Page 36 of Promises We Meant to Keep

Kamryn laughed. “I’ll try to remember to tell you that, but I’m pretty sure there won’t be a next time.”

“Oh, you never know.” Andra grinned as she stepped back. “And this is Elia?”

“Yes.” Elia extended her hand forward, taking Andra’s and shaking. “It’s good to meet you. Kam has talked a lot about you.”

“Has she? I hope not all good things. I know as many of her deep dark secrets as anyone else in our friend group.”

Kamryn nearly choked. There was one secret that Andra was completely unaware of. The only person in their group who knew was Greer, and fuck was Kamryn missing her right now.

Andra stepped in closer and lowered her voice. “Lauren and Rosie are over by the drinks, so I’d avoid that area of the party if you want to avoid them.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” Kamryn said, forcing her lips into a smile. “But with Elia, I’m not worried about them being here or what might result from that.”

It was a lie.

She was worried.

But she wanted it to be the truth, and if she said it enough times, then perhaps she could manifest her own calm, cool, and collected attitude that she desperately wanted to find. She could do this, and she wasn’t wrong that with Elia there with her, she had far more confidence that she was going to actually be able to do this.

Elia took one step up to Kamryn’s side and wrapped an arm around her back. “We’ll be fine, but thank you.”

“I heard about the festival drama,” Andra continued. “I hope Rosie wasn’t too bad. I really am not a fan of her, but I don’t feel like I can tell Lauren she’s not invited to the wedding.”

“I get it,” Kamryn said, nodding. “It’s between a rock and a hard place to find yourself.”

“Yeah.”

“Andra!” Her mother called from the back of the room.

Andra rolled her eyes and pointed over her shoulder. “Never again,” she muttered as she walked away.

“You know the way to make sure that you never have to do this again is to focus on only getting married once.” Elia’s comment was sharp, but it was the truth. Kamryn had thought the same thing many times before, because Andra and Garrett hadn’t always had the best relationship. There were thingsKamryn really didn’t like about Garrett—how he talked to Andra sometimes, and about her when she wasn’t around.

“Yeah, that would be the ideal.” Kamryn pursed her lips and squared her shoulders. “But it’s not my marriage to meddle with, and I make it a point to try and not meddle with other people’s relationships.”

“I promise you it’s better not to meddle.” Elia squeezed Kamryn’s hand tightly. “I used to meddle with Abagail’s, and it wasn’t good for anyone. She’s a fling person, never has a serious relationship. I’m not sure she wants that, but when we were younger, I was always trying to get her into longer-term relationships. It’s much easier now that I stay out of her love life and she stays out of mine.”

“Good to know that you meddle,” Kamryn said with a bit of a laugh. “Is that why you’re here today?”

“Oh, that and so much more.” Elia looked deep into Kamryn’s eyes, as if saying something that Kamryn didn’t understand.

Maybe they hadn’t torn down the entirety of that block between them. What was Kamryn missing?

“Kam!” Rosie’s fake tones hit her ears, and Kamryn winced. So much for them being on the opposite side of the room.

Elia tightened her grasp on Kamryn’s hand in an instant, and the silent support wasn’t forgotten. Kamryn was so very thankful that Elia had agreed to come, especially since Greer couldn’t be here for this. Rolling her shoulders and readying herself, Kamryn turned around to face the music she’d really rather avoid.

“Rosie.” Kamryn nodded at her, searching immediately for Lauren. But she didn’t see her anywhere. “Where’s Lauren?”

She’d been pretty convinced that the two were attached at the hip and couldn’t be separated. Then again, she definitely planned on being attached to Elia today, if only for her ownsanity and so she didn’t pull anything stupid like the last time she’d run into these two.

“Are you obsessed with her?”

“What?” Cold washed through Kamryn’s body instantly. That had been a bucket of ice water she hadn’t needed, that was for certain. “No, I just didn’t expect you to come over without her.”

Elia stayed right next to her, that silent beacon of support that Kamryn definitely needed right now.

“Why not? We’re friends.”

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