Page 121 of One Time in Paris
Isla zipped up her suitcase, then went over toward her and gave her a tight hug. “I know. It’s crazy how quickly time flies, right? But Paris is calling. One of them, anyway.”
Megan pulled back, searching her face. “You sure you’re gonna be okay?”
Am I?
Isla had asked herself that question hundreds of times over the last week.
The truth was, she still wasn’t entirely sure how she’d gotten here. After Aiden had announced to everyone that they were married—then left her to deal with the fallout—the next day and a half had been a blur.
She’d argued, shed tears, tried to sort the whole situation out and restore whatever fragile balance to the world she’d taken a wrecking ball to. She wasn’t entirely sure Callum would ever forgive Aiden—and Mason and Quinn seemed equally infuriated by him, too.
And then there was Liddy, the sister she’d never had, who’d been aclosefriend the last two years. Isla would never forget the hurt in her eyes from the scene at what had basically been her wedding reception.
Mum had been surprisingly unsupportive—maybe because Isla hadn’t confided in her—or maybe because she worried about what Isla’s marriage might mean for the future ofLa Hacienda.
Of course, Isla and Callum weren’t exactly on speaking terms either.
But in the middle of all that, Dad had thrown Isla a lifeline—bought her a plane ticket to go spend the week in Connecticut. Less than forty-eight hours after the whole fiasco had unfolded, Isla had boarded a plane and fled here, where Megan had offered her a listening ear and a bed to sleep.
And, God, she’d needed it.
Needed to get away from everyone and everything—especially Aiden.
She didn’t want to think about him now, though. He’d called and texted that night, after Callum’s party, and she’d pushed back. Told him she needed time. Not to contact her in the meantime.
Now that time had stretched to five days.
“You sure you don’t want me to drive you to the airport? I don’t mind. I can call work and tell them I’ll be late today,” Megan said as Isla pulled the suitcase upright.
“No, it’s fine. The flight to Maine doesn’t leave for another couple of hours, so I think my dad wants to take me to an early lunch.”
Megan bit her lip. After hesitating for a few moments, she ventured, “I know I said I wouldn’t interfere, but I think you might want to try to smooth things over with Davy while you’re in Maine. You can’t fight battles on all fronts, Isla. You need your friends sometimes. And we’re here for you—if you allow us to be.”
Allow.
That was the sticking point, wasn’t it?
Isla let her gaze wander over the bedroom. Comfortably furnished—not by a designer—but by Megan. With her touches. Her taste. She’d only ever stayed here once before this, because she made it a point to avoid Connecticut even though she’d spent part of her life here.
And, other than Diana—who just wasn’t interested—it wasn’t as though anyone from here wasmeanto her. TheSquadhad even taken her out to lunch this week.
She’d just thought she was so much better than them all.
She sighed. “Megan?”
Megan lifted her chin. “Hmm?”
“In an effort to differentiate myself from the snobs, I think I’ve been a snob. Including to my own father.”
Her words elicited a soft laugh from Megan. “I’m not going toargue.” She grinned. “Look, I’m not going to lie. TheSquadcan be a lot. Even that moniker makes me want to stab someone. But they’re just women at the end of the day. Women with deep-seated insecurities, Daddy issues, boyfriend and husband problems, bullying traumas that no amount of money can erase. You can’t Botox a wounded heart.”
“Well, you could, but it might stop,” Isla said wryly. She swallowed hard, flushed with guilt. Guilt she needed to let go of to move forward. “Maybe you’re right. But I can’t pretend that what Davy did didn’t hurt. I put my whole life on hold for her.”
“Isla, if you’re willing to believe that you married Aiden Camden that night in Vegas out of some subconscious desire to be with him, it’s worth considering that you agreed to do that production for Davy because youwantedto. Maybe even needed it.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I was just romanticizing the whole decision-making process about Aiden to make me feel better about what happened.” Isla sighed, then lifted her purse onto her shoulder as it buzzed. She dug through it to find her phone and checked it. “My dad’s here.”
“I’ll help you with your suitcase,” Megan said, taking the handle.
