Chapter One
“…I hope
someday you’ll forgive me.”
The tears
rolling off Lorelei’s cheek fell onto the single sheet of paper, turning the
signature into a splotch of blue ink. She didn’t have to see the frigging
signature anyway. This was the second time she’d read the damned letter. The
bastard! The rotten, lousy, son of a bitch bastard! She leaned back against the
wall and slid down until she settled in a cloud of white tulle.
Her fist closed
around the letter. She crumpled it into a tight ball and threw it across the
floor. The paper ball bounced once and rolled up against the shiny black toe of
Will’s dress shoe.
“I’m really
sorry, Lori.” Will stepped over the crumpled note.
“It’s not your
fault, is it? Did you make it all happen?” Lori glared up at the man. He’d shed
the black tux jacket and tie.
“No, but I can
be sorry anyway, can’t I?”
Lori furrowed
her brows and dragged the wispy white veil from her hair.
It made her
head ache. She balled it up like she had the letter and tossed it as far away
as possible. Unfortunately, the light material didn’t go far. It parachuted
open and floated gracefully to the floor, pure white against the rich, dark-red
carpet.
“What are you
doing here anyway?” Angrily, she swiped at the tears in her eyes with her
pristine, white, elbow-length glove, ruining the material with an ugly black
smear of mascara.
“I’m concerned
about you.”
Lori continued
to glare. “Shouldn’t you be with him? After all, you are his best man.”
Will’s jaw
tensed and his eyes narrowed slightly, but otherwise he remained still, his
gaze firmly holding hers.
“I’m your
friend, too. More your friend than his. Don’t think I condone his choice.”
Deep down she
believed him, but for the moment, she kept him lumped in the same category as
her runaway groom, an easy target for her anger and disappointment. She didn’t
want pity from Will or anyone else. She couldn’t deal with the shame and
embarrassment she would encounter as a jilted bride. Her stomach churned at the
thought. She was tempted to curl up into a tight ball and wait for everyone to
leave.
“Is everyone
still out there?” She shifted her gaze down to the black mascara stain on her
glove. She peeled the glove off and let it drop onto her lap.
“Most of
Brian’s side left. His parents are still out there. I think they’re pretty
horrified over this and want to say something to you. Your bridesmaids are
ready to bust the door down to get to you and smother you with support, and I
think your parents and brother are plotting Brian’s demise.”
Always the
comic. A smile tugged at her mouth but died before it could completely
form. The heartbreak pulled her down, along with the black anger.
Her fingers
tightened around the lacy skirt of her gown. If only it were Brian’s neck.
She leaned back
against the wall, closed her eyes, and relaxed her fists in a half-hearted
attempt to squash the fury simmering deep inside. She wanted to block out any
reminder of what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, like the
sight of the bouquet she’d hurled against the wall after reading Brian’s
letter. She had no idea where the one-carat diamond engagement ring she’d sent
flying across the room had gone. She didn’t give a good goddamn, either.
Slowly, in the silence broken by Will’s even breathing, Lori let her anger
recede, if only for a moment.
“Why did he do
this, Will? Why like this?”
“I have no
idea.”
His voice was
close. She opened her eyes and found him sitting on the floor next to her. “I
had no clue he was unhappy or even seeing someone else. I feel like such an
idiot.” Anger flashed hot in her belly again.
“Don’t, because
you’re not.”
“Easy for you
to say. You’re not in my place right now.” Despite the warmth in his gray eyes,
she didn’t want comfort. Misery raged inside, pushing at her chest, and stuck
in her throat until she
“…I hope
someday you’ll forgive me.”
The tears
rolling off Lorelei’s cheek fell onto the single sheet of paper, turning the
signature into a splotch of blue ink. She didn’t have to see the frigging
signature anyway. This was the second time she’d read the damned letter. The
bastard! The rotten, lousy, son of a bitch bastard! She leaned back against the
wall and slid down until she settled in a cloud of white tulle.
Her fist closed
around the letter. She crumpled it into a tight ball and threw it across the
floor. The paper ball bounced once and rolled up against the shiny black toe of
Will’s dress shoe.
“I’m really
sorry, Lori.” Will stepped over the crumpled note.
“It’s not your
fault, is it? Did you make it all happen?” Lori glared up at the man. He’d shed
the black tux jacket and tie.
“No, but I can
be sorry anyway, can’t I?”
Lori furrowed
her brows and dragged the wispy white veil from her hair.
It made her
head ache. She balled it up like she had the letter and tossed it as far away
as possible. Unfortunately, the light material didn’t go far. It parachuted
open and floated gracefully to the floor, pure white against the rich, dark-red
carpet.
“What are you
doing here anyway?” Angrily, she swiped at the tears in her eyes with her
pristine, white, elbow-length glove, ruining the material with an ugly black
smear of mascara.
“I’m concerned
about you.”
Lori continued
to glare. “Shouldn’t you be with him? After all, you are his best man.”
Will’s jaw
tensed and his eyes narrowed slightly, but otherwise he remained still, his
gaze firmly holding hers.
“I’m your
friend, too. More your friend than his. Don’t think I condone his choice.”
Deep down she
believed him, but for the moment, she kept him lumped in the same category as
her runaway groom, an easy target for her anger and disappointment. She didn’t
want pity from Will or anyone else. She couldn’t deal with the shame and
embarrassment she would encounter as a jilted bride. Her stomach churned at the
thought. She was tempted to curl up into a tight ball and wait for everyone to
leave.
“Is everyone
still out there?” She shifted her gaze down to the black mascara stain on her
glove. She peeled the glove off and let it drop onto her lap.
“Most of
Brian’s side left. His parents are still out there. I think they’re pretty
horrified over this and want to say something to you. Your bridesmaids are
ready to bust the door down to get to you and smother you with support, and I
think your parents and brother are plotting Brian’s demise.”
Always the
comic. A smile tugged at her mouth but died before it could completely
form. The heartbreak pulled her down, along with the black anger.
Her fingers
tightened around the lacy skirt of her gown. If only it were Brian’s neck.
She leaned back
against the wall, closed her eyes, and relaxed her fists in a half-hearted
attempt to squash the fury simmering deep inside. She wanted to block out any
reminder of what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, like the
sight of the bouquet she’d hurled against the wall after reading Brian’s
letter. She had no idea where the one-carat diamond engagement ring she’d sent
flying across the room had gone. She didn’t give a good goddamn, either.
Slowly, in the silence broken by Will’s even breathing, Lori let her anger
recede, if only for a moment.
“Why did he do
this, Will? Why like this?”
“I have no
idea.”
His voice was
close. She opened her eyes and found him sitting on the floor next to her. “I
had no clue he was unhappy or even seeing someone else. I feel like such an
idiot.” Anger flashed hot in her belly again.
“Don’t, because
you’re not.”
“Easy for you
to say. You’re not in my place right now.” Despite the warmth in his gray eyes,
she didn’t want comfort. Misery raged inside, pushing at her chest, and stuck
in her throat until she
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