Page 80 of Unpredictable
“It’s just—no one knows about Harrison and me, apart from you and Connor. And…I don’t know. It’s weird, okay? Attending the wedding of his daughter as an outsider.” Harrison had become much more to me than a client. And by default, Olivia had too.
This wasn’t the first event I’d attended for family or friends as a party planner, but it was the first one where the distinction had bothered me. For once, I wanted to enjoy the wedding. I wanted to sit at his side and show the world we were together.
He squeezed my shoulder. “I can’t imagine how you feel. But just think—once this is over, you can tell her, right?”
I nodded. Landon knew all about the failed dinner. I closed my eyes and shook my head, wishing I weren’t going into this weekend with a sense of dread. “True.”
“It’s going to be great. You’ll see.”
Everyone kept telling me that, but it was difficult to believe.
Someone called for me, drawing my attention. “Be right there.”
Preparing for the wedding was a good distraction, at least for a while. If I didn’t think about it, I could pretend this was for any other client. But then Harrison entered, and it felt as if all the air were sucked from the room. He was so handsome, and judging from the looks other women were giving him, everyone knew it. His gray suit was flawless, and he looked amazing in the shirt and tie I’d picked for him.
Me—his girlfriend. The woman he was in love with. Yet I wasn’t on his arm, parading around the room with him like Cam. No, I was a sweaty mess, trying to maintain a professional demeanor as I ground my molars. I was the outsider looking in.
Harrison met my eyes from across the room and smiled, but it didn’t quell the unease churning through my gut.
“Juliana,” Landon said, drawing my attention away from them.
“What’s up?” I asked, soon pulled in to help with various tasks.
As the evening dragged on, I was so busy, I barely saw Harrison. Though I caught glimpses of him—smiling at Olivia, dancing with Cam…
I shook my head.I need out.
“Hey, Landon,” I said after dinner was finished and most of the guests were on the dance floor.
“What’s up?”
“If you think you’ve got it covered, I’m going to head out.” I pressed my fingers to my temples. “I’ve got a horrid headache.”
We both knew I was lying, but I didn’t care. I just couldn’t stay—I couldn’t stand there, watching Harrison work the room, while I worked.
Landon’s brow rose, but he didn’t say anything. “Sure. I’ve got it covered.”
I could think of only one other occasion where I’d ducked out early. I always stayed until the end, well past when all the guests had left. I was the first to arrive and the last to leave.
I returned to my room, smiling at guests I passed along the way. When the door finally closed, I let out a sigh of relief. I took a long shower and had just changed into pajamas when my phone rang. Harper’s name flashed across the screen.
“Hey.” I tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder. “What’s up?”
“Hey.” Her voice sounded off, funny somehow. “I, um, are you at home?”
I switched the phone to my other ear. “No. Harrison’s daughter is getting married this weekend, so I’m in Ojai.”
“Oh.” When she hesitated, I frowned. She was acting really weird. “Okay.”
“Hey, are you okay?”
The silence seemed to drag on, and then she said, “Yeah. I’m fine. Look, let’s meet up to talk after the wedding.”
“Sure. I’d love that.”
“Great. Are you free Sunday night?”
“Um…” I put my phone on speaker and navigated to my calendar. “Yeah, but I’m going to be wiped out after this.”
