Page 126 of Small Town Firsts

My heart stutters in my chest when my eyes land on my girl. Her hair’s different, but I fucking love it. It’s loud and edgy and sexy—just like her. And Jesus, that dress…it looks like it was made for her and her alone. The look on her face though? It’s killing me. She looks absolutely gutted to be here, and that means it’s time to get the ball rolling.

ABBY JANE

I’m ready to snap my best friend’s neck. I’m not really sure why she thought bringing me here was a good idea, but I’m ready to throw down.

I want to rip down the uglyCongratulationsbanner and burn it on the fucking lawn. I want to pop every single hideous powder blue balloon that’s tied to the porch railing. I want to drown Brock and his cunt of a fiancée in the gaudy cake sitting front and center in the entry hall.

I resist the temptation. Not because I care what these people think of me, but because I don’t really want to end up in jail, and even more than that, I plan to tell that assholey little weasel exactly what I think to his face.

“Take a breath, AJ,” my soon-to-be-former best friend whispers in my ear as we step into the actual party space.

“I fucking hate you.” I grit out the words through clenched teeth, yanking my hand from hers, only to stumble back and cling to her when my eyes land on the man of the hour.

Brock’s standing in the middle of the room, looking like a dream in his charcoal suit anddusty rosetie.Great…now I’ll look like the psycho ex. Maybe I’ll wear white to their wedding—snap out of it!You will not be attending his wedding!

He’s talking with his and Amanda’s parents, while she clings to him like a damn sloth. A full-body shudder rolls through me, and bile churns in my gut. Brock and I make eye contact, and I turn to flee. Telling him off isn’t worth this kind of pain and humiliation.

I don’t even make it two steps when Stacia wraps her hand around my wrist, effectively halting my escape. “Sorry, girl. You’re just gonna have to trust me.”

I glare at her.Some fucking friend she is.“Why are you doing this to me?” I ask, my voice cracking with emotion.

“Oh! Look!” she exclaims ignoring the fact that I’m about to break down. “There’s West. Let’s go say hello.”

Stacia sets off, practically dragging me behind her. I dig my heels in, but it doesn’t deter her. Not at all.

“Ladies.” West tips his head toward us. “How are y’all this fine evening?”

“Nothing fucking fine about it,” I mutter under my breath, loud enough for only me to hear.

“We’re just waiting for the show,” Stacia tells him. They launch into mindless conversation that I promptly tune out—becausefuck thisandfuck them. I’d leave, but Stacia’s still gripping my wrist like it’s a lifeline.

They fall silent when the sound of someone tapping a microphone filters through the speakers hidden around theroom. “Looks like it’s starting now,” West says, rubbing his hands together.

Frustrated to no end, I stomp my foot and ask, “What? What’s starting now?”

Stacia shushes me as Mr. Larson begins speaking into the microphone. Meanwhile, West walks away from us, moving to stand beside Brock.

“Hello and welcome!” His voice booms with manic glee, and a shiver rolls down my spine. “What a momentous occasion. We’re here to celebrate the upcoming nuptials between two lovely, upstanding individuals. This day has been a long time coming, and I know I speak for all of us when I say we’re honored you’re all here!” He raises his glass in the air and the party-goers follow suit.

Fucking gag me with a spoon.

Brock extricates himself from Slut-Manda and steps up to the mic. “Thank you, Dad. And since tonight is, as you said, such a momentous occasion, I’ve actually prepared a little something for everyone.”

CHAPTER 26

BROCK

I rubmy sweaty palms against my slacks and try my hardest not to fidget as two country club employees pull down a large projector screen. After one of the men gives me a thumbs-up, I grab the mic from the podium, suck in a deep breath, and address the crowd.

“You ever have one of those moments that just knocks you on your ass? I’m talking a life-changing, you-know-shit-will-never-be-the-same-again type of moment?

“That’s what I had when I first laid eyes on the woman I love. I couldn’t have been more than five years old. I remember looking at her and thinking,I’m gonna marry that girl.But then, we drifted apart. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. I fell victim to preteen hormones and tossed away a treasure. But, my God, when fate placed her in my path again—I was still too stupid and prideful to see what was right in front of me. But I figured it out pretty quickly, and I’m certainly not dumb enough to let her go twice.”

I crane my neck and search out Abby Jane in the crowd. My gaze bores into hers as I try to silently communicate that she’s the girl I was talking about. My heart climbs into my chest asStacia wraps her arms around her, dipping her head to whisper words of comfort in her ear.

I refuse to take my eyes off of Abby Jane as I continue speaking, because really, she’s the only one here who matters.

“There’s so much in this life we don’t get a say in, so much that’s beyond our control. On the flip side, there’s also a lot that we do get a say in—or at least we should. Things likewhatyou spend your life doing, andwhoyou do it with. Yet, according to my father, I don’t get a say in either.”

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