Page 71 of Knot a Bad Idea
She embraces me in a light hug and kisses my cheek, a champagne flute in her hand. “You look…stunning,” she gasps, her eyes wide with delight. “I’m so happy I ran into you! I’ve been looking for you all night!”
My stomach drops. “Oh?” I ask, doing my best to appear confident after Donovan shattered my heart.
“Yes! I wanted to say hi to you and make sure you were still coming to my wedding!” Her hair is half up in luscious waves, and her makeup looks professionally done.
I feel…inadequate, to say the least.
And I almost forgot about that damn wedding.
It’s the last event on the contract, and then my arrangement with Pack Axton is over.
Oh, god.
Will the last time I see them be at their ex’s wedding?
I’m going to vomit champagne all over Kelly’s gown.
“Well?” Kelly’s flawless face is scrunched in confusion. “You are, right?”
I chuckle politely, despite cringing on the inside. “Of course! How could I miss a wedding on anisland?”
I can hear Skylar snort laughing at me in my head for how ridiculous I sound.
But Kelly giggles. “Yes! I just wanted to make sure! I tried to talk to Donovan again, but he wouldn’t give me a straight answer.” She sighs. “Honestly, April, I don’t know how you do it. Those men are infuriating.”
I swallow. “They’re…something.”
“I’m glad they have you, though. They need someone with a decent head on their shoulders.”
I need her to stop smiling at me like that. It seems like she’s offering genuine friendship, but every time I look at her, all I see is what I could never be for the pack.
“Thanks,” I say, still feeling insignificant. “Do you know where the restroom is, by the way?”
“Oh! I think it’s that way.” She points in the opposite direction I was headed, to a different area I would have never entered. “Watch out with that door, though. It gets stuck.”
“Oh, thanks.”
I nod quickly, then turn to hurry away from Kelly, nausea pooling in my gut.
“Wait!”
I stop to look at Kelly, my face hurting from the tight smile on my face.
“I owe you an apology, April.”
I frown. “For what?”
She swallows, and I see insecurity flash in her eyes. “I was rude when we first met. I just assumed you were one of Donovan’s art students, and I was dismissive to you. I’m sorry.”
I raise an eyebrow in surprise. “I’m not worried about any of that. It’s fine, Kelly.”
“Yes, but first impressions are important to me!” she exclaims. “I think you’re great for the guys, and maybe one day we could do a girl’s shopping trip together?”
Yup. I’m going to vomit all over Kelly’s shoes.
I can’t even be mad at her, because she’s so freakingnice.
I’ll never be as nice or as confident as her. I’ll never invite someone on a shopping trip just forfun.