Page 49 of False God

The Claremont project, which I took because I was afraid to hold out for an opportunity I was more passionate about.

The logical relationship with the loyal guy, which I pulled the plug on.

“It doesn’t even matter,” I tell Bridget. “I’ll probably never see him again.”

She stares at me for a few seconds, then laughs. “Doesn’t he live in London? The city we’re currently, you know, flying to?”

“I don’t know where he lives.”In a castle probably.

Her eyes dance. “You could find out.”

“It would be weird … with Cal.” I whisper the words, worried about being overheard.

Bridget sighs. “Lili, I love Hugo and Tripp. But they’re wrong. You don’t owe Cal a damn thing. People break up and move on. You didn’t cheat. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”

“I don’t feel guilty. I’m just trying to be … respectful.”

“I get that. But I think it would be good for Cal to see you with someone else. No one mentioned the lawyer guy to him. As far as he knows, you haven’t been with anyone else since the split. At a certain point, he’s going to think you being respectful is you having second thoughts about calling it quits.”

I exhale. “I know.”

“Areyou having second thoughts?”

“No.” I play with the cap of my water bottle. “No, I’m not.”

“Then, have some fun this week. My vote would be for the hot duke, but Theo probably has lots of single friends with sexy accents.”

Charlie has my vote too. But …

“What about Fran? She was inter?—”

Bridget scoffs. “Fran’s rebound rate rivals a boomerang’s. She hooked up with a guy she met at Proof last night. She’ll be thrilled for you. And demand lots of details.”

I’m out of obstacles. But I know I won’t pursue Charlie this trip. I’m too proud to chase after him. There’s no way he couldn’t tell I was seconds from begging him to fuck me last night, and he walked away for no apparent reason. Left like he’d lost interest. I don’t care if Carys Park—Chloe’s wedding venue—turns out to be next door to his castle. He had his chance with me, and he fumbled it.

Tripp wakes with a huge yawn and a lot of noise that rouses everyone else, effectively ending my private conversation with Bridget.

We land in London two hours later.

Chloe is waiting on the tarmac of Heathrow’s private terminal, waving a huge banner that readsBridal Crewand wearing a wide smile.

I’m first down the stairs, and we start running at the same time. Canvas smacks the side of my face as I throw my arms around my best friend.

“Shit. Sorry.” Chloe giggles in my ear, dropping the banner and hugging me back tightly.

I haven’t squeezed her since January. She and Theo came to New York for the holidays, leaving shortly after New Year’s. Our weekly phone calls have never been an adequate replacement for what used to be shared exercise classes and weekend brunches. Nights spent competing for more phone numbers or bingeing television shows. We’re now separated by the six-hour flight I just stepped off of.

Chloe clings to me just as tightly. This is a new chapter for her, and a new chapter can’t begin without ending the previous one.

“Stop hogging the bride, Kensington.” Tripp elbows me aside to get to Chloe, and then she’s passed around the rest of our friends.

I’m relieved when I see the friendly smile she and Cal exchange before hugging.

Everyone might have avoided taking sides in the aftermath of our breakup, but Tripp and Hugo were more sympathetic toward Cal. And Chloe was firmly in my camp. Cal moving to London shortly after our relationship ended was bad timing all around.

“Sweet!” Jasper says, focusing on the shiny black Mercedes van parked on the tarmac behind Chloe. “Riding in style.”

“You spoil us, babe,” Tripp declares, smacking a loud kiss on Chloe’s cheek.

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