Searching for Beautiful(133)

Kate nodded, and her face relaxed. “I just felt so bad. You’re my maid of honor and I didn’t want you to regret saying yes to me.”

“Never. It’s going to be an epic wedding, and standing by your side will make me happy. Now, no more bullshit.”

Kate laughed. “Done. Now can someone help me talk my mother out of donating marijuana brownies for the favors?”

Kennedy lifted a brow. “I think I’m about to encourage it.”

Arilyn kept oddly quiet throughout the next round of drinks. Finally, Gen leaned in and pitched her voice a bit higher to be heard. “A? What’s up? You seem distracted. You okay?”

Kate and Kennedy shared a knowing look. Arilyn smiled, but it was weak compared to her megawatt genuine one that made people happy. “I was wrong,” she finally said.

Gen cocked her head. “Wrong about what?”

Her green eyes flickered with a hint of regret. “I told you it’s best to let the moment lead. Not discuss the terms of a relationship or the rules, or real feelings. I meant what I said at the time, but lately I’ve been thinking I’m very wrong.”

Kate began to get that mean look. Gen figured she was about to beat the living crap out of Yoga Man. Kennedy actually curled her fingers into her fists as if getting ready to train. “Did something happen?” she asked gently. “Did he hurt you?”

Arilyn’s shimmering golden red hair shook, then settled. “Not yet. But it’s the coward’s way. If you love someone, you need to be honest. Brave. Tell them straight out and blow up the fucking rules. Because I’m starting to believe there shouldn’t be any rules when you love someone.”

Gen almost doubled over with pain. The image of Wolfe flashed in her mind, and the hurt wasn’t any better. It was blinding, breath-stealing pain that made her heart whimper. Since they arrived back home two weeks ago, he’d moved out of her house and kept his distance. A few texts, some calls. One night she could have sworn she caught sight of his car parked down the road by her house, but when she walked outside to investigate, the car was gone.

She sensed him everywhere, yet nowhere. Since that fateful day on the balcony, Gen realized she couldn’t live her life in a constant state of need anymore. It might hurt, and she also worried she’d never truly get over him—that she’d wind up searching for a mate who would be only a pale imitation of the man who held her heart. But she was going to give it her best shot.

This time, there was no consolation prize of friendship. Those chick flicks had been right after all.

Sex between friends ruined everything.

The group sighed with sympathy. “I’m sorry, A,” Gen said. “When I finally told Wolfe the truth, he couldn’t give me what I needed. But you’re right. I think it may be better to find out sooner rather than later.”

“Yeah.”

They drank their alcohol while the music blared in the background. “Do you think Wolfe will come after you?” Arilyn asked.

Her stomach pitched. “If he’s not ready to be all in, I don’t want to hear it. And if he’s biding his time, thinking this will all go away and we can be buddies, he’s going to be sorely disappointed.”

“He’d never be that stupid,” Arilyn said. “Wolfe is a pretty smart guy.”

Kennedy snorted. “He has a penis. Trust me, he may be stupid, especially since Gen’s thrown him into a tailspin. No woman has ever demanded anything more than a quick lay and a good conversation. He doesn’t know how to handle it, because he’s never been in love before.”

“I hate love,” Arilyn said grumpily. Another shared look between Kate and Kennedy.

Gen sighed and drained her drink. “Me, too. Love sucks.”

Kennedy raised her hand in the air and flagged down a waitress. “That, my darlings, is why they created alcohol. Another round, please.”

They looked at each other and began to laugh.


WOLFE WAITED UNTIL HE spotted her coming up the sidewalk.

He sat in his car, in the dark, waiting for the woman who had replaced his nightmares and now haunted his dreams. Since that fateful night, things had been cold and stilted between them. He’d been ready to accept the blame and ride out the rocky path until she calmed down and realized they were better as friends.

But the last two weeks had almost killed him.

She was going back to the hospital. He was so proud of her. Sometimes, when he couldn’t sleep, he drove up to Verily and parked on her street. Looking at her sunny yellow bungalow made him happy. Now that David was out of her life and safely in Boston, now that the culprit had been caught and punished, things were going back to normal.