Page 64 of Marrying Off My Husband

“Eve, please,” I pleaded, my voice desperate to bridge the gap between us. She recoiled, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. I reached for her, but she recoiled as though my touch would burn her.

“No,” she snapped, stepping back, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I can’t…I need some space.”

Before I could say anything else, Eve turned and hurried down the garden path, disappearing into the shadowy outlines of the garden.

Behind me the door creaked open as I stared after her, tears burning my eyes.

“Drove another one away, huh, Lou-Lou?” Mama taunted. “I see nothing has changed.”

The word stung me, especially because they came with a kernel of truth. Eve was gone, taking the trust we’d built with her.

My heart shattered into a million pieces as the best friend I’d ever had, a woman who had tolerated all of my shenanigans, left me behind. And I had no idea if I could fix it.

CHAPTER 16

EVE

My fingers tightened around my phone as I tried to fight the tears building in my eyes. I had no right to feel this way, but I still did.

I hoped to cover it the best I could with a quick exit.

The image of Spencer and Louise, too close, their lips touching had burned itself into my brain.

I shook my head as Louise called after me, each word like a hammer against my frayed emotions. I was torn between the hurt of betrayal and the guilt of abandoning my friend.

Hurrying toward the French doors leading to the garden, I ignored her. I needed fresh air and to escape the feeling of being trapped in the sprawling Southern mansion.

She called after me again, but I ignored her, desperately trying to get my emotions under control.

Spencer and I were fake dating. He’d made that very clear, and now I knew why.

I knew why Louise had gushed about how adorable he was, why he had no interest in a relationship, I knew all the why’s except for one. Why had they played this game?

Had they not known their true feelings until they were each faced with the prospect of being with someone else?

No matter what the answer to that question was, I felt foolish. Foolish for trusting them, foolish for being sucked into this game, and foolish for letting my heart develop feelings for a man who was unavailable.

Louise called me again as I stepped outside. I had to face her. I glanced upward, blinking rapidly to hold back my tears as I twisted to face her and tell her it was fine. They were married, I didn’t need an explanation.

None of that was true by my standard, but I said it, and hoped she would leave me alone.

“You know that’s not true,” I answered. “Now, you stop with this right now. You have every right to ask questions, Eve. Spencer is your boyfriend.”

I couldn’t believe she’d said those words out loud. First of all, her mother had no idea from what I understood, so she risked her entire ruse by blurting it out. And on top of that, I’d just caught her lip-locked with the man. How could she call him my boyfriend?

After telling her I wish she’d been honest, she tried to tell me it was a misunderstanding.

I realized that it wasn’t just Spencer who had hurt me, but Louise, too. I didn’t have many friends. Louise had been one of the few people I let into my life. And I’d been burned already.

Tears formed again and one escaped my eye, falling to my cheek. I flicked it away. “It looked pretty clear to me. All this time, you’ve been telling me how cute he and how sweet he is. And I’ve been wondering if you have feelings for him. This just…confirms it.”

When she reached for me, protesting that I had it all wrong, I stumbled back a step, my defense mechanisms building a wall around me.

I twisted and raced down the garden path, wishing the bushes and trees would shield me with their leaves.

I’d felt foolish plenty of times before, but this one stung more than any other.

Even when my sister had turned up on my doorstep with Henry, I hadn’t felt this betrayed.

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