Page 1 of The Weight Of Falling
1
“If he hurts you again, I will gut him like a trout and spill his insides on the ground.”
I sigh. Softly spoken threats like this are one of the reasons I’m painfully single at Brown Oaks’s wedding of the year.
“Keep your voice down,” I whisper to Sofia, one of my closest friends, who seems to think she’s auditioning for a role in a Tarantino movie.
“Why?” Sofia asks with a frown. “I want your moronic ex-boyfriend to hear me.”
Standing a few feet away, Bobby darts a nervous glance in Sofia’s direction, as though he’s picked up the scent of her animosity in the same way a prey animal senses danger.
“You’re obviously joking,” I say, raising my voice so Bobby will hopefully hear me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sofia shake her head and mouth in his direction,I’m not.
I watch as Bobby drains his glass and shuffles a few jittery steps away from us.
“What’s he doing here anyway?” Sofia asks, her nose stud sparkling under the lights. “Who invited him to the wedding?”
“Kate.” Swallowing, I shift my gaze away from Bobby’s handsome face and focus on Sofia. “He’s one of her suppliers and his parents are also good friends with Kate’s parents.”
“And you’re okay with The Empty Vessel being here?”
“Sofia,” I remind her softly, “his name is Bobby.”
She gives a dismissive flick of her hand. “Not my problem his parents named him wrong.”
In the face of my silence, she arches an eyebrow at me. “Well? How do you feel about his presence here?”
My formidable friend is like a bulldog when she’s in interrogation mode. I clear my throat. “I don’t mind.”
In truth, I do mind, but I don’t want to create a fuss. And I don’t want Sofia even more protective than she already is. But Bobby’s presence is a jolting reminder of our breakup and the loneliness that’s plagued me these past two months. One thing I am grateful for, though, is that Bobby came to Gideon and Kate’s wedding alone.
“Kate checked with me to see if it was okay to invite him,” I add.
“And you said yes.”
Of course, I said yes, because I have great difficulty saying no to people. I’m working on it. Clearly, I have a way to go.
Evidently picking up on my discomfort, Sofia touches my arm in apology. “I know I can be too much at times. I’m just watching out for you.”
I nod and squeeze her hand. I’m touched by her protective nature, but a part of me secretly wishes she wouldn’t always assume I need protecting.
“Champagne?” A member of the hotel’s waitstaff materializes in front of us with a tray of champagne flutes. His eyes widen when they land on Sofia, who looks mesmerizing in a navy silk dress that accentuates her curvy body. Her smooth dark skin glows and her midnight-black hair is held back on one side by a diamond-studded hair clip.
“Yes, please.” Sofia slides two glasses off the tray and hands me one.
“Thank you.” I take a sip, hoping the alcohol will help ease my nerves.
“Gorgeous day for a wedding,” Sofia murmurs, staring out the window at the clear May sky.
“Kate and Gideon couldn’t have asked for better weather,” I say in agreement.
The beautiful and moving ceremony was held outside, the lilac-scented air soft and warm, tempered by a cool breeze. Tears filled my eyes as I watched Kate walk down the aisle toward an emotional Gideon. She looked stunning in a classic wedding dress. I’d kept her makeup light and natural, applying only the faintest blush to her cheekbones. Sofia had scooped Kate’s dark brown hair into an elegant updo and Tess had chosen a simple French manicure for her sister, perfect for the diamond ring Gideon couldn’t wait to slide onto her finger. It felt like a full-circle moment for the four of us. We’d helped Kate get ready for her very first date with Gideon, and now we were all helping her prepare for her wedding.
“There you two are.”
I turn at the sound of my friend’s voice. Tess’s emerald green bridesmaid’s dress brings out the vivid green of her eyes, which are still a little red. She’d been openly crying during the ceremony. I knew that for years she’d worried about Kate, worried her sister would never find love after an abusive marriage. But then Gideon moved to Brown Oaks into a house across the street from Kate, and we all watched in delight as he patiently broke down the walls she’d so carefully erected around her life and her heart.
