Page 97 of Rich Girl
It is my turn to laugh now. It is the last thing I thought she’d say.
“Congratulations. I wish you a long and happy marriage.”
“Thank you very much, Ray. We are hoping for the same.”
Her polite tone cracks me up.
“With that said, you owe my friend a date to my wedding.”
I blink in confusion. “Say what now?”
Adeline clears her throat. “It is my understanding that when you and Hayden got matched on theHolidatesapp, you would each attend an event with the other. Is that correct?”
“Yeah,” I sputter. “But that doesn’t mean anything.”
“Hayden attended the Cinco de Mayo event with you, correct?”
I glance at Cal only to see he has the same bemused look on his face that I probably do.
“She did attend. But our agreement became null and void when she left.”
Hayden clears her throat again. It’s like we are on the high school debate team.
“Not quite,” she informs me. “She did not leave of her own volition. You made her leave. That still makes you liable for your side of the agreement.”
Liable, Cal mouths at me, making me laugh. I grab a paperclip and throw it at his head.
“What exactly are you saying, Adeline? That I have to attend your wedding now?”
“Yes,” she confirms, making my eyes widen in surprise. “As Hayden’s date. I have a seating chart that cannot be changed. I will not allow you to ruin my wedding.”
“How would me not being there ruin your wedding?” I say in disbelief. “You don’t even know me.”
“There’s more,” she interrupts. “Because of you, I also have two other openings that need to be filled. You will help with that as well.”
And now I’m laughing, not caring if she hears me doing it.
“Wait, wait,” I say through gasps of air. “So not only that I have to be there so your seating chart doesn’t get screwy, but I also have to bring two more people with me for the same reason?”
“Precisely.”
She sounds like she’s shuffling some papers.
“Who is this Evie I heard so much about?”
At hearing his girlfriend’s name, Cal kicks me hard under the table, right in the fucking shin.
“Evie is my buddy’s girlfriend,” I tell Adeline. “Hayden worked in her flower shop while she was here.”
“That is just amazing,” Adeline mutters under her breath before continuing with whatever the hell she’s trying to hatch here. “Hayden really likes her and considers her a friend.”
I stare at Cal, who in turn is staring at my phone that’s sitting on the desk between us.
“Since I am her oldest friend, I would like to meet Evie and see for myself that she deserves to be held in such high esteem.”
Cal’s head drops to the side, and he looks at me goofy. It’s like we’re in a funny movie.
“What are you suggesting? For me to bring Evie to the wedding so she can fill one of your spots?”
