Page 34 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

“Oh please.” He picks up a yogurt and granola. “Geoff would feel the exact same way.”

We fill our plates. Since mine is overflowing, I’ve clearly subconsciously decided to eat my feelings.

“You guys are kind of intense,” he says. “Like, the tension is so high when you’re in the same room.”

“It wasn’t like that when we were together.” I shrug. “I guess we changed in the time we’ve been apart.”

“Well, it’s hot. It’s like any minute he’s going to grab you and rip your clothes off.”

I hold up my left hand. “Engaged, remember?”

“I hate to break it to you, but you don’t act engaged when he’s in the room.”

I drop my fork. “Hello, we’re literally planning my wedding together.”

He spoons his yogurt and puts a blueberry on top. “All I’m saying is that you better be careful. I think planning a wedding here is like playing with matches. One of them is going to catch and torch everything you’ve built with Will.”

I shake my head. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m faithful. I’ve always been, even if this town doesn’t think so.” I raise my voice at the end, but I have a feeling most of these people are travelers and not residents of Lake Starlight.

“I’m just saying what I’ve observed. When Will comes, he’s going to see it too.”

“That reminds me.” I take a picture of the itinerary and send it to Will with a quick text.

Me: When exactly are you arriving?

It goes unanswered throughout breakfast. After I finish eating, my stomach is bloated and near to bursting.

“Take me on a tour of this town, will you?” Blake asks.

“How about we go to Sunrise Bay? That way, people won’t be giving me the evil eye.”

“Fine. But I really like what I’ve seen of this town as we drove through.”

I shake my head. We pay our breakfast bill and take an Uber to Sunrise Bay, where we browse the cute shops, have coffee, and buy some books. I almost decide to get my hair dyed in the hopes that no one in Lake Starlight will recognize me but decide against it. Will would probably throw a fit if I didn’t consult him first.

That night, I say good night to Blake at the door to his room and go to mine. I stare at the itinerary Lance made and shake my head. Blake is right—I might have made a mistake coming here. But it’s too late to change anything now without having to explain myself.

In the middle of the night, I finally get a text from Will. The meetings are running behind, but he promises to be here for the meal selection because his parents have very good taste and he doesn’t want to disappoint them. Especially since we’re not getting married in New York.

I don’t even bother answering. I shut off my phone and go back to sleep.

The next morning, I go over to Blake’s room and knock on the door so we can head down to meet Lance.

When he answers, he’s dripping sweat and still in his pajamas. “I’ve been up all night throwing up. I can’t go with you.”

My eyes widen. “Blake, I cannot go by myself.”

“What do you want me to do? Go and throw up on the cake samples?” He shuts the door and flicks the lock.

I stand there stunned because now it will be just Lance and me.

“You’ll be fine. Go,” he says from the other side of the door.

I take the elevator down to the lobby. Lance is standing there in jeans and a sweater with a coat over it. His hair is styled, and I’m struck by the memory of him as a boy, waiting for me after prom exactly where he’s standing. We had to split the rooms between boys and girls, but he told me to wake up early so we could have breakfast with just the two of us. He stood right there next to the big round table with the giant bouquet of flowers. Except back then, it was as though he could feel me coming, turning just as I stepped into the lobby. His smile lit up my insides.

But today, he doesn’t look my way until I’m right next to him and I touch his arm.

“Where’s Blake?” he asks, staring behind me.

---