk to me. You’re holding something back, and I think you’ve been keeping whatever it is inside for a while. Even
when we were planning my shower, you were preoccupied, although I didn’t think you were upset.” She glanced at her. “Actually,
you’ve been happier than I’ve ever seen you up until now.”
Although she didn’t want to talk about Hunter, she didn’t want to dodge Savannah either. She was her best friend, and she’d
dropped everything the minute Britt had called her. “Something else happened tonight,” she said, twisting her gloves into
a knot. “I... I found out my boyfriend isn’t who I thought he was.”
Savannah nearly veered into the next lane. She course-corrected as the other driver laid on the horn until he flew by her.
“You have a boyfriend ?”
“I thought I did,” she mumbled.
“Why didn’t you tell me? How could you not tell me?”
Britt winced at Savannah’s furious words. “I’m sorry—”
“We’re best friends!” She lifted one hand off the steering wheel, then dropped it back down. “Who is he? How long have you
been dating?”
“He’s a guy I met online.”
Savannah looked at her. “Oh, Britt. Seriously? Why didn’t you introduce him to me? I could have vetted him for you.”
For some reason, her words irked Britt. “Because I thought I could handle it myself.” Obviously, she couldn’t. She’d been
played, so badly played. Her heart ached so much she could hardly stand it.
“He was at the party tonight?” Savannah asked in a softer tone.
“Yes. His parents own one of those massive houses. He could live there too, for all I know.”
“You don’t know where he lives?”
She thought he lived at the apartment complex where she’d picked him up that one time. But he could have pretended to live
there since he never invited her inside. “Just take me home, Savannah.”
“But—”
“Please!” She couldn’t stand to explain her folly, even to her best friend. It was so humiliating, so agonizingly painful.
Then she realized if she went home, she’d have to face her mother. She couldn’t do that. “Never mind,” she said, sitting up
straight. “Can you take me to Maude and X’s?”
“That wacky couple at the art store? And I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.”
“Yes.”
Savannah paused. “I will, but I really want you to stay with me tonight. We don’t have to talk about the party, or the guy,
or your parents. We’ll just hang out and play games or something.”
Britt considered it, but talk would eventually turn to Savannah and Justin’s wedding and the upcoming shower next weekend.
Her stomach started to burn. How was she going to face all that now? Her mother was angrier than Britt had ever seen, and
she was supposed to help with the shower. And Britt knew she couldn’t stand to listen to Savannah’s happiness, even though
she was glad for her friend. “I just want to go to Maude’s.”
Savannah didn’t say anything, but the temperature in the car dropped at least five degrees. For the rest of the ride, Britt
gave directions, and Savannah silently followed them. When she reached Maude and X’s townhouse, she pulled to a stop.
Britt opened the car door. “Thank you.”
Silence.
“Now you’re mad at me?” Britt blurted out the words before she could stop them.
“Don’t I have a right to be? You didn’t tell me about your boyfriend, and you’d rather spend time with Maude and Z—”
“It’s X—”
“I don’t care!” Savannah closed her eyes, gathering herself. “Britt, I don’t understand what’s going on. This isn’t like you.”
With those words, everything inside Britt crumbled. She was right. Being a maid of honor, keeping secrets, going out and having
fun, dating a gorgeous guy—especially that—were things she did . She’d been pretending to be someone she wasn’t. That stopped now.
“I can’t be in your wedding,” she said flatly.
“Britt—”
But she was already halfway out of the car. “Find someone else.” She slammed the door.
Tires squealed as Savannah zoomed away. Britt stared up at the night sky, barely seeing the twinkling stars sparsely scattered
across it. Her insides turned to ice as she made her way to the front door.
When she reached it, she knocked several times before a light turned on in the picture window, and then the one above the
porch came to life. The door opened and X was standing there, wearing striped pajama bottoms and a Simon and Garfunkel concert
shirt. Maude appeared right behind him, surprisingly clad in an old-fashioned nightgown. “Britt?” they both said in unison.
She dissolved into uncontrollable sobs.
***
For the fourth time, Hunter texted Britt.
Please text me back. I know you’re mad and you have a right to be. I can explain it all if you’ll just talk to me. At least
let me know you’re okay.
