Page 115 of Stolen Moments

He cuts me off. “As a friend, Emery. I’m new in town, and the only people I’ve spoken to lately are women over the age of seventy-five. Please, I’m begging you, throw me a bone and be my friend. It would be nice to hang out with someone my age for a change. The last thing I need is to have another meal with a bunch of gossiping old blue-hairs that either try to set me up with their granddaughters or hit on me. Have mercy on me, and have lunch with me this week, please.” He bats his thick black lashes at me and pouts his lip, making me snigger.

“Fine, you win. We can have lunch.”

“You won’t regret it. I’ll even pay.”

We exchange numbers, and Graham promises to get in touch soon. We end up chatting for another hour before calling it a night.

I might not have gotten business out of the event, but I might have just gained a friend.

“Where are you off to?” Rylann asks as I grab my coat and layer up.

“Um…” I look away, shifting nervously.

What should I say? She’s marrying Jace. Mason’s brother. I don’t want to put her in an awkward position. Not that it matters. Mason and I aren’t together. I can do and see whomever I want. But guilt forms like a lead ball in my stomach.

Her face softens as she reaches out and places her hand on my arms. “Emery, it’s fine. You’re allowed to move on.”

“It’s not like that. I’m just going to lunch with a friend.He’s—”

“He,” Scarlett whoops. She’s way too excited over nothing, but I don’t tell her that. “Go on with your bad self, Em. Where did you meet him?”

“We met at that mixer-event you made me go to last week,” I confess.

“What mixer?” Rylann asks, confused.

“It was that networking event at the cool bar in Portland,” Scarlett says, looking away.

Rylann gasps, shaking her head. “Scar, you know people only go to those events to hook up.”

I knew it was a setup! Freaking Scarlett, butting her nose in my business.

“So?” Scarlett shrugs. “Emery needed a night out, and it looks like it paid off.”

“Like I said, it’s not like that. Graham is my friend. He’s only here temporarily, taking care of his grandmother.”

“Graham, huh? Sounds like a hot guy’s name. Tell me, is he hot?”

I shrug. “He’s … handsome.”

Liar.

Is Graham hot? Yeah. He’s everything a girl could want physically, and he just so happens to be a genuinely nice guy too. Our friendship feels like the one I have with Lex, totally platonic and sexless. There are zero sparks flying between us.

“You should bring him to the wedding,” Scarlett says.

Rylann gasps again, clutching her throat. “Scarlett,” she hisses.

“What? He’s new in town. He should at least come to the reception,” Scarlett persists like it’s no big deal.

Rylann looks over at me with worried eyes, no doubt thinking about Mason, then turns back to Scarlett. They have one of those silent stand-offs, and this time, it’s really uncomfortable standing here watching them.

My stomach churns. I knew things were eventually going to get awkward. Not only am I helping her plan her wedding, but she’s also forced me to be an honorary bridesmaid.

As it is, every time I see her, I find it hard not to ask about him. What’s he doing? How he’s been? Any breadcrumb she’d be willing to drop, I’d take. But she’s revealed nothing.

As we get closer to her wedding day, anxiety blooms in my stomach, keeping me up at night. I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time. The way we hurt each other still haunts me.

I miss Mason like crazy, but I don’t think I can handle going through all that again.

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