“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. If you don’t mind, I need a moment alone with Sky. Can you guys hang out in the hallway for a second? I promise it’ll only be a second. Thank you so much for leaving the desk to help me.” She says the last part to Red.
Red smiles like a saint. “Of course. It’s your wedding day. I’ll be right outside.” The woman wanders down the hall. Nick walks past me, as if he doesn’t like this, but does as Sophie asks and leaves us alone.
That’s when I get the truth. Sophie’s expression shifts from happy to displeased in a snap. She places her hands on her hips, which pulls at her silk robe, opening the front so I can see the top of her corset. “Skylar Thompson, I will not let you do this.” She gets into my face and scolds me, throwing me way off. Sophie doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. She’s never raised her voice to me, ever, but now she lets me have it.
“I have to.”
“No, you don’t. Just because he’s a cheating piece of slime, doesn’t mean you have to become the same. You worked your ass off, honestly, to get to where you are. If you cheat and do this to him, you’ll regret it. And I’ll lose every ounce of respect I have for you. This isn’t you, Sky. Don’t sabotage him, break his gear, or glue his seat. I know you have something planned for this, and I’m giving it to you because I’m not your mother, but if you go through with this,” she sucks in a huge breath and spits out the words, “I’m not sure I want to be your friend anymore.”
Sophie’s words hit me like knives and suddenly I can’t breathe. There are no words. I just stand there with my mouth hanging open. Sophie grabs my arm, opens my hand, and shoves the tube of super glue into my palm. I glance down at my hand and then back up at her. “Sophie, I—”
She shakes her head and lifts her hand to silence me. “There are actions that change people, Sky. There’s no going backwards after this. Make your decision carefully or you might not like who you become.” Her dark lashes drop to the floor as she turns to the door. Sophie twists the knob and beckons Red and Nick back into the room. “Please take their gear to the chapel. Put Nick’s on one side and Sky’s on the other.”
Nick offers that Ferro charm, “Sophie, I hardly think that’s necessary.”
His charm slips off of Sophie like a drop of water. “No, I really think it is.” She glances at him for a moment and then looks back at me. “You two are cut from the same cloth. You’re just too stubborn to see it. If you did…” Her voice trails off and she laughs, practically blushing. Her innuendo makes me step away from Nick. I can’t believe she did that. “Well, it’d be a sight to see.”
Red requests our gear. If I’m going to superglue his camera, I’ll have to get to the chapel first. Sophie watches me for a moment before turning on her heel and closing the door behind her. Nick and I stare at each other.
After a moment, he asks, “What was that about?”
CHAPTER 27
“I don’t know,” I lie, folding my arms over my chest and staring at them. I can’t look him in the eye, not after I do this to him. I wonder how he can look at me as if he’s done nothing wrong. I’m not that person. Sophie knows I’m not, but I have to win. I have to. What am I willing to do to ensure it, especially when Nick is cheating? My gaze flicks up to his. “Sophie doesn’t like us squabbling, I guess.”
He hesitates and offers, “She seems like a good friend.”
“She is, she’s the best. Sophie’s the kind of person I strive to be, but I fall short. She’s like Snow White, Mother Teresa, and Tinker Bell all in one body.” The thought makes me smile. “I honestly didn’t know she had that in her. I’ve never heard her say anything like that before, like ever.”
Nick’s brow furrows and his arms fold. He stares blankly at the place where Sophie stood, then looks back at me. “Do you think it’s bridal jitters? It doesn’t seem like it to me. She’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, to tell you the truth. Steven is a lucky guy.”
I look up at him. “Yeah, he is.” Our eyes lock and we look at each other way too long. Suddenly, I’m very aware of my heart and it kills me that Nick isn’t who I want him to be.
My phone chirps and breaks the moment. I glance down. It’s a text from Deegan.
SORRY I DIDN’T CHECK ON YOU LAST NIGHT. MY ANKLE NEEDED A LITTLE ATTENTION AFTER ALL THAT. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT MEETING ME BEHIND THE CHAPEL TONIGHT?