Page 23 of Shared By my Ex's Best Friends
Heather snorts and waves us off. “Out. I need silence to do damage control.”
We back out into the hallway, the door swinging shut behind us. I let out a shaky breath and lean against the wall.
Jake lets out a soft laugh. “That went better than expected.”
I give him an arched brow look. “She nearly banned us halfway through.”
“But shedidn’t.” He grins, stepping closer. “Because we’re unstoppable. Admit it—you were impressed.”
Before I can respond, my phone rings and I dig it out of my pocket. Seeing it’s Danielle, I quickly answer it.
“We’ve just about got it,” I tell her immediately, putting her on speaker.
“Really?” she gasps. “Please tell me you didn’t threaten her with bodily harm or bad karma.”
“No bodily harm,” I say. “Just guilt, strategic lies, and an offer to pay for printing.”
“You know, the works,” Jake adds with a wink.
“I don’t even want to know.” Danielle lets out a long breath. “You fixed it?”
“Almost. She’s calling the other couple now.”
Danielle lets out a small sob of relief. “You’re amazing.”
“She is,” Jake says, then looks at me, voice a little quieter now. “We make a hell of a team.”
I glance up at him, something unspoken sparking between us again, and for a second, everything else fades—the chaos, the stress, the wedding drama. It’s me, him, and the buzz of whatever this is simmering beneath the surface.
Then Danielle’s voice rings out, pulling me back to reality. “I owe you both so much. Seriously.”
Jake nudges me with his elbow, grin intact. “Told you. Hell of a team.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling now too. Maybe this day isn’t cursed after all.
Chapter ten
LIAM
The call comes in as I’m leaving the gym—sweat still clinging to my back, shirt damp, muscles burning in that good, post-workout kind of way. I swipe a towel across my forehead, breathing hard, when my phone buzzes in the pocket of my shorts.
I dig it out and see that Maya’s calling me.
I freeze mid-step, one foot hovering over the curb, towel hanging loosely from my hand. For a second, I stare at her name on the screen, my thumb hovering over “Accept.”
Why would Maya be calling me?
Yesterday, it was Jake she called when with the venue mix-up disaster He swooped in, all charm and timing, and part of me—hell, most of me—hated that it wasn’t me she leaned on. I’dtried to tell myself it didn’t matter, that she had plenty of people helping her, that she was just delegating. But that small, stupid part of me had sulked anyway.
And yet… here she is. Callingme.
My heart kicks up, hammering against my ribs for an entirely different reason now. I hit accept before I can think twice.
“Hey,” I say, trying to catch my breath and sound casual. “Everything okay?”
“Not exactly.” Her voice is tight, rushed. There’s a slight echo behind her words—probably on speakerphone. I can hear faint voices in the background. Raised ones. Someone’s crying.
Shit.
