Page 47 of Good Girl's Bad Lessons

Nico coughed. Where to start? He’d let her be with the guy she initially wanted, and she hadn’t proved him wrong. When he’d seen Simon at the bachelor party, he almost throat punched him. It’d been his doing, but her silence proved he’d made the right decision. “It’s complicated.”

Desmorais frowned. “You know, she told me she couldn’t work on the sanctuary project anymore. Didn’t feel right for her to be part of it when she knew how much you wanted the house.”

A shivering awareness bolted through Nico’s body. “What? When did she say that?”

Desmorais lifted his hands, indicating that he probably didn’t know the exact date. “Weeks ago.”

“She never told me,” he said, his voice losing energy at the end. His pulse skittered, his heart clenching. Dio…she gave up working for a cause she loved, a project he knew would also pay her ridiculously well, simply for principle. For him.

“I hope you didn’t break her heart. That’d be really stupid.”

Nico waved him off. “I agreed to let you into my life less than a minute ago, and you’re already giving me unrequested relationship advice?” The weight on his heart heaved, but he didn’t know what else to do. Going out and seeing other people had never even crossed his mind. No woman held a candle to Emma Cavanaugh, and he knew it now more than ever.

A smile formed on Desmorais’s face. “We have to make up for lost time, non? What about Emma?”

Emma. He rubbed his chest, eager to rid the burning assailing him every time he thought about her. He sat on his sofa, shoulders dropping a notch, and a defeated sigh fled from his lips. Desmorais lifted an eyebrow, regarding him with interest. “She deserves better. She…wants the whole picket fence thing and I don’t want to fail her.”

“Do you love her?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “But there’s this other guy,” he said, frustration lumping his throat. He’d always considered Simon a loser, but now the tables had turned. He’d been the one who’d won Emma. And he, Nico, became the biggest loser of them all.

Desmorais sat next to him and squeezed his shoulder. “I let your mother go and marry someone who was the safe choice for her. I didn’t fight for her, for us, and I regret it every day. She tried her damndest, but I made the wrong choice in not choosing her.”

Nico gave him a sideways glance. “Do you think if you two had gotten married you’d still be together?”

The lines in Desmorais’s face softened. “I like to believe I would have had more time with your mother, yes. Before she got really sick. I’ve always been rebellious, even in matters of the heart. Never too honest, because it was more convenient to lie. Don’t be like me.”

A cold sensation traveled down Nico’s body, settling in his gut. He surged to his feet, restless. Did he want to become Desmorais and wonder for the rest of his life what could have been? He didn’t want more time with Emma, he wanted…forever. The word clogged his throat. The image of Emma’s sweet face popped into his mind, and his heart did a backflip. A silent but powerful reminder that during the entire time, he’d wanted to buy back a house to recuperate a sense of self. Happiness. When the woman who made him happy had supported him all along. Even when I didn’t deserve it. “What if it’s too late?”

“I came across the world to talk to you. Why can’t you go across town to find out?”

Chapter Sixteen

“Honestly, how do I look?” Monique, Zaine’s bride, asked.

She stood in front of a full-length mirror, wearing a golden gown that complemented her curvy body. She’d chosen not to wear white, but the complete look still managed to emanate softness and bridal glow. Or pregnancy glow. Monique touched her belly. “I’m enormous.”

Emma shook her head. If only she had Monique’s generous rack and striking green eyes. She glanced at the mirror, and then, instead of fixing on Monique, she regarded herself. Nah, she was happy with how she looked. Maybe not model material, but she wanted to be herself more than ever. “You’re stunning, Monique.”

“Thanks, but as a best friend and bridesmaid, I can’t trust you.”

Emma nudged her elbow. “Hey, you still asked for it. Must be good for something.”

“I’m glad to see you more upbeat,” Monique said, turning away from the mirror and facing her. Unable to keep it all to herself, she’d told Monique about her affair with Nico a few days prior. Her sister-in-law-to-be knew her too well to be fooled. Besides, her puffy eyes and irritable mood had given her away when they’d met for coffee.

“Yes. Of course,” Emma said, slapping on a smile. Today wasn’t about her, so she couldn’t just show up in her sweatpants and devour a pint of Häagen-Dazs like she’d done daily since Nico broke her heart.

The other bridesmaids joined them—her sister Megan and a couple of Monique’s friends, and soon the chatter started. Emma slipped on her sleeveless golden dress and went through the motions. She forced herself to pretend to be part of the conversation with the occasional nods and a few hmmms, but she couldn’t wait to go back to the safety of her apartment and away from all this jealousy-inducing happiness.

Heartbreak made her extra petty. Who knew?

Maybe that’s why Nico’s ex had pursued a settlement from him. He had that effect on women. Bastard.

Later, the limo arrived at the posh Beverly Hills hotel where they’d been getting all kinds of spa treatments and took them to church. Emma had been a dutiful bridesmaid during the festivities all week, and now she had to stay the course. She’d gone to the rehearsal dinner and managed to leave early, telling people she didn’t feel well and wanted to make sure she rested for the big day. Thankfully, she’d told Monique up front that she wanted to leave before Nico arrived. Good soul that she was, Monique completely understood.

She’d made up for it by being the first one at the hotel the next morning and helping with pretty much everything. Not to mention, she’d spent time translating for Monique’s lovely mother and brothers who didn’t speak much English.

Now she joined the wedding party, each bridesmaid lining up with a groomsman to enter the church. She stood next to Zaine’s old college roommate, Craig. When Nico joined them, he stood behind her, next to Monique’s friend Erin.

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