Page 30 of How to Break My Heart 1
Eva
The bane of my existence was never supposed to be forced proximity with a man I have loathed for the last eight years.
My cheeks feel like they’re on fire as I walk away, detouring to the restroom to calm myself down and splash cold water on my face.
The nerve of him.
I love Maddy, but this isn’t going to work. There is no way I can endure spending more than a single minute with her brother for the sake of a wedding. It will be easier if I do it all myself. I mean, honestly, what will Aston contribute anyway? I highly doubt he wants to sit with me and audition violinists playing love songs.
Ramona enters the restroom, trying to maintain her balance. She lets out a hiccup and a small laugh, then covers her mouth. “Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have had that last glass of champagne.”
“Maybe not.” I force a smile, then turn to face her. “Will you be okay getting home? Or wherever you’re staying?”
She nods with a wide grin on her face. On closer inspection, Ramona is a beautiful woman. Her skin is flawless, or perhaps it’s her makeup. Either way, I’m surprised she’s single, since most men would eat her alive.
Okay, that sounded gross, even to me.
Someone get me out of my brain.
“Aston has offered to take me home,” she almost sings out loud.
Oh,I mouth, crossing my arms again with my usual annoyance upon hearing his name. “When did he offer to do that?”
“Just then, before I walked in here. I told you he’s quite the man. It’s hard to find the right guy, you know? The one who checks all the boxes.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I mutter, then continue, “or maybe he just wants to get you into bed.”
Ramona laughs a little too obnoxiously as she leans against the tiled wall. “And? Have you seen how unbelievably sexy he is?”
Suddenly, this restroom feels like a damn jail cell.
Just little old me trapped with Aston’s hookup for tonight.
“I have to go make sure everyone is okay. Have fun with him.”
I stomp out of there so fast, oblivious to guests walking past me to leave. Maddy is saying goodbye to Myles’s parents, so I escape to the kitchen to thank the team. Our conversation takes longer than anticipated, and by the time I get back, everyone is outside in the parking lot or has already left.
Maddy is quick to find me, but Aston is nowhere to be seen.Thank God.
Her arms wrap around me in a tight embrace. “Thank you for today. What would I do without you?”
I close my eyes to try to remember Maddy is more to me than a best friend, and all this misery will be worth it for her happily ever after. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“Myles’s mother insisted we have afternoon drinks at her place. Will you be okay?”
“I will be.” I smile, then sigh. “What about you?”
“Afternoon drinks, Eva. That’s the only reason I agreed to go. I figure the strong martinis she serves will numb me enough to get through it.”
Myles opens the car door for Maddy. He quickly kisses mycheek to thank me, and then the two of them slide into the car to drive off, leaving me alone with relief that today is finally over.
My car is parked only a few spots away. As I walk toward it, my attention is shifted to a flat tire on the rear driver’s side. I lean against the car in self-pity, only for a raindrop to hit my forehead. “Oh no, you better not.”
Just as the words leave my mouth, the rain falls hard and fast. I can’t believe my luck today. All I need is a pile of dog poop to step in, and I’m officially done.
My hair clings to the back of my neck as the roar of an engine grabs my attention. I glance to my left to find a sleek gray Porsche beside me. The window glides down, revealing Aston in the driver’s seat.
“Get in,” he demands.
