Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
The alcohol sang in my veins and I shivered with excitement. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a message from Rex.
I’m hard for you.
My face heated up even more. It felt as though everyone on the table could read the message. I typed out a reply.
You just made me wet.
“Are you having a good time?” Caroline asked.
I hit send and put my phone away. “Yes, it’s a nice party. You’ve done a good job.” I wanted to, but didn’t add, hosting a cheat and a boyfriend stealer.
“Yeah, with no help from you,” she murmured.
I stared at her in shocked amazement. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that you’re never here for our family,” Caroline scolded in a hushed voice. “You have always been busy living your fabulous life with no thought to the family you left behind in Wisconsin.”
Red, hot anger coursed through me.
Unfortunately, Tiffany chose that moment to appear next to us. It set me off. I pointed a finger at her. “She fucked my boyfriend. How the hell am I supposed to help plan her wedding?”
A tense silence followed my words.
“I thought you had no problem with it,” Tiffany said, a sly smile on her face.
I resisted the urge to hiss. This was not the behavior of a happy, satisfied woman. Holding myself tightly in check, I smiled, and I could tell the sudden change confused them.
“I have no problem whatsoever with you marrying Steven. Once a cheat, always a cheat.” I spotted a tray with fresh cocktails, grabbed a green one, and took a big sip. Now in my element, I continued. “I found the man of my dreams and I’m happy.” I sounded so genuine I almost had myself fooled.
“Good, in that case, we can continue with the party,” Caroline said.
Caroline and Olivia passed out small pieces of papers and pens to everyone. You were supposed to write your confession and the bride would read them aloud and guess who had written it.
I wrote mine and when the basket came around, I tossed my folded paper in. When all the papers were collected, Tiffany stood up and picked the first paper. Dramatically, she looked at all of us before slowly opening the first paper. My heart pounded with anticipation. Would mine be first?
“I solemnly swear I’ve been up to no good,” she read. “I’m single and last night, I had the greatest sex of my life.”
We all burst out laughing.
I looked around at the twenty or so women and couldn’t imagine who would have written it. It turned out to be Tiffany’s friend who good-naturedly admitted to having written the note.
The tension dissipated and even I found myself giggling as Tiffany read out the outrageous notes. For a few seconds, I began to regret the note I’d written, then I reminded myself what Tiffany had done. She was not the innocent person she was portraying herself to be.
She picked up a note, straightened it, cleared her throat, and read.
“I confess that last night, I had a very raunchy night with my boyfriend whom I did not steal from anyone I know.”
I raised my chin as everyone looked at me. Nonchalantly, I picked up my drink and took a sip.
“I’m guessing this is from you, Willow,” Tiffany said, her teeth gritted.
“How did you guess?” I asked in a friendly tone.
Her chin wobbled and shame came over me. I knew I’d gone a tad bit too far, but once I’d started, I couldn’t stop. An image of Tiffany telling me she was fucking my boyfriend filled my mind. The guilt disappeared. I’d done the right thing. She deserved this and more.
She continued with the rest, but the fun was gone. I’d achieved my purpose, showing everyone what this was about. We were not going to pretend that it was a normal wedding. My stepsister had stolen my boyfriend.
I finished my drink and grabbed my purse. Without saying anything to anyone, I stood up. It was time to leave. I walked towards the restaurant and just as I grabbed the door handle, I heard Caroline’s voice behind me.
“Did you have to do that?” she asked angrily.
I whirled around. “Do what?” I asked with feigned innocence.
“Spoil the evening for Tiffany? Don’t you think she’s suffered enough?”
“What? How has she suffered?” I gasped.
“Everyone knows what she did. It can’t be easy being labelled as a boyfriend snatcher. But your behavior is making sure all that sympathy is going to Tiffany.”
My pulse speeded up and my muscles quivered with anger and indignation. “I’m not looking for sympathy,” I hissed. “I’m just having fun at my stepsister’s hen party while sticking to the truth. I’m not going to pretend that this wedding is anything more than what it is.”
“You’ve become a bitter person, Willow,” Caroline said.
Her words cut deep. I didn’t want to come out as bitter. The purpose of coming to the wedding had been to show everyone I was fine. I glanced at my watch in an attempt to save my reputation.