Page 74 of Second Chance Ex
He stares at me for a long moment, as if he’s trying to make sense of what I’ve said, of what’s just happened. Grabbing my hand, he pulls on it, forcing me to look at him, and when I do, I see tear tracks glisten down his cheeks. “No, baby, I… I fucked up. I didn’t?—”
I can’t bear to hear whatever it is he has to say, and I shake my head, silencing him with a look of finality. “I’mdone.”
Joey lets go of my hand, dropping it so quickly, as if it’s burned him. And then he falls back on his haunches and buries his head in hands. And being forced to see him like this, seeing him so broken, wrecked, his shoulders shuddering as he cries into his hands, I doubt my heart will ever be the same.
But this is the best thing. For me and for Joey, even if he doesn’t realize it right now; he will. He'll move on, and he’ll be happy. Being with me isn’t going to afford him that. And as much as it hurts, as much as it feels like right now, nothing will ever be okay, this is the best thing for himandfor me.
Who knows? Maybe one day, when we’ve moved past the hurt and the pain, maybe then we can find happiness with each other again. But for now, our love story is over.
Ryan’s family’s winery is stunning. As I follow the road that winds between the rolling vineyards, the sprawling white colonial estate at the top of the hill greets me. The place is alive with wedding fever, workers hurrying about carrying flowers, greenery and drapery from the main building to the open-air barn that is being set up for the reception. The olive grove is being decorated for the ceremony, the mature trees providing a canopy overhead from the warmth of the late April sun.
It’s a stunning day for a wedding, and as I hop out of my car, stretching after the forty-minute drive, I breathe in the fresh country air, smiling at the sight laid out before me. I mean come on, it’s a winery; this is what I imagine heaven to be.
“Well, well, well, look what the wine dragged in.”
I start from the familiar voicebehind, spinning around to see Ryan approaching me on his way down from the barn.
I grin as he wraps his arms around me. “You know how it is with me and wine.”
As he pulls back, Ryan quirks a brow as he looks down at me. “Long time no see…”
I bristle a little from his words even though I know he’s just teasing. “I know. Sorry.”
I’ve been avoiding everyone over the last six weeks. I needed some time to collect myself after everything that went down, both between Joey and me—recently and in the past—and after hearing about how my friends had been conspiring behind my back to try and get me back with my ex.
I’ve used this alone time to focus on me, and I’ve been seeing a counsellor for the first time in my life, which is something I haven’t told anyone; something I needed to do for me. I have a long way to go, but it’s already helping. I’m only angry at myself for not taking the leap and seeing a professional sooner.
Ryan shrugs. “Hey, all that matters is you’re here, right?”
I grin. “Where are they?”
Ryan, always the gentleman, opens the back door of my car and retrieves my bags, handing them to me. “Girls are up at the house,” he nods to the big white mansion, “and us fellas are slumming it down in the cabins, like the degenerates we are.”
I chuckle. But then something hits me. The wedding party stayed here last night, which means Joey is already here, and that thought makes my stomach dip, but not necessarily in a horrible way like I thought it would at the prospect of seeing him again.
“Head on up.” Ryan winks at me. “Tell that soon-to-be wife of mine that I miss her.”
“Oh my god, you’re so whipped.”
He smirks. “I mean, I’m marrying her so you’d hope I’d be whipped, right?”
With a wave, he turns and heads off in the opposite direction, down the path I assume that leads to the cabins and, with a deep breath, I begin up the stone steps.
“Oh my god,P, you look freaking amazing!” Madison gushes, tears in her eyes as she stares at me in the mirror from where she stands behind me.
She’s right. I do look amazing. I know I had my doubts after the disaster dress-fitting, but Vivienne, the dressmaker, sure does know her stuff. She was right; with a light spray tan, my hair done, and a dewy, natural makeup look, this dress is giving serious main character energy, and I am here for it.
But, of course, the main character today is the vision in white standing behind me and, with tears threatening, I turn around, getting a good look at her. In a vintage lace dress that emphasizes her growing baby bump, I can’t help but reach out and place my hands on her perfect little belly.
“I can’t believe you thought you were going to get away with keeping this a secret until after the wedding.” I offer her a wry smirk.
“I really didn’t think I’d start showing until, like, the end of the second trimester.”
I laugh, but as my laughter subsides, my smileremains. “You look… beautiful doesn’t even begin to cut it. You take my breath away, Mads.”
“Aw, P.”
“I know I’ve been MIA and haven’t been the mosthonorableof maids?—”
