The Truth About Ever After (18 page)

“But
it’s our wedding,” he said pointedly. “You’re going to be my wife. And I’m not
crazy about the idea of a bunch of people coming to our wedding who were jerks
to you in school.”

“I
wouldn’t say they were jerks…”

“Really?”
he said. “So Sarah
Vandermark
didn’t tell everyone
that your dad paid the papers to keep them from reporting his supposed affair?”

I
felt my cheeks flame. Of course Sarah had done that, and he knew it. It had
been one of the worst weeks of my junior high career, all those kids coming up
to me and asking if I knew who he was cheating with, and whether my mom knew.
Of course, it was all made up, the whole thing a giant lie direct from Sarah.
But that didn’t make it any easier to hear every day.

“Was
that before or after she told Kara she would get everyone to stop talking to
her unless she ditched you?”

I
just glared at him, beyond annoyed that he was throwing these things in my face
now.

“How
long did Kara go along with that? A month, was it? And these girls, Beth and
Val, weren’t they in her little group? Weren’t these the girls who said you
tried to pay them to be your friends?”

“They…
they did some crappy stuff in school,” I stammered, knowing my face was red.
“But we all grew up. Sarah and Beth were both my sorority sisters, for God’s
sake.”

“Ah,
yes, your sorority sisters,” he said, rolling his eyes. “The same ones who told
your sorority that you put out and that you tried to bribe them to keep them
from telling everyone about it. Such sweet sisters they were.”

“Okay,
Eric, I get it,” I said. “You think they’re bitches. You’re probably right. But
I would feel bad if I didn’t invite them.”

“Why?”

I
stared at him. “What do you mean?”

“Why
would you feel bad? I don’t get it. You don’t like them. They treated you like
crap. Why would you want them to be at your wedding, which, according to you,
is like, totally the most important special day of your life?”

Suddenly,
I felt pissed at him. “Are you mocking me?” I asked, my voice quiet.

“No,”
he said, laughing. “Of course not. I’m just—”

“And
now you’re laughing?” I cried, standing up and putting my hands on my hips.
“Real nice, Eric.”

“Kiki,
I’m not laughing at you.” His voice was tight and I could tell he was trying to
keep ahold of his patience. I wished he wouldn’t. For some reason, I wanted to
fight.

“Sure
as hell sounded like it,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

“I
just don’t get you.” He shook his head. “You’re so much better than these small
little girls. So why do you want them around? Are you trying to show off or
something?”

I
stared at him, filled with the urge to slap him. “How dare you?” I whispered,
my voice low. “Is that what you think of me? You think I’m someone who goes
around trying to show off?”

“No,”
he shot back, his voice rising. “But in this particular case, I don’t know what
else to think. You seem determined to surround yourself with girls who made
your life miserable. I can’t help but wonder if you’re still seeking their
approval—”

“You
ass—”

“Just
the way you have been since you were the new girl at school with the horribly
uncool new money!” he finished triumphantly.

“You
have no idea what that was like,” I yelled. “No idea. You think everything’s so
easy for me, just because I have money. Well, having money means you have to
hang out with people who are jerks sometimes, okay? And it sucked! I was only
thirteen when I switched schools, for God’s sake!”

“I
know that!” he yelled back. “That’s my point! They were mean to you because
your family didn’t always have money. Then they were mean to you because you
had more than them and they were jealous. But the point, Kiki, is that they
were
mean to you
. So why do you still
want them around?”

“Because
I hate the thought of them talking about me!” I cried. Crap. Had I said that
out loud?
Good job, Kiki
, I thought.
Way to prove his point there
.

He
just stood there looking at me, a victorious expression on his face.

“Fine,
you win. I’m shallow and petty and I only want them there because I’m still
afraid of them. Happy now?”

“Of
course not,” he said, his voice more calm now. “Of
course
that doesn’t make me happy. Kiki, you’re so much better than
these stupid bitches. I just want you to see that.”

I
closed my eyes. Objectively, I did see that. It was certainly something Kara
and I had told each other a thousand times since junior high. But that still
didn’t change the fact that I wanted them to like me, wanted it so badly in
some deep down place that I couldn’t even name.

“Thank
you for saying that, sweetie,” I finally said, opening my eyes and trying to
smile at him in spite of the fact that I was still shaking mad. “You’re right.
But their parents will be there because they’re friends with my parents. It
seems rude to not invite them, too. So drop it, please.”

He
looked at me for a long moment, as if debating whether or not he wanted to keep
fighting. Finally, he sighed and seemed to visibly deflate. “Okay,” he said,
his voice flat. “Invite who you like.”

Luckily,
his phone rang then, effectively ending the fight. It was his parents, calling
with their numbers. As Eric chatted with his mother, I sat back down on the
couch, looking at my list and wondering why, after all these years, I still
wasn’t over it.

Chapter Eighteen

Predictably,
Sarah wanted to get started on wedding stuff right away. I arranged for a
coffee date early the next week so she could meet Jen.

“Tell
me again why we aren’t meeting at the office?” Jen asked, looking around the
coffee shop with a longing expression on her face. For a moment I felt bad; I
had forgotten that Jen was going through major withdrawals since her doctor had
advised her to stop drinking caffeine.

Jen
was looking at me, waiting for an answer. I shrugged. “I just didn’t like the
idea of her being there.”

She
looked at me closely, and I felt a deep seed of shame unfurl in my stomach. I
wondered if Jen could tell that I hadn’t wanted Sarah around because I knew she
would judge our little space. It was not nearly high-end enough for someone
like her. Just thinking it made me feel guilty. What the hell did I care what
Sarah thought of my work? I loved that office—Jen and I had built it,
together.

