He Called It a Joke. I Called My Lawyers. Chapter 03

The next morning, Grant let himself into my apartment like he owned it.

I’d given him the code two years ago. I’d forgotten to change it. I wouldn’t forget again.

He stopped when he saw the suitcases.

“What’s this? Are you seriously moving your stuff to the beach house to punish me? Nora, the wedding is in five days.”

Lacey hovered behind him, eyes pink, twisting the hem of her cheap cardigan like a sad little orphan in a movie.

“Nora, I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I know you look down on me. I really didn’t mean for it to go that far. I just said it would be cool. But everyone had fun… didn’t they?”

Everyone had fun. While I couldn’t breathe.

“Get out,” I said. “Both of you.”

Grant laughed, like I’d told a joke. “Babe. Enough. She apologized. That’s more than you’ve done.”

He nudged Lacey forward. She held out a cream-colored envelope.

“We came to help with the wedding,” Grant said. “Here’s the thing. That video’s everywhere. People are saying you and Lacey hate each other. It looks bad for me at work. So Lacey’s going to be your maid of honor instead of Maya. Show everyone there’s no drama. And you post a little video saying it was all in fun. Easy.”

I stared at him.

He wanted the woman who’d wrapped me in plastic to stand next to me at the altar. He wanted me to smile into a camera and tell two million strangers I’d enjoyed it.

“Maya has been my best friend since college.”

“Maya hates Lacey.”

“Maya has eyes.”

Lacey’s lip trembled. “Please don’t be mad at me, Nora.”

“I said get out.”

Grant’s face hardened. He snatched the envelope from Lacey and flung it at my feet.

“You know what your problem is? You’ve had everything handed to you your whole life, and you can’t stand that someone else gets attention for once. You’re getting impossible, Nora. Until you apologize to her, don’t call me.”

Then he took Lacey’s hand. Naturally. Like he’d done it a hundred times.

And they walked out together.

I picked up the envelope and tore it in half. Then in half again.

Oh, I’d think about it. I’d think about every moment of the last four months I’d let them walk on me.

I spent three days packing. Maya came over each night with wine and fury. On the last night, she pressed a small silver keychain into my palm. A folding blade, two inches long.

“Humor me,” she said. “Carry it until you’re on that plane.”

Friday afternoon, I went to the bridal boutique. Not for a fitting. To cancel. But some stupid part of me wanted to see the dress one last time. The dress I’d chosen when I still thought he’d save me from anything.

The saleswoman went pale when I walked in. “Miss Whitfield… your party is already in the back.”

My party?

I pushed the curtain aside.

Lacey stood on the platform. In my dress. My ivory silk, my hand-sewn lace. Grant’s friends lounged on the velvet couches, Tyler, Brent, Josh, sipping the boutique’s champagne.

They saw me, and their grins went ugly.

My whole body started shaking. I could feel the plastic again, squeezing my ribs. I wanted to run. My legs wouldn’t move.

Lacey stepped down and walked toward me slowly. She backed me into the mirror. Then, eyes on mine, she hooked a finger under the strap of my dress and ripped it.

“Help!” she screamed. “She’s attacking me!”

The guys were on me in a second. Something wet and sweet-smelling pressed over my nose and mouth.

The room tilted.

Lacey leaned down, smiling.

“You still owe me an apology, Ice Queen. Don’t worry. You can pay it off tonight.”