Page 45 of Rebel Bride
Rosie had the weirdest hate-on for Conor Kershaw.
Addy
Summer, we’ve been so worried about you. Can you do a video call?
Me
Could we just do voice? Not looking my best.
Adeline did not need to see me in her childhood bikini. Good luck explaining that. Three minutes and one dropped call later, I was in an audio group hug with the only friends I had right now.
Self-pity much, loser?
Shut it, Shelby Mae.
Adeline went first. “First off, are you okay? Tell us you’re safe.”
“I’m safe. Honestly. I just had to get away.”
Rosie chuckled. “There’s getting away and there’s getting away. That was absolutely wild!”
“I know. I’m so sorry for putting you guys in that position. How awful was it?”
“Well …” Adeline stretched out the word. “I asked Lars to tell Dash. He was there when Ro came to say you’d left, and he is a teammate. But Dash had already received your text by then.”
Another person I had to apologize to. “Tell Lars I’m sorry. Tell everyone I’m sorry.”
“Listen, you can be sorry for the timing,” Rosie said, “but if you weren’t feeling it, then it was better you make the break. Any regrets?”
“Only that I hurt Dash. I tried talking to him but he’s not ready.”
“He probably needs some time,” Adeline said.
“He’s with his family in St. Bart’s, so I’m sure he’s surrounded by people who care about him.”
“Never mind Carter,” Rosie said. “What’s going on with you? Where are you?”
“I went out of town for a while. Just to clear my head.”
“Okay,” Adeline said, likely picking up on my reticence. “I hope you’re getting some sun and being kind to yourself. Is there anything we can do?”
These girls were too good to me. I did not deserve them.
“No, nothing. I’m going to call Ryder now and see about getting my job back.”
“But they already have a new person in the role.” I couldn’t blame Rosie for sounding skeptical. “I met her the other day. She’s kind of scary.”
A bit of a dragon lady, Lainey was perfectly capable of handling Ryder. “Maybe not the same job, but something else in the org.” An internship was my goal, though I could see that now being an issue.
“They might be able to help out,” Adeline said softly.
“But will they want to?” Rosie finished. “Dash works there, too, and to be honest, they’re probably going to take the side of the asset worth millions over the woman who left him at the altar.”
“You’re right, I know. I just don’t want to feel so … worthless.”
“You are not worthless.” Adeline sounded positively fierce. “Call Ryder. You never know, he might be able to help.”
Rosie hummed, which meant she was unconvinced but was biting her tongue not to say anything. “Do you need us to come see you? If you don’t want to be in Chicago, we can come to wherever you are.”
