Page 47 of Six Wishes

CHAPTER22

Mental capacity

Chloe

My mother is going to kill me, is the first thought that pops into my head when I glance at Wyatt’s phone. I can’t look him in the eyes. I may never be able to look anyone in the eyes after tonight.

There, on the H-Wags Insta page, in all our naked glory, are me and Van. However, at closer inspection, there’s Van, but that is not me at all. It is someone who definitely looks like me. But it’s not me.

The hair is about the same length and color as mine, and the legs wrapped around Van as he is pounding into her on his couch seem to be as long as mine. Her face is not though.

My eyes go to the ground, and I just want it to open up and swallow me whole. Actually, no, I take that back. I want the ground to open up and swallow Van whole. I knew he was too good to be true, damnit.

“Who the hell is that, Van?” Alison stomps her foot and lays it into Van. “The pictures are dated last week on Tuesday.”

There’s a short moment of silence where I am still looking at the ground, but am holding my breath at the same time, waiting to see what he’s got to say. He and I have been together for close to three weeks now. So last Tuesday would definitely put him in the cheating category. And he is not saying anything.

I don’t even think things through when I just turn and start walking away. I don’t have the mental capacity to process any of this right now.

“Chlo,” Van grabs my hand and pulls me into his body. My back hits his chest, and I love it when he places an arm over my shoulder and across my body. “You know those have to be fake,” he murmurs into my ear, but I just want to be out of here right now.

“I’m going to go now, Van.” I try not to yell at him, but there’s a hitch in my voice right at the end, and I know he catches on it.

With a heavy sigh, Van lets go of me, and I walk away. I am disappointed that he is letting me go without a fight, while at the same time I am grateful that does it. Female logic, my dad used to say that to my mom all the time. That was one of the numerous reasons why they ended up divorced.

Not like I’m getting a divorce. I’m not even married. And at this rate, I don’t want to ever get married.

I don’t want to walk back into the building where the reception is being held, but that’s the shortest way out of this place. I also left my purse in there somewhere. That’s when it hits me that I am actually stranded here. Van brought us here in his fancy sports car. I can either Uber it out or call someone to come get me. Maybe Hunter. I’ll try her first.

With a solid plan in place, I walk back in with my head held high. What a cluster I landed myself in this time around. I thought my only problem before was that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Now I had to worry about my boyfriend screwing some chick on his couch when I wasn’t looking.

Because yes, the bastard insisted on labeling us, too. Why would he do that when he just wanted to play around? The thought stops me in my tracks. That is a valid question. Van didn’t have to ask me to be his girlfriend. I was going to sleep him with no matter what. I didn’t need any commitment. However, once he gave it to me, I expected him to hold his end of the bargain. Which included no cheating. We never said the actual words to each other, but I thought it was implied.

“Chloe,” I hear someone calling my name as my brain goes through all these random scenarios in my head. At this point, I am almost at the table where we sat down for dinner. “Chloe, wait,” the voice insists when I don’t show any interest their way.

Someone grabs me by the elbow, and I turn around ready to punch them in the face. I restrain myself when I realize that it is Wyatt. Since he is now the husband of not only my quite possibly best friend but also my boss, I try to force a pleasant smile on my face so I do not offend.

“Hey, Wyatt, what’s going on?” My voice sounds fake even to my own ears. I cringe when I see the beginning of a sympathetic smile on his face.

“I need to talk to you. Can you give me a minute?”

“Is it about Van?” I snap back without meaning to.

“It is, but not about what you think,” he pleads with me.

I’d love to sit and chat with the man, but, for one, this is his wedding. He should be with his bride, loving on each other as they prepare to take off for their days away with their nephew, Ethan. And for two, I feel a headache coming, and I don’t have the energy to talk about anything right now.

“I’m sorry, Wyatt, can we do this when you get back? Please?” My eyes fill with water, and I see the moment when he understands he should let this go. Wyatt is so nice. So perfect for Ali. Why can’t Van be like this too? But no, Van has to go balls deep into someone else while telling me that he is catching feelings for me. What bullshit.

“Do you need a ride home?” Did I mention how awesome Wyatt is?

“I do, Wy,” the nickname I heard Ali calling him slips, and I almost blush. “But I can’t take you away from your own wedding.”

“Not me,” he chuckles. “Damian can take you,” he points toward where his brother-in-law is standing next to his wife who is Alison’s sister. “Come with me.”

I grab my bag and walk with him all while looking around, trying to locate Van. He hasn’t come back, and neither has Ali, so I am assuming she is chewing his ass somewhere outside. Good.

“Hey, Chlo,” Maci greets me with a big smile on her face. She is so damn adorable, even more so since her pregnant belly has grown. I catch Damian staring at her in awe, and I feel jealous again. How did I end up surrounded by all these couples in love? “We’re about to leave, I’m tired,” she squeezes Damian’s hand. “We can give you a ride home if you want.”

---