I
shook my head, trying to banish the dark thoughts. “Are you ready for this?” I
asked, managing a smile for my friend. “I don’t think you have any idea what
you’re in for with this chick, Jen.”

“I
can deal,” Jen said confidently. “I worked with a lot of spoiled bitches at
NoLimits
, you
know.”

It
took her a minute for her to realize what she had said. When realization
finally dawned on her face, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh,
my God, Kiki, I so did not mean you,” she gasped, which only made me laugh all
the harder.

“It’s
okay, Jen,” I told her. “I can imagine what you must have thought of me that
first day.”

She
blushed a little, and I knew I was right. Despite my laughing, it did sting a
little. Sure, I was used to people judging me when they first met me, but it
was hard to think of Jen doing the same. Particularly when she had completely
blown me away with her first impression—gorgeous, sophisticated, mature,
and together. That’s how I saw Jen that day, how I continued to see her now.

“I
knew you were special within minutes, Kiki,” she said, interrupting my
thoughts. “I swear I did.” She winked at me. “A little exhausting, maybe, but
special.”

I
grinned at her, feeling much better. Unfortunately, Sarah
Vandermark
chose that exact moment to show up, effectively ruining our warm moment.

“Kiki!”
she cried, hugging me again, as if we hadn’t just seen each other the week
before.

“Hi,
Sarah,” I said, checking behind her to make sure her mother wasn’t around. I
breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Sarah was alone, thanking God for small
favors. I didn’t think I could deal with Mrs.
Vandermark
,
not yet.

I
introduced Jen and Sarah, pleased to watch the obvious appraising look cross
Sarah’s face.
Yeah, just try and find
something wrong with her
, I thought to myself. Jen Thompson,
née
Campbell, could outclass and
out-style
anyone
.

Jen
took over the meeting pretty promptly, and I was relieved, watching her in
action. She was so good at this. While I was perfectly content to plan parties
and club openings, the glitzier and more exciting the better, Jen really
excelled at weddings. She just had a way of getting right down to what the
bride really wanted.

Even if the bride is a total bitch like
Sarah
, I thought to
myself.

Within
a half hour we had nailed down the pertinent information. Sarah wanted a very
formal wedding, probably in the neighborhood of three hundred guests. She would
prefer for everything to take place at the same venue, if at all possible.

“And
we’ll be sparing no expense,” she said, giggling a little. “Daddy wouldn’t hear
of it. He always says nothing but the best for me.” She gave a self-deprecating
little shrug, and Jen kicked me under the table. I was sure I would burst out
laughing any minute.

“I
think the first thing we should do is nail down a venue,” Jen said, her voice
as professional as ever. “Everything else depends on the venue, including the
date. So why don’t Kiki and I put together some appointments for you? We can
either all go together, or Kiki and I can arrange for you and your fiancé, or
maybe your parents if you’d rather…”

Sarah
waved her hand dismissively. “I doubt Tom will be joining us for much,” she
said. “He’s so busy at work. They depend on him so
much,
it’s hard for him to get away. You understand,” she said, leaning forward
conspiratorially. Suddenly she gasped a little, looking embarrassed. “Sorry,”
she whispered, and then quickly changed the subject.

Jen
looked at me, obviously confused by Sarah’s behavior, and I gave her a grim
smile, not looking forward to explaining later. “But Mother will want to see
everything,” Sarah was saying, as Jen directed her attention back to her.

That
little act had been Sarah’s way of putting Jen in her place. It was classic
Sarah
Vandermark
, pretending to be embarrassed that
she had dared bring up a successful husband in front of a woman who was married
to a mere construction worker.

“Would
anyone like a refill on their coffee?” I asked, standing up suddenly. I was
practically overcome with the urge to slap Sarah, and I knew I had to get away
from that table before I said something I would regret.

“Ooh,
Kiks
, how sweet of you,” she cooed, smiling up at me.
As her eyes met mine, I was positive that she knew I was onto her—and she
liked it. She thought it was funny. “Would you be a dear and get me an
espresso? Double shot.”

“More
herbal tea for me,” Jen said, rather morosely. I turned and walked over to the
espresso bar, shaking my head as I went. Sarah hadn’t changed, not a single
bit. As I ordered the drinks, I tried to make myself see the humor in it. How
clueless Sarah was, to think someone like Jen would ever be in any way ashamed
of a man like Matt. I imagined telling Kara about it later and that did the
trick. I was smiling again when I returned to the table.

As
I passed the espresso to Sarah, I saw Jen’s eyes follow it. She breathed in
deeply, as if she could somehow inhale the forbidden caffeine. Suddenly her
expression changed. She went pale as a grimace broke out over her face. “Excuse
me,” she gasped, standing up from the table. She pushed past me and hurried to
the back of the coffee shop to the ladies’ room.

“She’s
pregnant, isn’t she?” Sarah asked. She was watching Jen’s retreating back with
a shrewd expression on her face. “Beth was the exact same way. The smell of
coffee would just send her over the edge.”

“
Mmm
,” I murmured noncommittally, wondering if I should go
after Jen. I didn’t like the idea of her being alone. But, knowing Jen, she would
probably rather have privacy if she was going to be sick. I decided to give her
a moment before I went to check on her.

Which
left me alone with Sarah. Great. I wondered who was suffering more at that minute,
me or Jen
. I figured it did not bode well for my old
friendship with Sarah that I would have happily traded places with Jen,
puke
and all.

“Well,
what about you?” Sarah asked as I reoccupied my seat. “Haven’t you and
Emmet
been married for years now? What are you waiting
for?”

Of
course, Sarah had no idea about the miscarriage, but her words still stung. “
Eric
and I are just waiting for the
right time,” I said.