“Then again,” she says, smirking, “in order to find out, you’ll still have to tell him the truth.”
So true. “Maybe another glass of champagne first.”* * *KaceStella is stunning. I know I’m supposed to be giving all my attention to the bride and groom, but how can I when the woman who has my heart is in the room dressed in a slinky bridesmaid’s dress and laughing with all our friends? I’ve wanted to ask her to dance about a dozen times, but stopped myself.
She catches my eye and smiles at me, which is unexpected, but not as unexpected as her nodding to the door then walking inside The Orchid, casting a glance over her shoulder like she expects me to follow.
I wait a minute to make sure no one’s watching. If she’s finally going to talk to me, I don’t want our friends interrupting.
Once in the building, I’m not sure where to go. There are dozens of rooms and offices in here. Voices are coming from the kitchen, and I follow them to find my sister and Dean standing nose to nose, faces red like they’re arguing. I open my mouth to ask them if they’ve seen Stella when Abbi smacks both hands against Dean’s chest.
“How could you?” She’s crying, so I take a step forward. “You’re risking the best friend you’ve ever had, and why?”
I stop, dread curdling my stomach.
“I know,” Dean growls. “I fucking know, okay, but I love her. It’s not just sex. We have a connection, and I think she could love me too if she’d take me back.”
“Amy will chew you up and spit you out, and all you’ll have to show for it is a ruined friendship. Is she worth that?”
What. The. Fuck?
“This isn’t your business,” he growls. “I’ll tell Kace eventually, but—”
“No need.” My voice is a croak.
Dean spins around. “Kace.” He pales and his jaw works, but he can’t seem to find any words. “Just let me explain.”
I try to swallow. It feels like there’s something lodged in my throat. “You want to explain why you’re talking about loving my ex-wife?” I shake my head, backing up. “Nah. I’ll pass.” Then I realize Stella’s walked in the kitchen at some point, and she’s looking back and forth between me and Dean. “Did you know about this too?” I ask her.
She nods. “I’m sorry.” She runs from the room.
“Kace,” Abbi says, suddenly at my side and gripping my arm. “You’re okay, right? You’ve moved on. I know you have. You have better things ahead of you.”
I shrug her off, turn on my heel, and get the fuck out of that kitchen. I stop dead in the middle of the hall. I don’t want to head back to the party—back to the friends who’ll see the shock on my face and want me to explain. I turn to head to the front of the building and step into the darkened reception area. A single light glows down the hall, and I follow it like a beacon.
Stella’s standing in an empty office, staring out the windows. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about Dean and Amy,” she says without turning around.
I close the door before crossing the room. She’ll send me away any second, but I can’t stand this distance between us. My chest aches with how much I miss her.
“I know you want your wife back, and—”
I usually overthink, but not this time. This time, I pull her into my arms and kiss her hard. She gasps against my mouth, and I half expect her to push me away, but she pulls me close instead—hands fisted into my shirt, mouth opening under mine. She tastes like champagne and smells so sweet, and I’d stay in this room all night, all week, all fucking month if it meant she wouldn’t leave my arms.
“I don’t,” I say when she pulls back. “I don’t want Amy back, and I don’t care who she sleeps with.” I blow out a breath, the adrenaline tapering off. “I care that Dean kept it from me.”
“Oh,” she says. “Well, you should talk to him, because he’s a mess.”
I slide my hands down her back. “I’m talking to you right now.”
“Kace . . .”
I take a deep breath. “Why don’t I get a chance? Because of what Itsy told you? I was never saying you had no substance. She misunderstood me. I was saying I thought our relationship was superficial, and I was an idiot for ever thinking that, but you need to give me a break here. Our plan at the beginning was for this to just be a physical fling.”
“I know,” she whispers, bowing her head. “I can’t blame you for the way you feel.”
“But I don’t feel that way anymore.” I tip her chin up with two fingers so she can look me in the eye when I explain. “There’s nothing superficial about how I feel about you, and I’m sorry I didn’t say so sooner. I’m a coward, okay? I was scared to try for more. But now I just want a fucking chance to prove we can be good together—to prove how much substance we have. Please.”