Chapter 22
Daniela
“So, the bridal shop called me. My dress is ready early,” I explain to Layla as she stands over my bed, arms crossed.
“Oh, I thought it wasn’t supposed to be ready until next week? Weren’t you planning on picking it up when we head back from the bachelorette party?”
“Yeah. This is kind of a good thing, though. Now I can make sure the alterations are right, and there might still be time for any last-minute ones.”
“When are you going to pick it up?”
“I was thinking…today or tomorrow? I’m sorry, I know we were going to work on the seating chart and stuff today… ”
“Oh, stop,” she says, waves a hand at me. “Liam will help me. You and I don’t know half of his people anyway.”
“Yeah…it’s probably better that way.”
“Don’t worry,” she adds. “I’ll make sure Marny is far away from you.”
“Ugh,” I groan, tilting my head back. “She’s still coming?”
“I guess so. She found me online and messaged me to say how excited she is.”
“Great,” I sigh. “And she’s going with Dex?”
“Oh…no, I don’t think so.” She pauses, giving me a perplexed look. “Is that what you’ve been thinking this whole time?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t say anything to the contrary when she asked to come,” I mumble.
“I mean, Liam said they’re not back together or anything. I’m almost positive he’s not going with her.” She studies my face. The doubt must be written all over it. “But I’ll double-check.”
“It’s none of my business if he does or doesn’t, anyway.”
“Oh, please,” Layla scoffs. “I know you don’t want to see them there together. Plus…I hate to bring it up because I know you don’t want to hear it, but…have you not seen the way Dex looks at you?”
“What are you talking about? ”
“I mean, he looks at you like you’re a fucking sunset and it’s the first one he’s ever seen in his whole damn life. That’s what I’m talking about.”
I look at my best friend, at a loss for words, feeling like I might break. For some reason, I can’t talk to her about this, even though she knows me better than anyone. So, I push it back down. Like I always do.
“I’ll be out in a little bit,” I tell her with a sigh, changing the subject. Then I get up and head to the bathroom before she has a chance to protest.
“Okay!” I hear her holler.
I shut the door behind me and place my hands on the cold, marble counter, then look into the mirror.
I can do this. I can get through this summer and keep my shit together.
Then I can go back to Sacramento and carry on with my real life.
Yes, I get lonely sometimes, but I have work to keep me busy.
And I’ll get back on the dating apps eventually, continuing to find men who are emotionally unavailable—just like me.
Then no one gets hurt. Dex deserves better than what I can offer him.
And I know he takes it very seriously when he dates someone. He doesn’t like to mess around.
Which makes our one-night stand kind of surprising. But I guess we all break our rules sometimes. He just broke his for the wrong girl.
I take my time getting myself ready, then head out of my room to see everyone. It feels like they’re my new family, with how much time I’ve spent here .
“There she is,” Layla calls from the kitchen. She’s sipping on a cup of coffee, as usual.
“Hey Mom. Hey Dad,” I sing.
I hear a laugh from the couch.
“Are you always here?” I ask Dex, turning toward him. Then I glance at Liam and Layla for confirmation. “The four of us might need to work on some separation issues once you guys are married.”
“Relax,” Dex purrs, rising from the couch. “Once all this wedding stuff is done at the end of summer, we’ll all go back to our normal lives, you’ll start your new school year back in Sacramento, and everything will be right in the world again.”
He offers a tight-lipped smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“So, here’s the thing,” Layla interjects, and the tone in her voice makes me eye her suspiciously. “It just so happens…you both have errands to run in Sacramento.”
“Who both? Me and…?” I trail off, glancing around the room until my eyes land on Dex. His expression gives me my answer, and he doesn’t look all too thrilled either. “Oh…”
“It’s up to you what you want to do,” Dex says, standing tall and crossing his arms. “I have some suits to pick up, and obviously it would make more sense to carpool, but if you’re going home for a couple days or just want to make the drive alone, that’s fine. ”
“You ordered suits from a shop in Sacramento? Why not go to Reno? It’s much closer,” I ask.
“Liam here is Mr. Fancy and needed his from a special shop. I’m picking up both of ours. Because I’m an incredible friend.”
“Doesn’t he need to go to make sure his fits?” I ask, stalling.
