Chapter Two

Layla’s POV

Bella and I walked into the First Pacific Hotel together. The lobby was already full. People in formal clothes moved between the front desk and the elevators, some carrying gifts, others checking their phones. Soft music played from somewhere near the seating area.

Bella nodded toward a couple standing near the main hall entrance. “Looks like Summer isn’t the only one getting married here today.”

“There are halls on every floor,” I said. “Hers is on the third. Elevator or stairs?”

She thought for a second and then smirked. “Stairs. Come on.”

I followed her. The stairwell was quieter than the lobby. My heels clicked against the steps in a steady rhythm that matched the tight feeling in my chest. I needed the extra minutes before we reached the hall. My face still felt puffy from last night and the makeup Bella had helped me put on earlier was only doing so much.

Halfway up I stopped and turned to her. “I look awful, don’t I? I can’t walk in there looking like this.”

She rolled her eyes, but her voice stayed soft. “You’ve asked me that three times already. You look fine. Your eyes are almost back to normal. Summer isn’t going to care how you look.”

I studied her face for a second longer, then nodded and kept climbing.

We reached the third floor and followed the signs to the Intercontinental Hall. A canvas stand stood just outside the double doors. I glanced at it the way anyone would glance at a wedding poster, expecting to see Summer’s name next to some stranger’s.

My feet stopped.

The poster read: Summer Evans weds Nicholas Miguel.

I blinked hard. Once. Twice. The names stayed the same. Summer Evans. Nicholas Miguel. My best friend from college and the man who had broken up with me less than twenty-four hours ago.

“Bella.” My voice came out thin. “Am I seeing this wrong, or is that really Summer and Nick?”

She stepped closer and read the poster herself. For a moment she said nothing. Then the words left her in a low rush. “This is insane. I never would have guessed the man she was marrying was Nick. And she still invited you.”

The truth settled slowly. My boyfriend of two years was marrying my closest friend. He had ended things with me the night before without giving a real reason, and now the reason was standing on a canvas stand in front of me. I had trusted both of them. I had never once suspected.

I reached for the door handle before I could talk myself out of it. The hall opened in front of us, wide and bright, already half filled with guests. Soft conversation and the clink of glasses floated through the air. At the far end, under an arch of white flowers, Summer and Nick stood close together, smiling at something one of them had said. They had not seen us yet.

Yesterday’s words came back without warning.

I’m no longer interested in this relationship.

You were like a lost puppy in the rain looking for anyone who would notice you.

I pressed my fingers to my temple. Tears pressed behind my eyes but none fell. My chest felt tight and hollow at the same time.

Bella’s hand closed around my arm. “Are you okay? Let’s just leave. You don’t have to stay here.”

“No.” I shook my head once. “I need to know why. Why they did this and why they still invited me.” I let go of her hand and started walking toward the front of the hall.

“Layla. Layla.” Bella’s voice stayed low, trying not to draw attention, but I kept moving. Guests began to notice. Soft murmurs followed me as I passed the rows of chairs. The sound finally reached the podium. Both Summer and Nick turned at the same time. The smiles on their faces disappeared.

They stepped down and met me a few feet in front of the arch.

Nick spoke first, his voice quiet and sharp. “Layla, I told you we were done. This doesn’t change anything. Go sit with the other guests.”

I ignored him and looked at Summer. The veil covered the upper half of her face. I reached up and lifted it carefully, folding it back over her hair. She frowned.

“I’m sorry, Layla,” she said.

The two words hung in the air for a second too long.

“Sorry?” My voice rose before I could stop it. “Sorry is what you say when you step on someone’s foot on the bus. You don’t get to say that to me.”

Nick glanced around at the watching guests and forced a short laugh. “Can you stop yelling? You’re embarrassing us on our wedding day.”

Bella stepped up beside me. “Then maybe you both should have thought about that before you invited her.”

I kept my eyes on Summer. “When? How long have you two been together?”

Summer lifted her chin. “Does it matter right now? Nick chose me because he saw something in me that he never saw in you. We’re getting married today. As my friend you should be happy for me instead of trying to ruin it.”

Nick spoke before I could answer. “Layla, I know you want an explanation. I’ll give you one after the ceremony. Summer insisted we invite you because she still sees you as her best friend. Don’t try to ruin this for her.”

Bella’s voice cut through the space between us. “Seriously? You still aren’t even sorry.” She turned to me. “Look at him. Be glad you didn’t end up marrying this one.”

I looked at both of them one last time, then turned to face the room. Guests had gone quiet. Every face was turned toward us.

“I need to say something so everyone understands,” I said. My voice carried farther than I expected. “The groom was dating me until last night. The bride has been my friend since college. She asked me to come celebrate with her. I even brought gifts. I had no idea she was marrying the man I had been with for two years.”

Summer’s face went tight. “What rubbish are you talking?” She spun toward Nick. “Do something.”

Bella did not wait for him. “She’s telling the truth. You had every man in the world to choose from, and you still chose your best friend’s boyfriend.” Now you’re getting married. Congratulations to both of you.”

I felt the heat rise in my face but I kept my voice steady. “It’s fine, Bella. I’m glad Summer was there to take care of his desires. At least that’s one thing she’s always been good at.”

Nick stepped forward and closed his hand around my arm. “That’s enough. It’s time for you to leave.”

I pulled free. “I’m leaving. But not before I raise a toast.”

I walked to the nearest table where an older couple sat with an open bottle of wine between them. I picked up the bottle, poured a glass, and turned back toward the front of the hall.

“To my friend and my ex,” I said. “May karma find both of you for the way you treated me.”

I lifted the glass toward the room. “Cheers.”

I drank half of it in one go. The wine burned going down. Bella reached for my wrist but I was already past the point of caring how it looked.

When I set the glass down, Nick and Summer had moved into the crowd, speaking quickly to the nearest guests, trying to smooth over what had just happened. My eyes landed on a man standing a few feet away from them. Kyle Brown. CEO of the Brown Empire. Nick’s old college acquaintance. Nick and Summer were already in front of him, apologizing, while a man who looked like an assistant stood slightly behind.

The ache in my chest had not eased. Two years. Two full years. I wiped the last trace of dampness from under my eyes and straightened my shoulders. I walked toward the small group without looking at Nick or Summer.

Kyle turned when I stopped in front of him. Confusion crossed his face.

“I need someone to kiss right now,” I said. “You look like the right person for it.”

I did not wait for an answer. I rose onto my toes, placed one hand against the front of his jacket, and pressed my mouth to his. The contact was sudden and hard. When he did not pull away, I bit lightly at his lower lip. 

His mouth opened and the kiss deepened for a few short seconds, warm and real and nothing like the careful kisses I used to share with Nick.

I stepped back. Both of us were breathing faster. Kyle stood frozen. Nick and Summer stared as if they had never seen me before.

I took a slow breath and met Kyle’s eyes. “I know you’re a successful man. Thank you for the kiss.”

I opened my purse, pulled out a ten-dollar bill, and pressed it into his palm. “For your trouble.”

Then I turned and walked toward the doors. Bella fell into step beside me. Neither of us spoke as we left the hall and the rising noise of the guests behind us.