Page 16 of Mr. July

“I know it’s fast,” her voice lowered to a whisper. “I-I am kind of pregnant.”

“Um Kells. There is no kind of. You are or you aren’t.”

“It was a total accident. I swear. I’d never trap Evan. I love him and it’s still new.”

“I’ll say.”

“I need a maid of honor. We want to tie the knot this summer.”

“You know I’ll do anything for you.”

“That’s what I want to hear. Because Ryan, I want a bachelorette party. If I can’t drink, I want everyone else to get their freak on. I know you don’t party but girl, party for me. Lord knows you need to after how Wade did you dirty. Nothing crazy just a few close friends for a quick getaway.”

I bit my lip. I’m not great at this sort of thing and I definitely don’t have the money to do much. Since Kell was my rock, I couldn’t let her down. “Text me the list of what dates work and who you want there.”

“Only a handful of my closest friends. I’ll ask Hannah to help you out if you need it.”

I swallowed hard. I hated Hannah. She was Kell’s friend from high school and saw my friendship with Kell as a threat. “No problem.”

“Love ya’ Ryan.”

“Love ya’ too, Kells. Congratulations on the baby and the man.”

“Thanks. I really am happy. So is he.”

“He better be or I’ll seriously kick his ass.”

We ended the call and I took a deep breath. The new year seemed to roll in with a tide of change for everyone. “Hey Ryan, tough break about Wade.” The girl’s eyes were full of fake sympathy. I didn’t even know her. Not really. Ugh. Small college campuses sucked.

I left campus on foot for the one coffee shop within walking distance. I just needed air. Needed to breathe and get off the campus where everyone seems to know my business. I found a table in the back and got busy opening my Mac Book. Two hours later, my finger hovered over the send button. It was all there. My hopes and dreams waiting for their chance. I pressed send. There it was done.

My stomach grumbled. It was almost four and I had barely eaten lunch. As I gathered up my things the door to the café opened. A couple laughed as the guy waltzed his girl inside. Their backs were to me. Their soft little love laughs made customers grin. Snow clung to the sleeves of their coats and hats. The girl giggled as she reached up, taking the beanie off the guy’s head. I gasped. It was them. The new “it” couple. When Wade and I were together we never achieved that status. He never wore a beanie. Then again, I never dressed like a raging slut in the dead of winter. She had boots with thigh high tights on. He unzipped her coat, letting the three inches of bare thigh peek out. “Cold here?” He murmured against her lips as he puts his palms on her bare skin. She yelped, “Wade! Your hands are freezing!”

He never touched me like that. But then again, I’d never let him stroke the inside of my bare thigh in public. Snorting, I ignored the pain in my chest. Not because I was still in love with him. Because I missed him. In a way he was my best friend. My one constant. And then he just ripped himself away from me, replacing me with…her.

Sierra spotted me first. Her eyes narrowed right before her lashes start batting so hard, I waited for them to start falling off. “Ryan! Where have you been? Every time we see you… you just well, run off!” Her voice was thick, sugary syrup. Full of fakeness.

Wade’s eyes cut away from mine. His cheeks, stained red.Prick.What kind of man blushes? A guilty as fuck one, no doubt.

“I’ve been busy…,” hooking my bag over my shoulder, I steeled my spine.

“We’ve been busy, too!” She practically jumped up and down as her eyes went wide in faked innocence right before she dropped the bomb. “We have some news! Wade and I… we… we got accepted into Duke’s research program! Waddie and I will be saving the planet next year! So, your pretty little heart won’t have to break any more at the sight of us.”

Now my face was redder than his. Marching right up to them I put a finger in his face. “How could you?! They’re still accepting applications. There’s days until the deadline!”

“Well, now, relax Ryan. It’s not Wade’s fault they already found the most qualified candidate and accepted him. I mean, why wait?”

“Most qualified, my ass! I’m the one who helped you pass botany and organic chem 200. You couldn’t… you’d never get in without me!” Then I looked down at her. “Aren’t you a liberal arts major? You don’t even have the qualifications to apply.”

Sienna slowly clapped her hands. “For someone so smart, you are so dumb!” She hooked her arm through Wade’s as she winked. “Why did you think he dated you for so long while so in lust with me? He told me all about how he had to picture me in his head while he was with you. I switched majors last year.I’m in. You’re not.”

I shook my head. She’s evil. Vicious. “Wade?” Tears blurred my vision. Could this be true? He swallowed hard, finally meeting my eyes. “I’m sorry, Ry. I just—we just happened.”

“Excuse me? You just happened to stick your body parts in her? That just doesn’t‘happen,’Wade.”

I shoved past them, blindly entering the swirling snow. The sting of betrayal ripped through me with the winter wind. I was played. Horribly. And that she-devil and my ex just stole my dream. I called Kell, choking back tears as I told her everything. “I still don’t understand how Sierra got the second spot.”

“Easy, Ry. He paid for it. He comes from old money, right? His daddy is probably a Duke alum and probably donated some ridiculous sum of money to the marine bio program. Pay for play. That’s how shit like this works. It doesn’t matter who deserves the spots. There will be no spots if there’s no money for the program. He bought his way in, Ryan. Hers, too. I’m sorry.”

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