Page 72 of Promise Me Ever After
“Fuck, Darcy.” My shoulders sagged and I clutched the scratchy blanket around me. “Mum said you were on board with it. I guess I didn’t realise how much. Do my feelings mean nothing to you?”
I glanced over to where Alex seemed to be doing a good job of not eavesdropping, seemingly engrossed in something on his phone.
“You know Fraser and Russ have known each other for years. They work together, they’re friends,” Darcy began. “When you’re planning a wedding, it’s difficult to keep everyone happy. You must know that.”
I didn’t know because I’d never got as far as planning the wedding. Twice.
“Nice, Darcy, really nice. Remember Russ isn’t here with me, oh, because he cheated on me within months of getting a ring on my finger. So I don’t know about wedding planning, especially not withhim.” I spat the words out.
Darcy closed her eyes. “God, Georgie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it how it came out. I didn’t think.”
“Obviously.” I was being a bitch, but I couldn’t help it. My sister’s betrayal in this situation was hard to deal with.
“You don’t have to speak to them,” Darcy said. “Or have anything to do with them.”
I let out a hard breath, the air clouding around me like smoke. More than ever, I craved a cigarette. “Too right. I think I’ll go.”
“Georgie, please, don’t. Please stay until the end, don’t leave like this.”
My gaze slipped to Alex again. I’d much rather go home with him now than stay and try to avoid my ex for the rest of the evening. I was meant to enjoy myself. Alex certainly fulfilled that criteria.
“Alex!” I called. “Fancy getting a takeaway and a bottle of champagne and going back to mine?”
His head snapped up. “Sounds good, but—”
“Let’s go.” I stalked over to him, throwing the blanket off my shoulders and letting it fall to the ground behind me.
“Georgie, please!” I ignored the pleading tone in Darcy’s voice as I took Alex’s hand in mine and walked back into the hotel.
Fuck weddings.
33
Alex
“Are you okay?”I asked once we were inside, taking Georgie’s freezing hand in mine. “It all looked a bit intense over there.”
“Russ is here, with Eliza.” She stopped in the middle of the foyer. “And I don’t know what the fuck to say to them.”
“Shit.” I drew her close to me, her body cold and unyielding.
I couldn’t imagine what it must be like for her. Coming face-to-face again with the man she had planned to marry, on her sister’s wedding day as well.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I whispered into her hair. “We’ll go home and pretend they were never here.”
She pulled away. “You always know the right thing to say.” A small smile trembled over her lips. “I need to find Stella and get my stuff out of our room.”
I kissed her forehead. “Don’t be long. Otherwise you might find me on the dance floor.”
Georgie laughed, dissipating the tension. “Oh, I wouldn’t miss those moves for anything.”
I studied her as she walked away. The indigo material of the bridesmaid’s dress flattered her curves, flaring out around her hips and clinging to her arse. The trail of buttons along her spine were there to frustrate me, knowing what waited for me underneath.
The door creaked behind me and I turned my head to see Darcy enter, her cheeks flushed, eyes red.
“Alex, where’s Georgie? I need to talk to her.” She grabbed my arm.
“She’s gone to get her things, then we’re going home.” I glared at the bride. “Inviting Russ was a shitty thing to do. You can see why Georgie’s upset.”
