Page 55 of My Best Friend's Triplet Brothers

“Where’s your boyfriend, honey? I figured after a display like that, you must’ve made up.”

I kept my eyes firmly away from Andrew, Lucas, and Warren. “Oh, he’s not my boyfriend.”

“He turned out to be a pig, Mom.” Macy shook her head. “Sara was way too good for him anyway.”

Terri frowned. “I’m sorry, honey. Are you okay?”

Oh, god. I was going to cry again, right there at the table. I clamped down on my lip and pinched my thigh under the table in an attempt to get control over my emotions, but it was useless. I could feel my face turning red and tears pooling as my throat worked around a lump.

By some miracle, across the room, Maggie screamed out and shoved back from the table. “That’s disgusting!”

Macy swore. “What now?”

My pulse dropped as I watched the crowd. Disgusting. That was me. They were probably all finding out about me. Milo was probably in the room, telling people. It would get back to our table and I’d have to face Macy and her parents while they learned what I’d done.

“I’m not eating that!” Maggie crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at her parents. “I told you, I’m a vegetarian now.”

I sank in my seat, relief washing over me. My heart started up again and I took deep breaths between taking a long drink of water. I had to relax. I was stretched about as much as I could be before I snapped.

“That girl.” Macy ground out as she turned back to our table. “I hope she grows out of that attitude.”

Maggie, unknowingly, had saved me from crying in front of everyone. After that, the conversation steered towards her, and then teenagers, in general. I was forgotten and made it through the rest of the courses without anyone else asking me questions about myself.

The bar was being transformed for the night’s festivities, so everyone who was attending the party just hung around and drank while they waited. I stayed close to Macy, knowing that I was off-limits for Andrew’s talk if I was with his sister. Avoidance was the key.

Just after Macy got up to go check on the bar, Megan sat down next to me before we moved to the bar, her smile gentle. “You doing okay?”

I knew my own smile was brittle, but I was at my limit. “Sure. How are you?”

She squeezed my hand. “You can talk to me if there’s something going on. We’re all worried about you.”

More tears peppered my eyes but I fought them back. “I’m fine. No one should be worried about me. Everyone should be focused on Macy and Jason.”

“In case you’ve missed it, Macy and Jason are sick of the attention. I’ve heard Macy mutter at least four times that a two-week-long wedding event was a stupid idea.”

I shook my head. “Still.”

“Still nothing. We can tell there’s something going on with you and we’re worried.” She sighed when she saw Maggie headed our way. “I’m on Maggie duty tonight. I’ve got to wrangle her out of here and back to her parents. I’ll be back.”

The moment she got up, Warren slipped into her seat. He casually draped his arm along the back of my chair and leaned into me. “Cupcake, you’re killing us.”

I stiffened, trying to build up my reserve. I felt weak and I wanted to fall into his arms and cry, but I couldn’t. They weren’t mine, and they could never be mine. I just had to get that through my head.

“Dammit. Even I’m losing my patience, Cupcake.” He cupped my chin and turned my face to him, studying my expression before I pulled away. “Why are you doing this to yourself? Because of what that shit-for-brains said?”

“Bar’s ready!” Macy called out, receiving a round of cheers from everyone.

I practically flew away from Warren. I’d been strategically planning my presence at the party since I’d woken up that morning. I was going to somehow make myself known in the beginning and then hide for a while before finding Macy and talking to her again for a bit before leaving for the night. Just two showings of my happy face and then I could retreat to my room.

I settled at the bar, not even truly seeing the decorations hung around the room. The little bit of dinner I’d eaten was sitting awkwardly in my stomach, and the idea of drinking made me want to throw up, but I ordered a ginger ale and sipped at it. The group was already having a good time. Music was playing loudly, and the wedding planner was organizing some sort of game in the corner of the bar.

I sat there, glued to the bar seat, trying to sort out what to do or say to make Macy notice that I was there for her. I was just frozen, though. No matter what I thought I should do, I couldn’t make myself do it. I felt sick with worry and grief, and all I wanted to do was cease to exist in that room.

I wasn’t even sure how long I’d been sitting there when Macy appeared beside me, her face tense. I looked at her, at the stiff way she stood, at the phone clasped in her hand, and I knew that she knew. Maybe I wanted her to find out because I almost felt relieved. Nothing could ease the ache that the anger and distrust in her eyes caused, though.

“I need to talk to you outside.” Her voice shook, and she took a step back like she couldn’t stand to be that close to me. “Now.”

Nodding, I pushed myself off the seat and moved with feet like lead to the doors leading out of the bar. It was all over, I knew. The secret was out, however she’d found out, and I was about to lose it all. The other shoe had finally dropped.

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