Boyfriend Dumped Me for “Heiress” BFF? Your New Girl Calls ME “Boss” Every Day! Chapter 09

Boyfriend Dumped Me for “Heiress” BFF? Your New Girl Calls ME “Boss” Every Day! Chapter 09

“Willow, I promised we’d do this trip together, remember?”

Blake’s voice cracks a little.

“I tracked your flight. Followed you here.”

He steps closer.

“You coming to California… that means you still care, right?”

I just stare at him.

Suddenly I’m back in sophomore year.

I had money. Never flashed it around though.

Picked up shifts at the campus bookstore sometimes. Tutored freshmen.

Liked making my own cash.

We used to plan this whole thing-road trip down the coast. Just us.

Then he goes, “What if Summer came too?”

And I said yes.

Now it clicks.

He wanted us both the whole time.

And I finally get why these past few days felt so wrong.

I laugh. No humor in it.

“You’re delusional. I just didn’t want my planning to go to waste.”

“We’re done. Follow me again and I’m calling the cops.”

I walk past him.

He stands there frozen.

Get about ten yards before he sprints up and blocks me.

Face red now. Anger mixed with desperation.

“Sinclair Corp rejected me. Can’t land an interview anywhere. Everyone’s blacklisting me.”

His jaw clenches.

“So you’re just gonna throw me away too?”

Shadow falls across me.

Hands settle on my shoulders from behind.

I look up.

Preston.

He pulls me back against his chest. Eyes locked on Blake.

“You don’t keep garbage around hoping it stops stinking.”

I didn’t know Preston could talk like that.

A surprised laugh bursts out of me.

Blake’s face goes purple. Mouth opens and closes.

Nothing comes out.

Preston takes my hand.

“Come on. Beach is nicer without the smell.”

Doesn’t wait for a response.

Just walks. I follow.

Blake’s still trailing us.

The ocean spray hits my face.

Feels incredible.

I wade into the shallow water. Kick at the foam.

“Please tell me you didn’t fly three thousand miles just to babysit me.”

Preston’s quiet for a beat.

Then-

“Stopped by your place first.”

“Your dad said you needed space. Took off alone.”

His hand tightens slightly around mine.

“Didn’t sit right with me.”

I stop. Turn to face him.

“Why though?”

“This whole thing’s arranged. You don’t owe me-”

His finger touches my lips. Gentle pressure.

“Coffee shop that day. You showed up early. I watched you through the window.”

His eyes soften.

“You looked… lonely. Like me.”

“Thought maybe we could figure it out together. Get married. See what happens after.”

Lonely.

The word sits heavy in my chest.

I think about college.

Blake beside me. Summer on my other side.

My whole world.

But there was always this invisible barrier.

Like I was watching them through glass.

— Every Day!

Yeah. Lonely sounds right.

I glance back at Blake hovering near the pier.

Then at Preston.

“When we get home, let’s just do it. Get married.”

His mouth curves up.

“Yeah?”

He leans in. Kisses me.

Soft. Steady.

Blake’s watching.

Face goes slack. Color drains out.

Finally understands.

It’s over.

His knees buckle. He drops into the sand.

Epilogue

Back in New York. Wedding prep’s a blur.

Both families meet. Lock in the venue. Florist. Catering. The works.

Somewhere in all that chaos, I hear Summer went back upstate with Maria.

Some nowhere town.

Dad’s still going after them. Sends lawyers every other week demanding repayment.

She’s working double shifts at a diner trying to pay back fifteen years of private school and designer clothes.

I don’t ask for updates.

Don’t really think about her anymore.

Wedding day.

I’m staring at myself in the hotel suite mirror.

White Vera Wang gown. Cathedral veil. Hair pinned up.

Feels unreal.

Couple months ago I was panicking about how to introduce Blake to Dad.

“Willow-someone told me to give you this.”

My maid of honor waves a small box.

Hands it over.

I pop it open.

Two heart-shaped padlocks. The kind people clip onto bridge railings.

There’s a folded note underneath.

Willow-brought what you wanted.

Memory hits.

Before the trip was supposed to happen. Me curled up next to Blake on his couch.

“When we get to San Francisco, we HAVE to get those love locks. Lock us together forever.”

Doesn’t mean a damn thing now.

I drop the whole box into the trash can.

Pachelbel’s Canon starts playing.

Dad appears at my side. Offers his arm.

I loop mine through his.

Walk down the aisle toward Preston.

He’s standing at the altar in a black tux. Hands clasped. Smiling.

Don’t know if this’ll last.

Don’t know if love’s even in the cards.