“Shut up, Cat.”
“Ooh”—she rubbed her hands together and quickened her pace to catch up with Joey—“this is going to be fun!”
“What is?” Joey asked her.
“The wedding, baby.” She pulled her son into her side but flashed me a look over her shoulder. “There’s going to be plenty of entertainment.”
I flipped her the bird and she threw her head back in laughter.
“What do you think? Did you enjoy dinner?” Jessica stepped up beside me, sliding her arm around my waist.
We stared around at the ballroom. It was all silver and white with splashes of teal. It was beautiful. Classy. Elegant. Subtle. The table centerpieces were small, a collection of jarred silver and teal candles, with a bouquet of white peonies in the middle.
“Dinner was amazing. But how did you afford this place?” I’d been nosy and asked Vivien how much it was to rent the ballroom for the day.
“Discount, of course. Cooper is Vaughn’s bestie.”
I laughed at her teasing. “He’s nice to those he likes, huh?”
“And he likes you very much. I heard what he said to Cooper and Cat this morning.”
“Wow, news travels fast.” I looked into her hopeful hazel gaze and sighed. “Don’t. Jess. I . . . He confuses me enough without you lot ganging up on me.”
“No one is ganging up on you. We just want you to be happy.”
“I’m not in love with him,” I declared.
She studied me. “I know. But he’s in love with you. And I think if you gave him a chance, you’d fall for him, too.”
“I know that,” I agreed. “I know that one hundred percent. Which is why I don’t want to give him a chance. He’d crush me, Jess.”
“Or he’d love you forever the way you deserve.” She kissed my cheek, emotion clogging her throat when she whispered, “You helped save my life, Bailey Hartwell. I want everything for you.”
She pulled back and the tears that had filled my eyes, spilled over. “Thanks for that.” I huffed, blotting my cheeks with the back of my hands. “Took me ages to do my makeup.”
Jess laughed and handed me a tissue. “I have a ton.”
“Go.” I waved her away. “Make other people cry.” She turned to leave. “I love you, Jess.”
My friend grinned back at me. “And you know I love you.”
I watched her stroll away, her heavy dress trailing beautifully behind her, and I felt overwhelming happiness for her as Cooper drew her into his arms before leading her over to greet more guests.
If anyone deserved that kind of happiness, it was Jessica Hunting-Lawson. Jessica Lawson.
It had a nice ring to it.
I needed a restroom so I could check my makeup, but as I started walking toward the ballroom exit my gaze snagged on an unwelcome sight.
A young, extremely tall blond woman who could have been a model she was so striking was standing close to Vaughn. She was smiling at him and he didn’t look unhappy to be there. Why would he? She was a six-foot-something goddess in a dress that was so short all you could see were legs, legs, and more legs.
“Bailey, there you are.” Iris appeared at my side. “Come join us instead of standing over here like a wallflower.”
Forgetting about my makeup, I seethed as Iris led me over to their table. Dinner was over, a band was playing onstage, and drink was flowing. I’d kept my attention focused on the bride and groom and on the speeches. I had been moved by Jess’s Aunt Theresa as she spoke of all the time she and Jess had missed together, but how much joy she felt knowing that Jess had met someone who made up for all that lost time, that unhappiness, and how she couldn’t wait to be a part of such a promising future.
I laughed at Joey, who gave the cutest speech on earth, and I choked up when Cooper finished it off with a heartwarming, sexy toast to his new wife.
All of that kept my focus where it should be and not on Vaughn.
So I had no idea he’d brought a freaking date to the wedding!
What?
That made no sense!
Maybe she wasn’t a date.
“Who is that Vaughn is talking with?” Dahlia snapped.
My eyes flew across the room where he was still standing with the blonde. Christ, in those heels of hers she was even taller than Tremaine.
Ugly, bitter disappointment filled me.
“Oh, hell no,” Cat huffed.
“I thought he said he was coming after Bailey?” Ira was confused.
“Does everyone know about that?” I glared at Cat.
She shrugged, scowling back at me. “How was I supposed to know he had the attention span of a gnat?” Her expression softened. “I’m sorry, Bails.”
“Oh, for the love of God,” Iris sighed. “The man is just talking. That means nothing.”
“With a stranger,” Dahlia pointed out. “She’s not from Hartwell, which means he invited her.”
Silence fell over our table as I digested this. Jealousy burned hot and painful inside of me as I watched him nod at something the Amazon said. I’d never felt this kind of envy before. It was thick and cloying, and it took my breath away.
Angry tears burned in my eyes.
And then as if he felt my attention, his head jerked in my direction. His fierce gaze bore into mine, making me breathless.
“I don’t think so,” Cat said, her tone softening. “No man looks at a woman the way he’s looking at Bailey and invites another woman to a wedding.”