Page 35 of Protecting Bianca

I swallowed again. My throat was still tight. “That’s not true,” I said softly.

“It is.”

“No. It’s not. Just forget about it.” It was embarrassing to admit that I couldn’t find a date for this weekend, especially to Jager.

“B, you are an incredible person. You could have anyone—”

“But I don’t,” I said, exasperated. “I needed someone this weekend, and when Stewart bailed on me, there was no one else. I was desperate, all right?”

I dropped my head and stared at my lasagna. With my appetite gone, I just wanted this night to end. How could it get any worse?

“Desperate?” Jager whispered. “About what?”

I closed my eyes. Might as well get it all out. “It’s my cousin Amy’s wedding this weekend.” I took a breath. “My mother will be there. And I don’t want to go alone.”

“But your brother will be there.”

“He handles those things better than I do, and usually leaves me to get drunk at the bar.”

“I guess that’s how he handles it.”

“I guess.”

“I’ll do it.”

“What?”

“I’ll go with you to the wedding.”

“You don’t—”

He put his hand over mine underneath the table and curled his fingers. He held me tightly, and I inhaled deeply. “I’ll be there, B. You don’t have to go alone.”

I nodded vigorously, unable to say anything. I couldn’t. I was using everything I had to keep the tears from falling. He had no idea how much this meant to me. Even after everything that happened between us—a piece of my heart melted inside that alcove.

9

Bianca

I couldn’t sleep the last couple of nights, so I took a nap this afternoon before getting ready for the wedding. My emotions were running high, my heart beat against my ribcage, and my head swam through a river of memories, each one crashing into the other.

He had left me, and yet, he was here. He had not had the decency to break up with me before he left, and yet, he didn’t want me to be alone now.

It was all so confusing.

‘Ruby, are you there?’

‘Yeah. Are you all right?’

‘Yeah. I think so. I had a good time Thursday night.’

‘With John?’

‘No. With Jager. He showed up, and it’s a long story, but he’s coming to the wedding with me.’

‘How do you feel about that?’

‘I don’t know. Confused, I guess. I thought I could treat him as someone I’d just met, but the past keeps coming up, and I don’t know if I can let it go.’

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