Page 51 of More Than an Ex-Girlfriend

“Since you’re in your truck, I think you’ve already made your choice. And I don’t handle sobbing well.”

“That makes two of us. But all joking aside, I don’t even know how injured my sister is. She swears she’s fine, but I’ll believe it when I see it. And it’s not fair to cancel on Lettie at the last minute, but my sister needs me.Please. I promise you this is not a ruse to get you to spend time with your ex.”

“And if I say no?”

“I’ll call Lettie, explain what happened, and she’ll be all alone at the wedding. But, who knows, maybe Dag will have some friends there. Hopefully they keep their hands in friendly places too.” The man is very persuasive.

“Where do I need to be and when?”

His relief is audible. “I’m supposed to pick her up in forty-five minutes. Do you own a suit?”

“Yeah. The same one I wear to all the weddings around here. I need to run. I’m currently playing fetch with a bull, and I stink to high heaven.”

Anderson laughs, then ends the call.

I never asked if he was going to let Lettie know the change of plans.

While I drive home, I call Kent. I hate to cancel on Mason, but hopefully, the kid understands.

The phone rings twice before Kent answers. “What’s up, Archer?”

“I was supposed to meet Mason in the game room—”

“Oh really?” Kent didn’t even give me time to explain. “Hang on.” He calls to Mason.

There’s a bit of shuffling, and the kid comes on the line. “Hey, Archer. I can’t play tonight. Clementine invited me to go to one of those jumping places. I forgot to call you. I’m sorry.”

I laugh. “Have fun, buddy.”

“Yeah. You too. Maybe you can see if your friend that’s a girl wants to hang out or something. Does she like to play video games?”

“Great idea. And she does like video games.”

“Very cool. Gotta go!” He ends the call as I near the venue.

Instead of ditching the kid to spend the evening with Lettie, he dropped me in favor of Clementine. That’s funny.

CHAPTER19

LETTIE

Staring at the mirror, I barely recognize the woman looking back at me. I spent hours at Layla’s, and makeup artists made us all look beautiful. I should’ve paid more attention so that I can do my makeup like this again. The photographer snapped pictures while we got all dolled up and took a few of us together in our dresses.

Next to Layla and her sister, I feel giant. Not just because of my weight, but even height wise. They are both short. I have at least six inches on both of them.

I glance at the adjoining door. Is it wrong that I want Archer to see me before the makeup gets messed up? He left early this morning, and I haven’t heard anything from that side all day.

Anderson is supposed to be here in half an hour, so I need to get into my dress. I wasn’t about to drive across town in that thing. It’s very fitted, and I’m not sure the seams would’ve handled a thirty-minute car ride.

Thankfully, the wedding is being held at the winery close to here, so it’ll only be a few minutes’ drive to get there. I can hold my breath most of the way.

I wiggle into my dress, then slip on the coordinating heels.

Panic was my first reaction when Layla showed me the deep plum dress she wanted me to wear. It shows off my shoulders, hugs my curves, and has a slit that goes up past my knee. But once I tried it on, she convinced me.

And Layla isn’t a twig, but her curves are toned and in all the right places. Mine only look that way because of the shapewear underneath.

My phone rings, and I snatch it up when I see Anderson’s name on the screen. “Hello?”

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