Page 95 of Knot a Bad Idea

“April? Hey, it’s Kelly,” the chipper voice on the other end of the line says.

I freeze. “Kelly?” I repeat weakly.

She’s the last person I would expect to hear from. I head into the stockroom, clutching the phone tightly.

“Yup, it’s me. How are you?”

What a ridiculous question.

“Uh, fine. Um, how did you get this number?”

I lean against a shelf, my face burning with embarrassment.

Why would Kelly call here? What does she want?

“Well, the guys wouldn’t give me your number, so I had to do a little research,” she says. At the mention of the pack, my stomach tightens. “I heard you’re not coming to my wedding…is that true?”

She sounds genuinely disappointed.

I swallow. “Yeah, I’m so sorry, but I’m going to have miss it.”

Devyn has followed me into the stockroom, eavesdropping with wide eyes. I try to shoo her away with my hand, but she ignores me.

Kelly sighs deeply. “They fucked up, didn’t they?”

I cough. “What?”

I want to end the conversation. Why on earth does she care if I show up at her wedding or not?

And why is she calling me two days before? A random guest should be the last worry on her mind.

“I’m sure they did something dumb,” Kelly says. “But whatever it is, my invitation still stands.”

“That’s very generous of you,” I say slowly, “but I can’t make it.”

“Sure, you can. You have a spot on Sophie and Tom’s yacht.”

My head spins. “Kelly, I really can’t. I’m really sorry, but I know?—”

“Can I be honest with you, April?”

Skylar has entered the stockroom too, and now my two closest friends are eavesdropping on my conversation with Pack Axton’s ex.

No matter how many daggers I shoot at them, they don’t leave.

I’m going to fire both of them.

“Sure.”

“Make them regret whatever they did to you. Let them think you’re not coming, and then at the last moment, bring them to their knees.”

I blink, unsure I heardanythingKelly said correctly. “I mean…I like the way you think, but…why?”

“Because I live for the drama,” she chuckles. “And also, because it’s the first time those idiots had seemed happy in a long time, and they shouldn’t be let off the hook that easy. And honestly? I don’t want to watch them mope around atmywedding. Everything will go easier for me if you’re there. So, for kind of selfish reasons, too.”

I nod. “I can respect that.”

“Exactly. So…you’re coming then,right?”

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