Page 89 of Don't Date Your Nemesis

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again. “For all of it… and for every moment you thought I betrayed you.”

I pulled her into a tight hug and felt her collapse against me. I breathed in her familiar scent, my heart squeezing tight as tears welled up in my eyes.

She had betrayed me, yes, but Liam was right. Once we talked through it… I didn’t care about it at all. I just wanted her to be safe and happy, and I knew what would make her happy.

Both of us happy.

“We’re going to destroy him,” I said into her hair.

“Together?”

“Together.”

We stayed like that for a long moment, two halves of the same whole, finally reunited.

When we pulled apart, I made her promise not to tell anyone yet, not even Liam.

Just for a while.

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because I want everything ready and planned before we make a move. And…” I hesitated. “I need to figure out how to tell him. He’s been nothing but honest with me. I owe him the same.”

Diya nodded and smiled, “At least, one good thing came out of it.”

I tilted my head, and she continued, “You two finally get along without killing each other.”

We giggled together, and I told her how happy he made me, but I knew I didn’t have to tell her that. She could see the hickey making me blush.

We promised to catch up again soon, in secret, before I hugged her again and left.

The reception was still going strong when I returned, my heart lighter than it had been in months.

Liam found me immediately, pulling me into his arms and kissing me as if we hadn’t just seen each other twenty minutes ago.

“Everything okay?” he murmured against my lips.

“Better than okay.”

He smiled, making my knees weak, and I was struck by how much had changed. How this man, whom I had spent eighteen years hating, had become the person I trusted most in the world.

“Bridesmaids!” Kiara’s voice rang out. “Bouquet toss time!”

Liam released me with a laugh. “Good luck.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not participating in this heteronormative ritual.”

“Sure you’re not.”

He pushed me gently toward the growing crowd of women gathering in the center of the hall. The massive crystal and gold chandelier overhead was dripping with light that refracted across the polished floor.

Kiara stood on the small stage, bouquet in hand, and grinning like a madwoman.

“Ready?” she called out.

A chorus of excited screams answered her.

She turned her back, counted to three, and threw.