Page 76 of Undone

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Old Haunts

“THIRTEEN.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” I smile wide, like everyone expects, meanwhile—my heart feels like a dried up rose. The petals that were once fragrant and in full bloom are now dry and brittle—cracking and disintegrating to dust.

“Luce?”

Avoiding Tanya’s gaze in the mirror, my hands pick up the gown. I brush past her into the dressing room where behind closed doors, my fist holds back the sobs stuck in my chest, but the fat tears still roll. I was doing so much better until this damn trip. Being around brides and weddings always made me think about if I’d ever have my own. And when I met Lucas Smith, I started wondering if I’d be walking down the aisle to him one day.

Smith.

I thought he was different.

He swore I could trust him.

But it’s all his fault that my heart’s a wilted flower.

I had finally given in. The incredible nights together still invade my thoughts even when I try to stop them. Our bodies literally melted together as his hips rocked into me and he had the stupidest grin on his face as he told me how long he waited for me—that he felt like he finally found his forever.

But then he ghosted me. The man talked a good game. I even believed he was determined to find me and thrilled at the thought he’d chase me to my new home. But that day never came and soon, I started parking back in the faculty lot. All his promises turned out to be just lies and now—here I am back in Chicago wearing my thirteenth bridesmaid dress crying under the fluorescent lights while pretending everything is just fine.

I hate him.

Hate him for making believe his soft words whispered in the dark; words weaving a picture of a future with the two of us.

“Luce?” Tanya knocks on the door, “Come on. We’ll be late for lunch.”

Taking my fist out of my mouth, my hands swipe the smudged mascara that ran under each eye.

Getting dressed back into my skinny jeans and flats, my hands reach inside my purse for my oversized sunglasses. I’ll smile like I always do; fuss over the bride, while hiding the pain of my shattered heart.

“Are the men in Oregon like I’ve heard?” One of the other bridesmaids asks.

“Oh? And what have you heard?” I ask, still hiding behind my sunglasses as I look around the table at old colleagues whom I used to go to happy hour with several nights a week. A few of us used to be tight, but it wasn’t the same after Dev left. She wasn’t invited to the wedding since she was with her ex, Jeff, most of the time over the last few years, never really hanging out with these women like I did.

“I hear that they are as big as bears, rugged as outlaws, and huge.Everywhere.”

“It’s all true,” I smile into my wine glass, taking a sip as sighs erupt around the table. I should’ve been an actress. None of them even have a clue at how much of a struggle it is just to hold myself together and pretend I want to be here.

“When can we visit?”

“Whenever you’d like. The winters are brutal though; you think Chicago sucks balls? You haven’t seen a thing. In fact, just last week my car wouldn’t make it out of the driveway, even with snow tires on, and they never cancel school since everyone else is used to it. Anyway, I had to call Devon’s man, Rog. He had one of his guys come get me. I was like ok, alright… but then the guy showed up riding a snowmobile, handing me a helmet.”

“That’s so friggin’ cool. Was he hot?”

“Yeah. But Teagan’s scary. I think he’s the scariest one of them all.”

“Who?”

“Oh, sorry. He’s a guy in Creed—the motorcycle club that practically runs everything out there.”

“Wait. What? Dev’s dating some guy from an MC?”

“Yeah… I was as well for a while.” And just like that my secret was out.

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