Page 1 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
Prologue
Nic
“Oh my God, you’re a fiancée!”
With a giant smile on her face that I’m all too happy to return, Lauren pulls me into a tight embrace. “Nic! It’s been too long.”
“It has been.” I release my best friend from the bone-crushing hug. She steps back, keeping her hands on my upper arms, and beams at me, cheeks red with excitement. “What am I even supposed to congratulate you on first? Retiring from acting, that pretty ring on your finger, or your birthday?”
“My birthday isn’t until tomorrow, so one of the other two,” I tell her with a giggle and grab her hand to pull her inside the house.
Retiring.
The word still sounds weird to me. I’d rather describe it as refocusing, living life in the shadows of fame instead of the spotlight. After fifteen years of acting, I need a break, some time to focus on my private life, and to start the family I always wanted to have.
But hey, whatever the media wants to call it.
“There are… a lot of people,” Lauren points out with a sigh and shifts her weight. She brushes a strand of her ash-blond hair behind her ear, while the fingers of her other hand nervously play with the fabric of her pink summer dress. I shoot her an apologetic smile and give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“I’m sorry. Since Jay’s family is hosting, they insisted on inviting a bunch of people I’ve never even met. Trust me, I’m as thrilled as you.” She tenses under my fingers, and I gently turn her to me. Her eyes dart around the room, and I quickly reach for her hand. “Will you be all right? It’s not too late to run. No hard feelings.”
I know she doesn't do well with large groups of people in small spaces, but bless her heart, she nods slightly, takes a deep breath, and straightens her shoulders.
“I’ll be okay,” she assures me with a small smile. “But speaking of Jay, where’s your fiancé? Arguably, he deserved the congrats even more now that he gets to spend the rest of his life with you.” Her face softens as she stretches her neck to peek into the adjoining living room. Most of our families are gathered there, happily chatting and sipping on the overpriced champagne we splurged on for the occasion.
“I could swear he was with them a moment ago.” I tilt my head and scrunch my eyebrows. Where could he have wandered off to? “Maybe he’s upstairs. Let’s go find him.”
I pull her with me, taking her mind off the loud chatter coming from the living room.
“By the way, how come I haven’t seen any new movie announcements from you?” I ask her as we climb the stairs, trying to distract her. “I heard you were in talks for some amazing roles.”
She twirls a strand of hair around her finger and looks at me sheepishly. “I’m taking a page out of your book and having a break. I have no idea what I’ll do with myself but damn”—a deep sigh falls from her lips—“I’m exhausted, Nic.”
“I get it,” I say with a soft nod and stop when we reach the top of the stairs. The light in Jay’s childhood room is on, and I nod toward it. “There he is.”
We walk down the dark hallway, our footsteps muffled by the soft carpet. I am about to reach for the door handle to openit, but the sound of two voices talking makes me freeze, my hand hanging in the air as if stopped by an invisible wall.
“You know it’s not for long, babe.”
Babe.
His nickname, for me, which normally wraps around my heart like a warm, comforting blanket, but now?
Now it makes my skin tingle as if spiders are crawling up my spine. My stomach churns and nausea creeps up my throat.
Lauren steps closer. Her eyes flicker towards me, wide with shock. I press a finger to my lips. Pain tightens my lungs, but I have to keep listening. She nods immediately, and I feel her tension ease. Her fingernails dig into my forearm.
We remain motionless, and I strain to hear better. The blood rushes in my ears louder than a waterfall, trying to drown out the meaning of the words. Maybe it wasn't his voice after all?
“Am I supposed to stand by helplessly while you marry that bitch?”
My lungs forget how to work, and my knees buckle when I recognize the high-pitched voice. Only my back leaning against the wall stops me from collapsing. I hoped maybe the TV was running, or he was listening to one of his weird podcasts.
But the fact that he’s talking to Marissa?
My own damn sister?
That is much worse. And here I thought she peaked when she told my third-grade class during recess that I pee my pants at night. Guess she was only warming up to making my life miserable.
