Page 42 of Played

She counts off on her fingers. “You mention his name every day, you’re always comparing others to him, you keep all the pictures that you took of him and you when you were together, and don’t even get me started on your diary.”

I gasp. “You read my diary?”

This is where she gets defensive, and shouts, matching my tone. “You read mine!”

That hit a nerve. I did read her diary. I bought that one. “Fine.” I raise my nose, like one of those stuck-up kids in high school that thought they were too good for anyone else. “But I’m not still in love with him.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“Trudy, I was like his wart! He was too embarrassed to be around me, other than in bed!”

“Well, that was then, Freya. And if you still love him, and if this shit is meant to be, then the only way to find out is to see him again.” Trudy informs. “And evidently his father is some sort of matchmaker, since he got Caleb and Laney together, and look at them. They’re so fucking happy the whole family is turning the other cheek.” She pauses. “Ethan told me that the only reason why he never let you in is because he was afraid that his father wouldn’t approve of you, but clearly he does now.”

“Oh, so now it’s okay? Please! I’m not for convenience.”

“I don’t really think it was like that, Freya, but the only way that you’re ever going to find out is to…find out. You’re in is this fucking wedding.”

I tilt my head, unconvinced. “And you’re sure this isn’t just so that you can bag Maverick.”

“Well, that’ll be a side benefit, of course. But I’ll be right there with you, being your fall guy if necessary. Like I said, I’m great at weddings. The life of the party. And I don’t even have to drink or put on a lampshade or anything. It’s a talent.”

“Greeaatt.”

“Oh, come on. If it sucks, we leave. Plus, we’ll be at a ranch. The Ford ranch. How cool is that? I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s beautiful. If it sucks, we hang out at the ranch and cut our losses. What do you say?”

My hand rakes through my hair, as I fill my lungs with air and slowly let it out. “And Ethan doesn’t loathe the idea of me showing up, right?”

“No. That’s why he was looking for me. His da sent him to talk to you, but he figured it was better to talk to me, instead.”

“Great. A heartbreaker and a coward.”

She shoves me playfully. “Oh, stop. Tell me it wasn’t genius. I mean, look at me, convincing you to go.”

“And don’t think him bringing his sexy, single brother along to sweeten the pot wasn’t planned, either.”

Trudy lifts a brow. “Only one way to find out.”

“God, it’s like being in a room with fucking GQ models.” Trudy comments as we board the jet to go to the Ford ranch. “And they’re all rich and taken, so that’s the painful part.”

“Don’t worry, the Harris boys are all single, except for Caleb, of course.” I add.

“I’m only interested in one of those, Freya. The others are all too pretty for me.”

“But I thought you liked being in the same room as models.” I tease. “You’re the one that just said it.”

She changes the subject. “Speaking of which, what, is this going to be like a freaking family orgy? Where the hell are we all supposed to sleep?”

“Gross. Colton has a huge guest house, and I think every hotel in South Carolina is blocked off for this event.”

“How many people do you figure they’ve invited?” She asks, as we take a seat and get ready for takeoff.

“I don’t know. But I’d say at least a couple hundred. I looked into the back story of some of these fundraisers that Colton’s held, and they were pretty substantial. His brother Wade, from the band Take Risks, he played at most of them, so I’d say this could be a huge wedding.”

“I wonder if Caleb is pissed at his dad’s lack of discretion.”

I scoff. “Please. Did you not see last week’s articles on Caleb and Laney? The one entitled ‘Hitched’ was particularly enlightening. They bared all there.”

“Even the fact that he knocked her up?”

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