Page 152 of Levi
That’s when it hits me. I’m still clinging onto the flowers for dear life.
My blue eyes meet hers. “It wasn’t planned,” I say. “I was trying to get out of the way to let the hopeless romantic souls––which includes you––fight for the victory.”
“Guilty as charged,” she giggles. “Not that it matters anymore since you’re obviously the big winner.”
“Lady Luck sure has an ironic sense of humor,” I sneer.
“Here,” I extend the flowers to Sydney, “you should have them. You were in the running, I wasn’t.” I’m not upset at the bouquet or at Jules. My beef is with Rod Wolfe, more specifically his inability to be anything other than a manwhore. Still, why keep something that is of no use to me?
Spooked blue eyes grow wide. “Oh no, no, no,” she shakes her head vehemently. “I’m pretty sure if I take them, I’ll be cursed... so will you. I definitely intend on getting married one day. No way am I going to jinx myself. You caught the bouquet, you keep the bouquet.”
I let out a wry laugh. “This is a silly, outdated old wives’ tale. It takes a hell of a lot more than catching a bouquet to walk down the aisle,” I sneer.
She frowns. “You’re not much older than I am. Why do you sound like you’ve given up?”
“It’s nothing,” I downplay.
“So it has nothing to do with the tramp hanging from Rod’s arm?”
I sigh. “Was it that obvious?”
“People in Iceland could feel the tension between the two of you,” she tells me.
I wince.
“It wasn’t my intention to usurp Jules and Levi’s moment,” I assure her.
“Those two are high on love, so there isn’t much that’s going to throw them off. That said, your resting bitch face is very menacing. Bravo, girlfriend. Clearly, it’s been perfected over years of intense practice.”
I laugh at her comment.
“On a serious note, Dom,” her voice is now soothing, “I know we don’t know each other very well, but I’m a great listener,” she tells me. “And honestly, right now, you look like you could use a friend.”
I hang my head low, my gaze fixed on the spectacular white wedding bouquet in my hands.
I take in a deep breath before locking eyes with her. “I appreciate it, Sydney, but I’m not sure talking about it will change anything between Rod and I.”
“Let me guess. You’re pining after your best friend and you don’t quite know what to do with yourself.”
I don’t answer immediately.
She cocks an eyebrow. “Did I hit the bullseye?”
I respond with a small nod, not trusting anything that might slip from my lips.
“Does he know?” she asks boldly.
“Rod will always be a playboy. With just one glance, women drop their panties when he walks into a room.”Why would he settle?
“It’s a given men like Rod are players. This is LA, after all––the land where marriages that last more than a year are celebrated with as much zeal as a Super Bowl win. Still, that doesn’t answer my question.”
“Rod is out of my league.”
“That’s exactly how Jules felt about Levi,” she tells me. “It took a very long time before Jules was willing to believe she was good enough for a guy like that.”
“It’s different between Rod and I. We go way back––”
“Even better!” she exclaims. “You can cut through the bullshit and jump right into what matters.”
