Chapter 3
Daniela
We have a fun afternoon full of wedding-related tasks planned for today.
Layla has already done most of the planning herself, with help from Liam’s mom and countless video calls with me.
But we still have a lot of little things to do—like making our own decorations for the bridal shower, table decorations for the ceremony, baskets for the flower girls, party favors, and more.
The list goes on. It’s going to be beautiful.
I mean, how can you go wrong with a rustic backyard wedding, surrounded by towering evergreen trees and a view of Lake Tahoe in the distance ?
Layla and I just enjoyed breakfast at this cute little spot and now we’re headed to shop around downtown. We may have had a mimosa or two, so we’re walking it off. It’s a perfect sunny day.
I can handle my drinks a lot better than Layla can.
That’s not a brag, it’s just a fact that’s been established over our twenty years of friendship.
Of course, most of those years were alcohol-free.
We didn’t start drinking until college. It probably has something to do with her smaller, leaner frame.
She’s always been petite, but then she got heavily into working out after her parents passed.
Now she’s small, but mighty. While my heart hurt for her and I supported her in other ways, I happily declined whenever she offered an invitation to join her.
Take me on a hike or canoeing, and I might have a good time, but never the gym.
There are a lot of tourists around town today. I’ve been told a lot of people come to fish, hike, camp, or boat in the summer months. The crystal-clear, turquoise lake sparkles in the distance, and I’m itching to get out on the water.
As I’m staring off in the distance, daydreaming about being on a boat with the warm sun on my skin, Layla suddenly halts beside me.
“Oh, there’s Dex,” she says.
I glance at her and then follow the direction of her gaze. Dex and a mystery woman are standing in front of a shop, appearing deep in conversation .
For some reason, my stomach does a tiny flutter.
I’m not sure if it’s because he’s talking to some girl, which I have no business having any sort of reaction to, or if it’s because he looks even better than I remembered.
At well over six feet tall, with black hair, an insanely strong, tattoo-covered body, and a bit of stubble along his jawline, he’s hard to look away from.
I rip my gaze away, realizing that we’re gawking. Trying to compose myself, I finally reply, “Well look at that.” What a stupid thing to say.
Tipsy Layla arches a brow at me, not saying anything.
“Anyway, where’s this store you were bringing us to?” I ask, steering us back on track.
“It’s right up there,” she says, pointing in the direction of Dex. Of course.
“Okay, well, let’s go.”
“All right, if you’re sure…” Layla replies in a slow, sing-song voice.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
As we walk that way, Dex and the girl are directly in our line of sight. I try to look anywhere else, but I keep failing.
“So, who’s the girl?” I ask in a hushed tone, hoping it sounds casual.
“I have no idea,” Layla responds, looking perplexed. “Never seen her before.”
“Hmm. They seem to know each other well. ”
“Probably not as well as the two of you,” she teases, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
“Oh, stop. I never should have told you about that night.”
“You haven’t, though. Not really. I mean, all you said was you hooked up. And then you wouldn’t talk about it again. I have no idea what transpired between you guys afterward.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I grumble.
“Fiiine,” she concedes. “We’re about to reach them, anyway.”
And in a display of perfect timing, Dex happens to look over just as we approach, maybe fifteen feet away.
He does a double take, and his gaze flicks back to me for a moment.
I think the girl is still talking to him, but I can’t be sure.
I’m locked in. His expression doesn’t seem particularly thrilled to see me, and in another blink, his eyes shift away.
They land on Layla, and suddenly he’s grinning.
“Layla!”
“Hey! Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Best Man of the best man ever,” Layla practically sings.
Dex gives her an amused, questioning look.
“We just came from breakfast. Mimosas…” I explain.
His eyes whip to me momentarily, then return to her. “Ahh,” he smiles again.
“Who’s your friend, Dex?” Layla asks.
“This is Marny,” Dex replies .
An epiphany seems to wash over Layla’s face as I keep my eyes fixed on her, trying to avoid looking at the other two.
“Marny, this is Layla and Daniela.”
Layla lifts her arm in a subtle wave, offering a smile, and I follow suit. Marny only responds with a small nod. Everyone stands in awkward silence for a little too long before Dex continues. “Oh yeah, you two have actually met before. That summer we met as teenagers, Layla, remember?”
“I’m sorry?” Marny asks, looking unimpressed. She’s tall. Blonde. Thin. Her eyes shift to me, scanning me up and down in a not-so-subtle way. I stand a little taller, unintimidated by her obvious evaluation. Her gaze returns to Layla.
“Do you remember that summer Liam absolutely obsessed over the girl who was on vacation? She came to the bonfire at his house…” Understanding flashes across Marny’s face.
“Oh my gosh, that’s right! What are you doing back here? Did you guys finally find each other? I remember he searched and waited for so long,” Marny says, her tone more animated now.
“Actually, yeah! We’re getting married this summer!” Layla responds with glee.
“You’re joking! Aw, how cute,” Marny remarks, but there’s something in her tone that I don’t like. “And you’re getting married here? ”
“Yep,” Dex chimes in. I’m still avoiding looking his way.
“Well, you have to let me come! I just love weddings! Aw I’m so happy for our Liam!”
I’m sorry, what?
Did she just invite herself to the wedding? Who does that? Unless…are she and Dex seeing each other?
Then I realize that if she and Dex were serious, she wouldn’t need to invite herself, she’d be his date anyway, right? Or maybe he simply hadn’t asked yet. I shake the thought away. It’s not my business.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who found that strange. Layla glances at Dex for help, and when I risk a glance at him, he’s rubbing a giant hand over the back of his head, looking uncomfortable.
I stand back, silently watching the awkward situation unfold.
Layla puts on a bright, friendly smile, facing Marny. “Yeah, you totally should come! The more the merrier. A lot of their old school friends will be there…”
Marny beams, clapping her hands together excitedly as if that awkward-as-hell interaction never happened.
“Okay,” I cut in with my authoritative teacher voice. “Well, we have some shopping to do. You guys have a lovely afternoon.”
I don’t give them time to respond before I loop my arm through Layla’s and walk past them toward our destination—wherever that is. I don’t bother looking back to see if they’re still standing there, resuming whatever conversation we interrupted.
“Who the hell was that?” I ask my best friend.
“Oh. That was, uh…Dex’s old high school girlfriend. She broke up with him after high school and broke his little heart. Something about wanting to get out of this town and live a glamorous city life or something.”
“Does she live here again? You didn’t know she was back?” I stop myself from bombarding her with too many questions.
“I have no idea. This is the first I’ve seen her in over ten years.”
“Dex hasn’t said anything?”
“Nope,” she replies, side-eyeing me with a grin.
“What?” I sigh.
“Nothing.”
“Okay, Miss Subtle-as-a-Giraffe,” I joke.
“What the hell? A giraffe?” Layla laughs, making a face at me.
“It’s fine. They’re cute.”
“If you say so,” she laughs. “I’m surprised you didn’t say anything after that awkward exchange.”
“I would just look petty.”
“Maybe.” She releases my arm, and we head into the boutique to shop for some last-minute wedding supplies. It’s still over a month away, but it’s crunch time. There’s so much left to do .
And now I have the entire summer to look forward to seeing Dex with his ex at the wedding. Possibly even before that. Awesome.