Page 35 of Played

“Well, somebody had to add your name to the guest list, Freya. And if it wasn’t Ethan or Caleb, then who could it be?”

“Well, maybe Laney? Because I gave her bairn the doll?”

“But knowing that you’re the one that once slept with her betrothed?” Trudy winces, unconvinced.

“What are you getting at?”

Trudy smiles. “Something tells me that this is the work of a matchmaker. Twenty bucks says that Ethan doesn't even know you’re invited.”

“Please.” I mutter, unconvinced. But then I think about it. If Ethan knew, he would refute, so maybe he doesn’t know.

Trudy can see the clarity coming to my face. “See? It makes sense, doesn’t it.”

I draw in a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m not going.”

Her brows furrow. Her eyes widen. “Why the hell not? This is your prime opportunity.”

“For what?” I bellow. “You said yourself, and I saw for myself, that Ethan fucking hates me. Why would I go to his brother’s wedding? The man I once fucked...badly, too!” I sigh quickly, exasperated. “You said yourself that they’re all nuts. Why would I want to be a part of that?”

“Up to you, Freya, but if you ever want to see Ethan again, this is likely your last chance. You think he’s ever going to come around again?”

Shocking myself, I shout. “And what makes you think I want to see him again, huh! He hates me! I fucked his brother, then I fucked him, and didn’t tell either one of them! He thinks I'm a twisted whore! He broke my fucking heart and didn’t even give me the chance to explain! Why, pray tell, why would I want to sign myself up for that again!”

Trudy folds her arms over her chest. “Alright, drunky drunkerson. You just wait until all that hooch and sugar wears off. God, you are so not a normal girl, Freya. Where is the swooning, pining, whining drunkard that most chicks turn into? You, you’re the complete opposite.”

“So? Maybe I am over Ethan.” I lie.

She snorts a scoff so loud she chokes. “Yeah, and pigs fly!”

“How do you know! What makes you think I'm not!” I test, knowing the answer, but I’m not in the mood to be corrected or slighted. I get like this when I’m drunk. Drinking in my thirties is not nearly as fun as it was when I was in my twenties.

Trudy is deadpan. “Name one guy you’ve dated since Ethan.”

I hesitate, but she only gives me a second, and then she lifts a hand up in defence. “I rest my case.”

“Okay, smarty pants. I'm also busy. I run two businesses and I'm single. How do you know I'm not just so tired out after a long day at work, that I’m not interested in dating, huh?”

“Because you’re not seventy. And I know you bought a vibrator, so don’t try to deny it. It won’t work.”

“So, what?” I shout. “You’ve got one, too!”

“And for good reason! I’m single! And I don’t want to be anything more than that!”

Now it’s my turn to fold my arms across my chest. “And what makes you think I'm any different?”

“Because you loved that boy with everything you had. You were so afraid to tell him the truth because you knew that you’d lose him. I don’t know how many times I told you to come clean with him, and you didn’t!”

“So, this is about you, not about me, is it!”

“No, it’s not, Freya! I’m just tired of seeing that goddamn look creep up on your face all the time! You know damn well that you fucked up with Ethan, and it eats away at you all the time! And when he came around, even though it was to tear you a new one, you were so fucking happy to see him again, and don’t deny it! The fact that you gave him that bear shows that you still care!”

“The bear was for the kid, not for him.”

“Don’t patronise me, Freya. You and I both know that you had more than one reason for doing what you did.”

“So, suddenly you want me to go to this stupid fucking wedding, even though you say that they’re all crazy as fuck! God, make up your fucking mind!”

“Well, I thought they were crazy at first, but then I figured it out. Something tells me that someone in that family wants you and Ethan to be together, and they’re using the wedding as a perfect opportunity.”

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