Page 135 of One More Betrayal

“What else does the rumor say?” I turn to Emily in time to catch the pain on her face before she smooths it away. The world swirls around me, and I close my eyes. “They’ve slept together, haven’t they? Recently, I mean.”

An oxygen-robbing silence is my reply. I open my eyes to see the truth written all over Em’s face.

“He claims he doesn’t remember having sex with her, but he did wake up naked in bed with her.”

“He doesn’t remember having sex? Wow, just how bad was it?” I mumble the last part under my breath, but she must have heard. She cackles, and I can’t help the smile that flickers on my face.

But once I remember who we’re talking about, the smile vanishes.

A week. He could have at least waited a week after I ended our relationship before he jumped into bed with another woman.

A ballad starts to play through the speakers, and the bride and groom begin their first dance together. I shoot more photos. I’ll have so many photos to edit after tonight, I might never have to leave my house again.

Which means I’ll never have to see Troy and Katelyn together as a couple after tonight. I guess if there’s a bright side to the work I have ahead of me, that would be it.

I yawn, the lack of sleep and the stress from the last few days quickly catching up to me. Just a couple more hours to go…

The sound of glass shattering on something hard intrudes on my weary thoughts, and past blurs with present.

My husband is standing in front of me, still in his uniform, his face mottled with rage, the end of his Glock directed at me.

And my body turns ice-sculpture cold.

49

Troy

August, Present Day

Maple Ridge

* * *

Katelyn drags me onto the dance floor, but my heart isn’t into it. I keep stealing glances at Jess. She’s visibly exhausted, as if she hasn’t slept for several days.

I want to ask her what’s going on, but she made it clear that her life is none of my business.

The sound of a glass breaking has my head jerking in the direction the noise came from. Two waiters bend down to pick up the fragments.

Jess is standing a few feet from them, eyes wide and staring unseeingly at something in front of her. People are looking at her like she’s a curiosity. A statue.

Anthony moves forward, hand raised as if to touch her. It’s only then I realize I’m rushing toward Jess.

“Troy?” Katelyn calls out from behind me.

“Don’t touch her!” I say to Anthony as I put my arm between them. “She’s having a flashback, and you touching her might make things worse.” I turn to face the woman I love. She’s trembling and doesn’t seem to be aware of her surroundings. “Jess, it’s Troy. You’re safe.” My voice is level and calm, the opposite to how I feel getting to stand so close to her.

“What’s wrong with her?” Katelyn says quietly next to me.

“Jess, it’s Troy. You’re safe. Whatever you think you’re seeing, it isn’t real.” Not anymore.

Jess slowly blinks, and I can see on her face the moment she remembers where she is. She closes her eyes and mutters to herself.

“Are you all right?” I ask her.

Her eyes fly open and dart from me to Katelyn. “I-I need to get back to work.”

I put my hand on her arm. “You need a break.” The feel of her soft skin against my fingertips is an electric shock to my heart. It jump-starts the organ, which hasn’t been beating properly since Jess ended things between us.

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