“Been there for two rounds of alterations already. It’ll fit,” Liam chimes in.
Layla wiggles her eyebrows at him after that comment. I roll my eyes and look away.
“Gross, Mom and Dad.” Dex smirks.
“All right,” I say to him at last. “I was planning on making a quick trip. Layla needs my amazing artistic skills back here for some last-minute wedding crafts. Plus, the bachelorette party is right around the corner.”
Dex nods.
“Tomorrow? Today?” I ask him. “I’m flexible.”
He quirks an eyebrow, remaining silent for a beat. “Tomorrow,” he finally responds.
“Okay.”
“Well, while I have everyone here, you all can help me with the seating chart,” Layla chirps.
“Great,” I mutter to myself, heading to the fridge to get myself a drink. I open it and take my time assessing my options. White wine wins .
I pull the half-drunk bottle out and carry it to the cupboard, reaching for a glass. I stand on my tiptoes to grab one from the top shelf, barely reaching.
Dex’s scent hits me just before I realize he’s stepped in close, brushing up against me. He easily reaches up and grabs two glasses, setting them both on the counter in front of me.
“Mind if I join you?” he asks.
He’s standing incredibly close, looking down at me with a subtle, lazy grin. For a moment, I just stare at him. Then I clear my throat and turn to the glasses, filling them both.
“Here you go,” I say, handing him one.
“Thank you,” he replies, his gaze still fixed on me. His eyelids are heavy and that grin is still playing on his lips as he holds his glass out to mine.
I clink mine against his and take a sip. So does he.
Layla returns a moment later with a giant poster board and a basket full of papers.
I slip the wine bottle back into the fridge, and we all assemble around the kitchen island.
Together, we start writing names from her list, cutting out small rectangles, and laughing along the way.
The poster has tables drawn on it to mirror the layout that’ll be set up in the backyard.
“Okay, I don’t know who half of these people are, so I won’t be much help,” I tell them .
“That’s okay,” Layla answers. “You can help with the ones you do know. Let’s start with the best people ever…you guys!”
“Did someone give you a mimosa already this morning?” I laugh.
“No! I’m just excited,” she says with a wistful sigh.
Liam leans in, smiling at her as their lips meet, and I look away.
“Okay, we get it,” I say. “Let’s keep working, please.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Layla answers, still sharing googly eyes with Liam.
Dex clears his throat beside me. He’s been unusually quiet—at least for him.
“Okay,” Layla says, finally refocusing. “Liam and I will be sitting at our own table. You guys, along with the rest of the wedding party, should be at the table closest to us, I think.”
I nod. “And we need to leave room for dates. I know Kylie is coming solo and Britney is bringing her boyfriend.”
I feel Dex’s eyes on me as he whips his head in my direction, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Are you bringing someone?” Liam asks.
“No, that’s not what I meant…” I trail off. “I was just checking if anyone else was. Like Ethan, or…”
I glance at Dex, raising my eyebrows in question. He shakes his head.
“Not me,” he says in a quiet, gravelly voice .
“You’re not bringing Marny?” I ask.
“No…why would you think—never mind,” he says, shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck. Then he looks at Liam and Layla, avoiding my gaze. “No. I’m not bringing a date. Neither is Ethan. I don’t know about your other friend, though, Liam. The third groomsman. What’s his name again?”
“Jameson.”
“Right. Jameson. The older guy.”
“He’s not that old. He’s only, like, forty.”
“How do you know him?” I ask.
“Tech friend. We worked together on the last big project I did. Well, he’s kind of more of an investor, but…anyway, I don’t want to bore you guys with all that.”
With that settled, we move on to the other tables, and I zone out a little, since I don’t know most of their Tahoe people.
I hate that I want to smile right now, knowing Dex isn’t taking Marny as his date.
I really shouldn’t care. I’ve already decided I’m not going there again.
If I did, I’d have to tell him everything I’ve been keeping locked up tight, and I don’t want to do that. Then he might really hate me.
I’d rather carry on as we are now—mostly hate with a little playful banter. Sometimes, I even catch him looking at me like…
I don’t know. It’s that inexplicable feeling when your eyes lock with someone’s—like time pauses and you’re trapped in it, making you feel like you’re floating and not in your own body anymore.