Page 54 of A Very Merry Enemy
I lean my head back on the couch, closing my eyes.
The house is silent except for the washing machine.
My body aches. My chest feels hollow. I’m still covered in the day’s work—dirt, sweat, and pine sap—but I’m too exhausted to care.
I just sit in the dark with Holiday on my mind, wishing I could erase her.
It’s going to be a long week.
CHAPTER 11
HOLIDAY
Three days ago, I woke up in Lucas Jolly’s bed, and the world hasn’t felt right since.
The sheets were ice-cold when I reached for him. He’d slipped out like a thief in the night and left my keys on the nightstand.
I stared at his ceiling, at the exposed beams he described when we were eighteen, while still wearing my rumpled clothes from the night before. My lips still tingled from the kiss he didn’t return. My body still remembered being wrapped in his arms all night with his face buried in my hair. Our fingers tangled together like we’d never let go.
Then he left in the morning and has since pretended like it didn’t happen.
The humiliation burns worse than any hangover.
I’ve barely survived.
By this afternoon, I’m falling apart, knowing tonight we both have to be at the contest kickoff meeting. We’ve not spoken, not texted, just exchanged stolen glances. I’ve forgotten to eat, my hands shake, and my jeans slide down my hips even though I tightened my belt to a smaller hole. I’m running on spite and too much coffee. When I catch my reflection in thebakery windows, I barely recognize the hollow-eyed girl staring back.
Around three, I see him through the front windows talking to Jake. Even from here, I can see the exhaustion in the set of his shoulders, the way he runs his hand through his messy hair like he does when he’s stressed.
I hope he’s as miserable as I am.
At four, Jake walks into the bakery carrying a cream-colored envelope embossed with gold.
“Claire and I realized you weren’t on the guest list for the wedding and wanted to give you a hand-delivered invitation.” He slides it across the counter. “Saturday after Thanksgiving. I hope you can be there.”
That’s ten days away.
“I don’t want to impose,” I tell him.
“Never, you’re basically family,” he tells me. “Please say yes.”
“Of course,” I say.
“Thank you.”
When he walks out, I open the envelope and pull out the invitation that’s written in an elegant script.
Jake Jolly & Claire Manchester request the honor of your presence…
I scan over the details. Ceremony at six. Reception following. Live band. Open bar. Dancing.
The invitation feels like it weighs ten pounds in my hands.
I think about Claire, who looks at Jake like he hung the moon. She gets to start forever without any of the baggage or mistakes I’m drowning in. My engagement lasted three years and ended in ashes. Some people get their happily ever after. The rest of us get a lifetime of regret.
Bella told me Lucas is Jake’s best man; that means there will be a speech. I’ll have to watch him talk about love and forever as I stand on the sidelines.
My phone buzzes with a reminder about the kickoff meeting for the baking contest that’s later.
