Page 25 of Kiss the Bride

“So, you could say I learned from the best. My card isn’t platinum, but it’s enough to get us an hour in a hotel room as soon as one is vacated and before it’s cleaned. That should give my sleeping princess enough time to shower, change, and eat.”

“Food,” I purr, unable to think of how many conversations and how much it cost Hunter to break what I expect is hotel policy. “Coffee, eggs, and toast,” I say before my stomach protests. “Then again, I don’t think my stomach can handle eggs, yet. Maybe some fruit salad.”

“Well, how about you go and look at what they’ve got, and I’ll see when we can have a shower.”

“We?” I raise an eyebrow as flashes of the old us come flooding back, along with our banter. “I didn’t know you were so water-conscious.”

“Babe, if you want to save water, I’m all for it but how about we go separately today.”Hunter looks at his cell and smiles. “Looks like our room is ready.”

“Dibs on the first shower.”

I make it to the shower and manage to hold back tears until the water can drown out my self-pity. I’m not crying over Mitchel, but for what I’ve lost—my pride, my future, and my job.

Oh, shit! I work for Hazel Industries—owned and managed by Mitch’s father and with my now ex fighting hard to be heir apparent.

No. I can’t deal with the loss of my job, not yet. At least I won’t have to tell my colleagues why the marriage didn’t go ahead. Although, I’ll probably now lose those who I thought were friends. They’ll pick sides, as will most of our friends. I’ve seen it before with other breakups.

I’ve lost Mitch, but it’s better to have lost a fiancé than invest decades in a marriage built on a lie.

I only hope that I haven’t lost my house, but I’m sure Mitch will try and claim it as joint property just to pay me back for the video. How could I have been so stupid? What was I thinking?I wasn’t thinking—I was feeling angry and hurt, humiliated and stupid.More tears join the others and mingle with the shower until I feel like I’m drowning in pathetic waves of self-pity.

“Liv, are you alright?” Hunter calls and I try to break out of my wallow by appreciating the man in the other room. He’s been a rock. My best friend. As a guy, he should be standing by Mitch and giving me some guy speech about wedding jitters and forgiveness. Instead, he is here for me.

“I’ll be out in a sec.” I can’t lie to him, not even to tell him I’m alright. Spoiler alert, I’m not. Right now, I don’t know how I’ll face people back home, where I’ll live, or how I’ll pay for food or my credit card bills. The humiliation of my situation gives way togrief again, only this time I don’t bother trying to stand until the shaking stops.

Damn all men.

Damn my life.

“You’ve looked better.” Hunter half-jokes and hands me a coffee. The long shower has done little to hide my puffy eyes and I forgot to condition my hair until I got out. A messy birdsnest will have to be my new style until we get to the resort.

“Thanks for the honesty.” I take a sip of the strong brew and sigh,coffee. “Isn’t a gentleman supposed to lie?”

“Never to you,” he replies, before teasing, “besides, you’ve known me long enough to know I’m no gentleman.”

“Still, today I’d appreciate not getting the full truth.”

“Will French toast, ice cream and maple syrup, earn me your forgiveness?” Hunter hands me a plate. “I got the kitchen to cook it up specially. How about you take it on the balcony while I shower. We’ve got to get out of here in fifteen minutes so the cleaners can come in.”

“How did you get us access, anyway?” Not that anything Hunter does should surprise me. He could convince a nun to hand over her habit, or billionaires to find spare cash for whatever charity Hunter’s mother is raising money for.

“I have a credit card and I’m not afraid to use it.” Oh, yeah, and he has never shied away from splurging on people he cares about.

I don’t know what to say, and long speeches will only end in more tears so I wave my coffee mug at the room and choke out, “for yesterday, for all this. Thank you.”

He blows me a kiss as he backs toward the shower, “That’s what relationship detox friends are for.”

With another over-the-top surprises, Hunter arranges a limo to take us from the casino to the airfield. As we step onto the helicopter, the sexy hunk of a pilot greets us with a wide smile. “I’m Rod, your pilot. Welcome to my flying tin cup, may it be bumpier than your honeymoon.”

“Thanks, bro.” Hunter says smoothly as I buckle up, “but honeymoon got cancelled by the bride who deserves better. I’m just the chaperone for a relationship detox.”

“Color the other guy a fool. Sweetheart, if you want me to heal that broken heart of yours, I’ll fly you to wherever you want to go.” Rod’s voice crackles over the intercom.

“Thanks.” It’s been a hot minute since a gorgeous stranger has attempted to flirt with me. I tend to stick to my lane and only go out with friends who keep the single guys away. I’ve been Hunter’s girlfriend, Miss Woodgrove, or Mitch’s girl for so long, I can’t remember the last time a man was brave enough to even harmlessly flirt with me.

For bonus points, Hunter doesn’t seem to appreciate Rod’s flirting as we take off. Perhaps, it’s because Rod is at least a dozen years older, or Rod’s airforce cut hair and attitude. Or because Rod’s eyes easily cover my body, from my toes, up to my eyes, down to my waist and breasts before finding my eyes again. I don’t know how to respond, but Hunter saves me the trouble.

“She’s good, thanks,” Hunter growls, his arm weaving possessively around my waist. “Liv is going to lie on the beach, take in the sun and enjoy life without her cheating ex.”

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