He set his phone back on his lap as Daniel drove them to Britt’s house. He stared out the window as the scenery zipped by,
panic and dread swirling within him.
“Still no answer?” Daniel asked.
“No. I just texted her again.”
Her father blew out a long breath. “I’m worried about her.”
“Me too.” He and Daniel had searched the house and grounds looking for Britt but didn’t find her. During that time, Hunter
had texted her several times. When Daniel said he was going to see if she’d gone home, Hunter insisted on accompanying him.
He knew she lived in Allen, but he didn’t know her address. It was dawning on him how little they’d shared of their personal
lives. Neither of them had asked too many questions, which made him wonder what else Britt was hiding.
It also dawned on him that he hadn’t told his family he was leaving or even told his father happy birthday. He rubbed his
temple. They wouldn’t be happy about that. At least I didn’t make a scene this time. Maybe that would be a point in his favor... but he doubted it.
Daniel pulled up to a stop light. As they waited for it to turn green, he said, “How do you know Brittany?”
Hunter had never heard Britt use her full name, and he’d never thought of her as a Brittany. But it fit. “Her channel,” he said, cringing inside. No matter how he spun this, it was going to make him look bad, so he explained it as straightforwardly as he could. “She thought I was a creep at first.”
“Are you?” The light changed and Daniel inched forward. Traffic on this main road was as packed as it usually was on a Saturday
night.
“If I was, would I admit it?”
“Probably not.” He put on the brakes as the car in front of him stopped. “Define your relationship then.”
This was the first time he’d been put through his paces by a woman’s father, and it was wracking his already wracked nerves.
“We’re dating.” Hopefully they still would be after all this was over.
“She never mentioned you.”
No surprise there. “To be honest, sir, she didn’t mention you either.”
Daniel’s jaw jerked. “I wouldn’t expect her to.”
He hadn’t anticipated that answer. “Neither of us talked about our families.”
“She didn’t know you’re Arthur’s son?”
“No.” He looked out the window again. Numerous restaurants and stores with their vibrant neon signs lined both sides of the
road. “I’m sure you’ve heard stories about me.”
“Not stories,” Daniel said. “Just facts. How long have you been dating my daughter?”
“A few weeks. But we’ve known each other a little longer.” He told Daniel about the art lessons but didn’t mention how he
was helping Britt with her social anxiety. “I really care about her, Mr. Branch.”
Daniel shook his head as the traffic began to move again. “It’s Daniel. Your father is my employer, Hunter. I should be deferring to you.”
“Please don’t. I can’t stand all that formality. Never could.”
Daniel nodded. “I’ve never been comfortable with it either, until I started working for Arthur. It’s easy to be deferential
when you’re respected in return.”
Hunter suddenly recalled what his mother had said shortly after his arrival at the party, when she mentioned the woman who
looked like Audrey Hepburn. We think highly of her father. His mother wanted to fix him up with Britt without knowing they were already together. The irony of it all was unbelievable.
Daniel turned into a middle-class neighborhood, and a few minutes later pulled into a driveway.
Hunter didn’t see Britt’s car, only a sedan. “She’s not here.”
“I picked her up at K&Bs,” Daniel said, turning off the engine. “I guess I better explain some things before we go inside.
If Amy will let me inside, that is. My relationship with Britt’s mom is... complicated. No, that’s not true. We don’t have
a relationship because I ruined my marriage years ago. Amy hates me, and Britt never told her I was back in town. Amy found
out about it tonight at the party, and she wasn’t too happy about that, obviously. Things could get uncomfortable, so if you
want to wait here—”
“If there’s even a chance Britt is here, I want to talk to her,” Hunter said, opening the car door. “I need to know that she’s
okay.”
Daniel nodded, and they exited the car. He rang the doorbell five times before it finally opened, and the woman Hunter had
seen earlier arguing with Britt and Daniel stood in the doorway, glaring at them.
“I should have known you wouldn’t leave us alone,” she sneered. Then she looked at Hunter, surprise crossing her features.
“Who are— Wait... You’re the guy from the drawing.”
“What drawing?” Hunter asked.
“Forget it.” She scowled at Daniel again. “Where’s Britt?”
“I was hoping she was here,” Daniel said.
Amy’s anger turned to alarm. “I thought she was with you.”
