Page 130 of Meant to Be

“It won’t ruin the weekend,” I said.

“For Joe it will. It absolutely will. He’ll be too sad to fake being happy for his own cousin. And he’s the best man, Cate. Everyone will be looking at him, feeling sorry for him, asking him questions about where you are. Including the bride and groom.”

I nodded noncommittally, thinking it over. The possibility of my absence negatively affecting Peter and Genevieve’s wedding had never occurred to me. If anything, I thought everyone would be better off just getting the show on the road with their regularly scheduled Kingsley programming. “But…I don’t want to be a distraction,” I said.

“You’ll bemoreof a distraction if you aren’t there,” she said. “Besides, it’s rude. He RSVPed for two.”

“I’m sure he can find another date,” I said, instantly regretting the snide way I sounded. It wasn’t fair.

Berry made a scoffing sound. “He’s JoeKingsley. He can’t just bring some random date to his cousin’s wedding. That’s worse than going alone. Oh my God. You really have no idea the pressure he’s under, do you? Do you even care?”

I suddenly wanted to explain that that wasexactlywhy I was breaking up with him. But it wasn’t worth it—she wouldn’t get it. How could she possibly? Instead, I took a deep breath and said, “I’ll talk to him. I’ll give him the option. But I’m not going to lie about my decision. My mind is made up.”

Berry shook her head and mumbled something under her breath that sounded likeI knew you were trouble.

“Excuse me?” I said, staring her down, suddenly so angry—and even more sure I couldn’t be part of Joe’s world.Theirworld.

She looked me dead in the eye. “I said…I. Knew. You. Were. Trouble.”

“Yeah,” I replied, my heart shutting down a little bit more. “I’m quite sure you did. So that should make you very happy, Berry. You get to be right about me. Congrats.”

Berry opened her mouth to answer, but I stepped around her, determined to have the last word. Then I used my key to unlock the front door of Joe’s building for what was sure to be the last time.

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