I was supposed to be her boss. Setting the example. Not breaking the rules. I didn’t have many rules for my employees, but this was one of the big ones. It made me feel like such a hypocrite that I not only had fallen for a wedding guest but also was now actively looking for a way that we could be together.
But I thought it would be so nice to talk to someone who had all the information and who would have my best interests at heart. I glanced up at her hairstylist, but she had earbuds in, so I figured it was safe to talk.
“Okay, there is something I want to tell you.”
“This isn’t going to involve the location of a body, is it? Camden’s still alive somewhere out there, right?”
“It’s not like that. I like him.”
I expected some kind of reaction from her, but her expression didn’t change. “Oh. Sorry. Imagine that this is me making a performative gasp.”
“What?”
“It means I’m not surprised.”
Oh yeah? I could fix that. “I made out with him. Multiple times.”
Now she looked utterly delighted. “Seriously? I wish I was drinking something so that I could do the spit take this moment so obviously deserves. Oh, I am one hundred percent behind this. I’m going to be so supportive of you two that I’ll be like your own personal Spanx.”
“I can’t let anything happen. He doesn’t know about . . .” I let my voice trail off as I looked around the room, making sure that nobody was paying any attention to us. “He doesn’t know about what we do.”
“So?”
“He has this thing about lying. A big lie wrecked his knee and his Olympic future. His dad had qualified for the Olympics when he was younger and Camden wanted to honor him by—” Realizing that I was about to go on and on, I stopped myself. “He’s going to feel betrayed.”
“Shouldn’t you let him decide how he’s going to feel? You don’t get to preemptively decide how people will react before you even give them the chance.”
I shook my head. I had done that before in my life—given people the benefit of the doubt, and it had screwed up everything. I hadn’t done that in years. I predicted how people around me were going to behave and then acted accordingly. I saved myself a lot of heartache that way.
Before I could argue my viewpoint with her, she added, “You always want to control everything, including relationships. That’s not how this stuff works.”
“This isn’t a control issue. And maybe it’s not just about him,” I admitted. “Maybe I don’t want to see the look in his eyes when he finds out. I was going to ask Sadie if she could tell him. According to Gerald, there’s nothing in the contract that prevents her from telling the truth.”
Krista gasped and reached for both of my hands. “That is so great! That’s the answer to everything! Sadie can tell him and then you won’t see the disappointment and he’ll get over it and declare his undying love for you and you guys will live happily ever after!”
“Isn’t that kind of the cowardly thing to do? Letting Sadie take the brunt of it?”
“The cowardly thing is to walk away from the first guy you’ve had feelings for since I’ve known you.”
It was scary to take a chance again. Part of me didn’t want to. It would be easier to just go back to my quiet, ordered life.
I pictured Camden’s face and realized that giving up like that would also be much sadder. I resolved to talk to Sadie when she was alone. Which, given the way so many people were fussing over her, might not be for a while.
The stylist finished with Krista and gestured for me to take her spot. As she started brushing through my hair, I heard Stefan bellowing behind me.
“Where is the bride’s other shoe?” He put out his hand. “Somebody better put it in my hand right now or heads are going to roll.”
I got up out of my chair and Krista came to my side, ready to offer me silent support as we figured out a way to calm this situation down. Sadie didn’t need the stress. “What’s happened?” I asked him.
“Sadie’s left shoe is missing.” He enunciated each word carefully.
“Did you—” I was about to ask him if he’d looked for it but figured that might cost me a limb.
“It’s not here,” he retorted. “Somebody took it.”
“Why would someone take just one of Sadie’s shoes?” Krista asked me under her breath. “Like there’s a Shoe Fairy who takes your heels and instead of a quarter leaves behind drama?”