“I thought she got a ride home. We couldn’t find her at the Picketts’—”
“Then where is she?” She clutched her chest. “Where is my daughter?”
***
Britt stared at the cup of peppermint tea Maude placed in front of her. At least she’d stopped sobbing, although her breath
was still shuddering. She hadn’t wanted to lose control, but she couldn’t help it.
Maude sat down, her long, gray hair in a side braid draped against her granny nightgown. “Oh, honey. I take it the party didn’t
go well?”
Sniffing, Britt nodded, still staring at the tea.
Maude handed her a tissue from the dispenser on the kitchen counter. “Do you want to talk about it—” She sat up. “What is
that horrid smell?”
“Valerian,” X said as he walked into the kitchen carrying a small oil diffuser. “With a touch of Bergamot. It helps with anxiety
and sadness.”
“It smells like a cow pasture.” She waved X away.
He looked a little insulted, but he left with his diffuser.
Britt agreed with Maude, but she didn’t care about the smell or anything else. Another tear dripped on the table. She quickly
wiped it away.
Maude took her hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’m such an idiot.”
“No, you’re not—”
“Don’t,” she said, holding up her hand. “Don’t try to make me feel better. I was so stupid, Maude. He made a fool out of me.”
“Who?”
“Hunter.”
Her brow shot straight up. “Our Hunter?”
“He’s not mine.” She hung her head, several curls brushing against her cheeks. She’d only now noticed that her carefully created
updo was wilting.
“I refuse to believe he would hurt you,” Maude said.
Britt faced her. “He’s not who he claimed to be.” She told Maude about Hunter being at the party, who his parents were, and
that he was with another woman.
Shock registered on her face. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “He told us he worked at a warehouse.”
“I’m sure that’s a lie too.”
X reappeared with a different diffuser, this one much more palatable. “Lavender and lemon,” he said in a pinched voice. “Conventional,
but effective.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” Maude motioned for him to put it on the counter. “Give us a few more minutes.” He nodded and left, then
she turned to Britt again. “Have you talked to him?”
“A little, right before I left. But I don’t ever want to see him again.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I thought... I
thought...”
“You liked him a lot.”
“It’s more than that. Not that it matters what I feel anymore,” she said.
“Britt, it always matters how you feel.”
“Not to him.”
“Are you sure?” Maude asked. “I’ve seen how he looks at you. Cares about you—”
“It must have been an act.” She moved to get up from the table. “If you’re going to defend him—”
“Sit down, Brittany.”
Maude had never used such a curt tone with her before. Britt obeyed.
“Look, I understand that you’re hurting. But from what you’re telling me, you haven’t given him a chance to explain himself.
And before you once again say that you don’t want to listen to him, I’m going to point out that you’re not being fair.”
“How can you say that? He was with another woman!”
“Or you jumped to a conclusion.”
Britt sat back, her arms crossed over her chest. “How would you know? You weren’t there.”
“Did you see him come in with her? Did he ignore you once he saw you? Or did he leave her and go straight to you?”
“How... how did you know that?”
Maude gave her a small smile. “I’ve been around the block a few times. The only way to find out the truth is to listen to
him.”
Her phone buzzed in her purse. Britt didn’t make a move to answer it.
“Aren’t you going to get that?”
“It’s just Mom. Or Dad.” She explained the other disastrous event—that her mother had found out about her father being in
town. “Oh, and apparently Mom has a boyfriend I didn’t know about. And Savannah’s mad at me, so I told her to find someone
else to be her maid of honor.”
“Oh Britt, you didn’t.” Maude tapped her fingers on the wood table. “What a tangled web. Don’t you people ever talk to each other?” When the phone buzzed again, she shoved Britt’s purse toward her. “You need to let your parents know where you are and that you’re all right. I’m sure they’re worried about you.”
“Fine.” She yanked open her bag and pulled out the phone. Hunter’s name popped up in the message list. Seven texts. Nothing
from her father or mother, though.
“Call one of your parents,” Maude insisted. “Right now.”
She stared at Hunter’s name again, stunned that he had texted her so many times when she assumed he was busy with his girlfriend.
Then, to appease Maude, she made the call. “Hello? Yes, I’m all right. I’m at Maude’s.”