The Wedding Rehearsal Game Broke Me Completely Chapter 09

The Wedding Rehearsal Game Broke Me Completely Chapter 09

Julian held out his hand to Grayson.

Grayson acted like he didn’t see it.

He stared at our joined hands, face going ashen, stumbled back half a step, and turned to leave.

Nearly bolted, honestly.

I’d never once seen Grayson lose his composure like that.

Twenty-some years of knowing him, and he’d always been all polish and poise, no matter how angry he got

underneath.

Julian lowered his hand and looked down at me.

“Babe, you saw that.”

“I was perfectly polite. Your ex was the one giving me attitude.”

His fake-wounded tone made me laugh. I patted his head.

“I saw it. You’ll get a reward when we get back.”

He pushed his luck immediately.

“Then tonight you have to talk me up in front of your mom. Make it official.”

The whole ride, he found roundabout ways to compliment himself.

Not until the car pulled up outside my parents’ place did he finally go quiet, fidgeting in his seat.

“Is this outfit too casual to meet your mom in?”

“You had this suit custom-made a month in advance.”

“Did I not bring enough gifts?”

“The trunk’s already stuffed to the ceiling.”

When Mom opened the door, Julian greeted her, perfectly polite.

Over dinner, Mom casually asked about my flower studio.

I smiled and said, “Everything’s under control. Julian’s got it handled, don’t worry.”

While I was traveling, I’d taken a job at a flower shop and put together a bouquet of daisies and white lisianthus, more out of habit than anything, and he’d happened to be there scouting for an art exhibit and

taken notice.

He’d ended up handing me the floral design for the entire exhibition.

That was when I finally found something I actually loved doing.

My phone lit up under the table.

A message from Grayson.

“I’m outside your building. Can we talk?”

I stepped out onto the balcony.

Grayson stood there like a statue dusted with frost, no telling how long he’d been waiting.

Julian leaned in beside me, a small dimple showing at the corner of his mouth.

“Go ahead.”

Then he added,

“But I’m watching from up here.”

I patted his head and went downstairs.

Grayson smelled like alcohol.

Seeing me, he actually laughed.

“I didn’t think you’d actually come down.”

“Every time we had a date, I used to wait for you right here.”

As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and grabbed for my hand.

“Lulu, what took you so long? The movie’s about to start, we won’t have time to eat.”

“I just had this nightmare. You walked out at the wedding, and no matter how much I called after you, you wouldn’t answer, and I couldn’t find you. And then you found someone else.”

His eyes were unfocused, clearly mistaking this moment for some point in the past.

I yanked my hand free and slapped him, hard.

Grayson’s head snapped to the side, his whole body going rigid.

The haze cleared from his eyes.

“Sorry.”

I pulled my stinging hand back.

“Grayson. This isn’t a dream.”

“And don’t use the alcohol as an excuse. You can hold your liquor better than this.”

His lips moved like he wanted to say more.

I cut him off first.

“Grayson.”

“We’ve been over for a long time.”