Page 18 of Implode

I nod and then ask, “What do you still need help with for the wedding?” It is easy for me to change the subject. I want to think about anything else besides myself.

Angie is kind enough not to call me out on the conversational detour. “Graham’s mom is in overdrive with this whole rehearsal dinner thing. She is making this into the party of the century, and you know how I feel about crowds and attention on me.”

I chuckle. “Wrong emotion to have when you are theonegetting married.” Sadness rushes through me as I realize that having a child will make me unmarriageable material to any guy I ever attempt to date. Heck, dating will be nonexistent for years until I can learn how to juggle a life I tried to prevent from happening. It is not like guys are specifically searching for girls like me on dating apps.Looking for a single mom, who is struggling with life and is broke. I mean, what type of guy—even if he does exist—is really looking for that level of baggage? I would be worried over his character too.

“Claire?”

My eyes move to Angie with confusion. “Hmm?” I get the look of an expected response to a question I didn’t even hear. “Sorry. Can you please repeat the question?”

“I was just asking if you were going to bring a date. I know that,” she says, pausing to collect her thoughts, “things are over with Ethan, but you’ve been so distant lately that I just assumed you were pursuing another guy and wanted to make sure it was stable before telling me. Oh, I’m sorry, I’m obviously prying. Just forget I said anything.”

“I’m now a plus none.”

Angie frowns. “He never deserved you. Had me fooled for a while too. But you are better off single and happy than tied down and miserable.”

I want to ask her if being single and miserable trumps everything. I want to tell her that Nic broke my heart and that I went to Ethan’s and beat him up. I want to tell hereverything. But instead, I tell her nothing. “I’m looking forward to your big day. Any guesses on honeymoon location?”

She shakes her head. “Graham is making it his priority to keep me in the dark over these plans. He is even keeping me from packing anything.”

“You guys are too cute. Like real-life storybook characters who fall in love.”

“Well, I can’t wait to have the roles reversed, when I get to watch you fall in love. You know how much of a sap I am for a good romance.”

I smile at her. It’s true. But I don’t need fancy or a fairy tale. I just need forever.

6

NIC

I answer my phone on the second ring from an unknown number. “It’s Hoffman.” I am still groggy with sleep from all of the tossing and turning I did last night.

“Nic, it’s good to hear your voice.”

I groan and lean farther into the comfort of my king-sized bed. My eyes close, and I pinch the bridge of my nose to alleviate some of the tension building. “How did you get my number, Tara?”

“Oh, I have my ways,” she says cheerily.

“What do you want? It’s been a long time. Get to it.” I have changed my number three times since moving back from the East Coast. Tara has tried to connect with me numerous times over these years, and it seems that today she is back to her old tricks.

“When will you forgive me?” she asks in such a tiny voice that it makes my head hurt worse.

I never realized it in college, but her voice, when it gets whiny and needy, can cause someone to get a migraine. She played me then, like she is trying to play me now with her false sincerity. At the time I was blinded by the illusion of love—that feeling that another person can make you into a better man.

Unfortunately, it turned me into a worse one.

I went from the sappy hearts-and-flowers type of partner to the kind of partner you would never want to bring home to momma.

I know I’m twisted. I know I’m damaged.

I just don’t know how to undo the trauma that this bitch has caused me.

Lies.

Betrayal.

And nearly a destroyed bank account.

Tara didn’t just want the cake. She wanted the entire bakery. She wanted to live two lives, stringing me along until she sucked me dry. But I caught her.

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