Page 41 of Let's Call a Truce
She jerked back, her eyebrows raising toward her hairline. “Excuse me?”
“Who’d you bring as your plus-one, Asia?”
Her eyebrows flew up even higher. “I havealwayssupported you. Are you really saying I’m not a good friend because I invited another friend you don’t like to a wedding?”
“Are you really saying you didn’t do it to screw with me after I admitted we kissed?” I was so over the meddling. The pushing and the laughter.Look at Juliana. She can’t sort out how she feels. It’s hilarious.
“Oh my god, could you be more self-centered?” she asked, while I crossed my arms over my chest. “Let’s think about this for a minute. We’re at a wedding where I know a handful of people: the bride; my best friend, who is in the bridal party and won’t be around; and my sister, who’s so wrapped up in her new girlfriend that she doesn’t see anyone else. So I invited one of my favorite people so I wouldn’t be alone all night. But yeah, let’s talk about how it’s about you.”
The truth of her words hit me but clashed with my frustration before any rationality could take over. “You have plenty of other people you could have invited.”
“Sure, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to bring one of my best friends because I knew we’d have the most fun.”
“He’s not a nice person, Asia.”
I knew my words weren’t true. He’d shown me that already. But I was in a game of tug-of-war, conflicting parts of myself pulling me toward and away from him. If I admitted a change of heart to my friend, I’d give the other side too much strength and the game would end—possibly with me face down in the mud. Again.
Asia’s laugh was equal parts angry and exasperated as sheran her hands over her face. “Yes, heisa nice person. He’s been an ass to you, but you’ve been right there with him, something I’ve never called you out on because I don’t want to get in the middle of it. But here I am, exactly where I’ve told yourepeatedlyI didn’t want to be.Heisn’t the one asking me to choose between my friends, so if you think there’s an asshole in this situation, maybe you need to look in a damn mirror.”
She turned to walk back to the cocktail hour as a wave of guilt crashed over me.
I didn’t expect to see him today. I thought I’d spend the evening dancing with my friends, then suddenly he was there—the physical manifestation of my inability to make up my mind. This whole thing was frustrating and confusing, but it wasn’t an excuse to take it out on my friend who really did always have my back.
Iwas the asshole.
I took a step after her. “Asia, wait—”
“Juliana,” Gabriela called from her perfectly framed spot under one of the trees. “You’re up! Let’s finish this so we can get to the party!”
I sent one last glance at Asia before turning back to the bride. I’d have the whole reception to fix things with her. And I’d deal with Ben being here. It was one night.
How much damage could I do?
Chapter 14
“Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the party Mr. and Mrs. Ocampo!”
People on the lawn of the reception broke out in earth-shattering cheers as almost four hundred guests jumped to their feet. I watched Christopher lead Gabriela onto the dance floor, the two waving and cheering right along with the crowd. He dipped her, pressing a kiss to her lips, and the crowd ratcheted up even louder.
We all took our seats as they started their first dance. Gabriela glided along like an angel whose feet didn’t touch the ground. The dance became even more elaborate, perfectly choreographed with not a step out of place.
Marcus stayed close to my side, and it was becoming more obvious by the minute that we didn’t suit. We both made jokes the other didn’t get, awkwardly laughing and trying to explain before giving up and falling back into an uncomfortable silence. I found my eyes drawn to Ben’s table every time the conversation lapsed. If we were together, we may have spent the night picking at each other, but the conversation would never have been boring.
His whole table laughed at some story he was telling, and I ached to be over there. Asia rolled her eyes, cutting him off, and the two of them started arguing, laughing and pointing at each other over whatever their disagreement was. I’d never givenmyself a chance to consider their relationship. But watching her with him, without the pressure of keeping us from each other’s throats, I understood why she was so frustrated with me.
Asia was right. I’d crossed a line, both in implying she wasn’t a good friend and insulting someone she loved. I was confused and scared and frustrated, but that wasn’t an excuse to treat my friend like crap.
Dinner—and the mindless small talk it entailed—mercifully ended, and I was determined to make my escape from Victoria’s tragic setup.
Marcus jumped in front of me as I moved to walk away. “Why don’t we dance?”
“I was going to head to the bar for a drink.”
“Oh, let me get it for you.” He sped off without asking what I wanted, but I figured it didn’t matter as long as I was getting a drink. With his commitment to the setup, I wondered if his main goal was to keep his grandmother happy. I looked good tonight, better than I ever had before, thanks to Gabriela’s beauty team, but there was no way he wasthatinto me with such lackluster conversation. Sometimes two interesting people don’t make an interesting pair.
“Would you like to dance?” The deep rumble of Ben’s voice sent a spike of adrenaline through me. Finally something interesting after the snoozefest of a dinner.
I turned slowly to face him. It was the first chance I had to really look; he was perfection. His suit was dark blue, clearly tailored to his body, not bought off the rack. He’d slicked his hair back—formal, but not greasy looking—and had trimmed his beard for the occasion. My mind conjured the memory of his scruff brushing against me while we kissed, and my heart broke into a gallop.
