Page 87 of One More Time
‘You said he could be a nice distraction.’
‘Oh, I think you’re distracted.’
Lucy heard music strike up in the reception hall. ‘Shit, I think I’m supposed to be announced or something.’
The two friends hugged each other fiercely, telling each other everything about how deep and true their love was, all without ever saying a word.
Lucywasannounced. As were Jenna and Brandon, Mr. and Mrs. Heylen, and the newly minted McManis-Heylens. Chandler, prince that he was, had told Chloe – in nouncertain terms – that he never intended to take anything away from her, only add, so insisted that they share both of their names.
After the formalities had been observed and people were settling in for their trillion-course dinner, Lucy found Devin. At the damn bar.
Okay, time to pull up those big-girl pants.
‘Have a second?’ Lucy asked as he shoved a couple of bills into the tip jar.
Devin just grunted and followed her to an out-of-the-way nook where hotel staff buzzed by them, busy and unconcerned.
Lucy started, ‘I wanted to say, I’m sorry.’
Devin just looked down at his highball glass, shuffling uncomfortably from one foot to the other in his stiff tuxedo and formal shoes.
She continued, ‘I thought you were … thatwewere in an okay place after the divorce. And I guess I was wrong.’
Devin’s only response was a grunt, just a single noise, but laced with so much meaning that it grated on Lucy’s already frayed nerves.
‘Devin,’ she griped, ‘you have to tell me what’s going on with you so I can help.’
He looked up. ‘You mean so you can get me off your conscience and get back to Nick-fucking-Broome? Or should I say, fucking Nick Broome?’
Lucy swallowed the curse that really, really wanted out. Instead, she said calmly, ‘No, so that I can be a good friend to you and help you get out of whatever …thisis. Youdon’t drink, you don’t make a scene, you’re a truly decent human—’
‘Just notenough,’ he bit back.
Jesus.‘It isn’t a contest between you, Dev. We were over a long time before I met Nicky again. You and I just didn’t work.’
‘You didn’tletus work, Lucy. You never tried.’
Well, shit, she really didn’t think that was true.
He went on, ‘When things got hard, you just gave up. And I couldn’t do it all myself, you know? If you weren’t in it – which, I’m pretty sure you weren’t from the beginning – but if you weren’t in it, what could I do?’
Hadshe ever been in it?
Devin continued, ‘We had fun, until we didn’t. And then that was it.’
That was almost exactly how she’d described her relationship with Devin to Nicky. The unconscious echo sent a painful tingle between her shoulder blades.
He added, ‘I thought there was something deeper between us, and you didn’t. Which is fucking brutal when you realize it. Okay?’
Lucy looked in his eyes, could clearly read their sadness and disappointment. Realization began to dawn. ‘I think—’Shit.‘I think, you’re right.’
‘I am?’
She really wished he wasn’t but, ‘Yeah,’ Lucy replied. ‘I wasn’t in it. I was not a good partner and I didn’t commit.’
‘You didn’t,’ he repeated.
‘No, and what’s worse is that I was careless with yourfeelings, Devin. That’s what I’m really sorry for. Because I did … Idolove you. Just … not in the way you need me to.’
