Page 65 of Forgettable in Every Way

A woman and teenage girl approached Jules, both in shock.

Jules left Simon’s side and wrapped them both up. “I’m sure you’ll want to go to the hospital. I’ll take care of letting everyone know and cleaning up for you.”

“I can’t leave that to you,” the woman said. “I feel awful.”

“Please don’t. Go be with your family. I got this.”

“Thank you,” the woman responded, her voice trembling. “You’re amazing.”

Simon couldn’t agree more. Never had he known such a caring woman, always willing to help and comfort others. He was very much in danger of completely losing his heart to her. He only hoped she would truly trust him and come to see him as the man he was now and not the blind Daft Prince.

Jules

“I FEEL LIKE A TERRIBLE friend. We’ve hardly talked at all this past week,” Calista lamented to Jules over the phone.

I paced my parents’ house, nervously waiting for Simon to pick me up. We were going to the party Penelope was throwing for Jack at her place, and I felt like I might toss my cookies. While I was getting better at standing up for myself around her, I still hated confrontation. And I knew Penelope would make sure there was some, especially since we would be on her turf. I was bracing myself for the thinly veiled verbal assaults she was planning on unleashing upon me. “Please don’t apologize. You’ve had a crazy week. How is Tristan’s mom?”

Cordelia had collapsed at the country club a week ago because of a heart attack. If it weren’t for Calista, she’d probably be dead. By what little I had heard from Calista this past week, it sounded like Cordelia almost went into cardiac arrest again when she found out who saved her life. And even more so because Frasier, her husband, was singing Calista’s praises.

“She’s going to survive,” Calista playfully grumbled. “Well, maybe. I don’t think she knows yet that Frasier told their lawyers to drop the ridiculous lawsuit against Tristan.”

“What?” I said, more than shocked.

“Crazy, right?” Calista sounded like she couldn’t believe it either.

“Does this mean you’re inviting them to the wedding?”

“Um, hell no.”

I laughed.

“Hey, I never got to say thank you for taking care of all the shower stuff. I’m sorry that fell to you.”

“I was happy to help. Besides, Josie Cavanaugh helped Simon and me, and she gave us an inside scoop on her new series. It’s going to be amazing. And it looks like Simon will be narrating it.” His people and Josie’s people had been talking the last few days.

“Oh, baby.”

I pictured Calista blowing down her shirt. “I know you’re going to listen to it when it comes out. Please, just keep it to yourself when my boyfriend’s voice turns you on.”

She laughed. “Deal.”

“I’m sorry you never got to have your bridal shower. We’ll have to do a bachelorette party or something for you.”

“Honestly, I’m kind of relieved. I hate shower games. And I didn’t want to have to pretend to love all the overpriced gifts in front of everyone. Not to mention all the raunchy lingerie Tristan couldn’t care less about. I still can’t figure out why thongs are considered attractive. Might as well be naked and comfortable.”

She had a point there.

“Anyway, enough about me. I know you’re entering the lair of evil today. How are you feeling about it?”

I stopped pacing and looked at the lake through the large windows in the great room. The water was choppy today because of the wind. My insides resembled the water, churning and crashing. “Like Bilbo Baggins leaving to go on a quest with the dwarves, knowing beforehand about Gollum, but choosing to go anyway.”

“Ooh, Penelope as Gollum. I like that analogy. Just remember to steal her Ring of Power, but don’t let it turn you evil, and probably don’t pass it down to your nephew. That would be bad.” She giggled.

“Sadly, I think she would love for me to use the ring and make myself invisible.”

“Don’t you dare. You show up there proudly with Simon. A little PDA wouldn’t hurt either.”

“She might lose her mind if I kissed Simon in front of her.”

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