Page 11 of Jilted
“Great! I’ll pick you up at eight. We’ll go to that little taco place near your house.”
“Sounds good.” She nodded.
The longer he stood there talking to her, making plans to spend what would undoubtedly be their last night together, the more her heart broke. What would she do without Brett? He was the one she called on for everything. How did anyone survive losing their best friend?
“And I’ll see you tonight, too, right? My mom is having it at her house.”
Amy sighed. “Yeah, I’ll be there.” She’d rather get a root canal by a dentist with a hook for a hand than go to Brett’s engagement party, but she couldn’t tell him no. “What time?”
“Seven. Mom’s making her homemade sauce.” He licked his lips and smiled.
She tried to share his enthusiasm but couldn’t even force a smile. Looked like tonight she’d have to face reality, no more running from it. At least she’d have his brother to talk to, to distract her from watching Brett fawn all over Vanessa.
That was one thing she both admired and abhorred about Brett – he wasn’t afraid to show his affections in public. Amy always wanted a man to dote on her, kiss her, hold her hand, caress her lovingly without caring who was around to witness it. She wanted a man like Brett who was open with his affections. However, knowing she wasn’t the object of his affections made it difficult to watch him shower others with it.
“Should I bring anything?” she asked as an afterthought.
“Just yourself.” Brett grinned.
Amy arrived at Brett’s parents’ house a few minutes after seven. She took a deep breath, climbed the steps to the front door, and knocked. The door swung open, and she was greeted by Craig.
“Amy!” He hugged her. “Finally, someone sane.”
She laughed. “What does that mean?”
He raised a brow and shook his head. “Brett has gone out of his mind marrying a woman he hardly knows.”
“My thoughts exactly,” she muttered, following Craig through the house and out into the backyard.
Brett’s father, Dean, was manning the grill while Brett sat in a patio chair. Vanessa was on his lap. A sharp pang of jealousy shot through Amy, but she shoved it down deep. Brett wasn’t hers, and he never had been. Not really.
“Look who’s here,” Craig announced, flinging his arm around Amy’s shoulders and giving her a playful kiss on the cheek.
Brett looked up, and the smile faded from his face. He glanced back and forth between Amy and Craig, his angry gaze settling on Craig’s arm, which was still around her shoulders.
“Amy, I’m glad you made it.” Brett’s voice was tight as he patted Vanessa on the lower back, signaling for her to get up off his lap. She did, and Brett stood.
“I told you I’d be here.” Amy smiled weakly. Just a few hours, she told herself. Just a few hours, and then she could leave.
“Amy, dear.” Mrs. Hudson walked up and hugged Amy. “Oh, it’s been ages. How are you?”
“I’m fine. You?”
“Never better.” She smiled. “I’m trying a new sauce recipe,” she whispered conspiratorially. “I could really use your opinion.”
“Lead the way,” Amy said as she followed Mrs. Hudson into the house.
At this point, Amy would scrub the bathroom just so she wouldn’t have to watch Brett and Vanessa together.
Chapter Six
Brett stood in the kitchen doorway watching as his mom held up a wooden spoon to Amy’s mouth.
“Mmm,” Amy hummed. “You’ve really outdone yourself this time, Ginny. This is fantastic.”
His mom smiled. “You’re too kind.”
“Seriously, what did you do differently?”
