Page 68 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

“It’s okay.”

“I’m a mess.”

“You had a good night, right?”

I look up at him as he sips his coffee then puts the mug on the counter. “I really did. I think I forgot how much fun I had with Brinley… and you.”

“It was nice to be a foursome again, I will admit. Except I was the sober one.”

“You were always the responsible one.” Back in high school, he drove us to and from every party.

He picks up his coffee and sips it again. “Do you want breakfast? I’m not here a lot, but I could go out and get something.”

“No, I should probably get going.”

I look at my phone and see that I don’t have one missed call or text from Will. I unlock my phone to see if I have any missed calls in case the notifications disappeared when Lance texted my mom, but sadly, no. I can’t believe he didn’t reach out when he knew I was speaking at career day yesterday. Doesn’t he want to know how it went?

“Can I ask you a question?” There’s trepidation in his tone.

I’m not sure what my facial expression was when I realized that Will never reached out, but Lance probably noticed something. He always does.

“Sure,” I say.

“Why him?”

My forehead wrinkles. “What do you mean?”

“You could get any guy you want, definitely someone more attentive to your needs. I mean, I don’t want to meddle in your relationship, but I think you could do a lot better.” He shrugs.

For some reason, my blood boils. “Better as in… you?”

He shakes his head. “Not me. I’m just saying. I mean, Kenz, he hasn’t been here at all. He flew in for a hot second to do the tasting, and even then, he dictated what you’d have at your wedding.”

I stand from the stool. “You don’t know anything about our relationship.”

“I know you aren’t happy.”

It feels as if he just threw acid in my face and the only thing I can think to do is lash out. “You don’t know that.”

Lance tilts his head and stares at me. “I know every one of your smiles, and the one you reserve for him isn’t the same one that reaches your eyes. It isn’t the one that lights up your face. Last night, those smiles were true happiness each and every time.”

“How dare you,” I seethe.

“What? I just think you’re flying blindly into this marriage, and as your friend, I should question you about it.”

I huff. “Friend? Since when are you my friend, Lance?”

“Come on, you can’t deny that I know you better than anyone.” He moves to round the counter, getting closer to me, but I step back and he stops.

“Used to. You used to know me better. But not now.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

I throw my arms in the air. “And who are you to decide that? The man who wrote me off because I kissed someone after he broke up with me?”

“It wasn’t someone, it was my cousin.”

I cross my arms and jut out my hip. “Because I missed you. What do you not understand about that? I’m not saying it was okay, but I was so angry with you. I didn’t want to break up before college. I wanted us to try our hand at long distance. I was miserable. Jesus, Lance, do you have any idea how much I loved you?” My eyes burn with unshed tears.

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