“Right, their news isn’t still sore?”
“Correct.” Warren’s cheating had scarred her trust capacity, but she was open to trying with a new man. She’d simply be more careful next time.
“And remember how Warren and Dodo’s mother had acted” Dahlia screwed up her face into a grimace. “Yikes, I never let my guard down around her.”
Wise. Piper matched Dahlia’s uneasy expression with added big eyes. After the breakup, Mrs. Applebaum had phoned her and listed every shortcoming she had and had detailed the ways Piper had disappointed Warren. Which meant Warren shared too much with his Momma. She’d only met Mrs. Applebaum a few times, but that final meeting had been enough to know she’d dodged having a mother-in-law from one of the lower rings of hell. If Piper hadn’t vented those details to Dahlia for a supportive hug, she’d still be whimpering in a corner.
Dahlia smoothed her expression back out. “All things considered, would you mind going to Warren’s wedding? I’m guessing you wouldn’t.”
Piper froze. Dahlia had supposedly invited Piper to a spa day as a bonus, but Piper would be the one really paying. Piper blinked, her stomach flipped, and all her cells resisted the suggestion. Dang it, Dahlia had waited to ask until Piper’s nail polish was half on, and she was a trapped audience to pose the unthinkable. Attend her ex’s wedding? Nope.
“Your expression suggests your answer may be a no.” Dahlia’s voice came out squeaky. “I have to attend, of course. Warren is Dodo’s brother, and Willow and I pledged together.”
Would have thought blood tie beat out in-law or sorority sister, but okay. Her fault for not sharing the full scope of Warren’s betrayal. Piper accepted that Dahlia had to be at the ceremony, but she didn’t.
Dahlia widened her dark green eyes. “I need someone to run interference with the team who come as guests, make sure the guys behave, and meet the purity-pledge girls.”
Piper could understand why some of the hockey players would be expected at the high society event, given the Applebaums’ connection. But not her. “Why can’t you look after the guys and make sure they meet the pure girls?”
“I’ll be busy meeting the extended members of my soon-to-be new family.”
True. Piper said nothing.
“Mikah RSVP’d.”
Dang it. She wasn’t thrilled with Mikah post-bar night, which they hadn’t talked about, but what was there to say? He’d been a guy with a willing woman. She’d just disliked his less-than romantic phrasing and had walked away from him. Conversation over. Still, she wanted to see him again.
Dahlia grinned slowly because she knew she had her. “I only expect the guys to make an appearance at the cocktail hour before rehearsal dinner, then leave, and show up for the wedding. They can’t get in trouble there, it’s a church ceremony, very formal.”
Ugh. Piper wiggled her now tense shoulders. “I don’t know.” Two events, two thousand dollars. Wasn’t that worth her time? Plus a chance to hang with Mikah. Dahlia freaking knew she’d agree to go. “I’m not buying a gift.”
* * *
Piper hadn’t seen Mikah since the bar. Sure, he’d been at an away game, and he’d sent a few texts, but nothing more than casual. Despite that, she had no problem following up on the invitation to Willow and Warren’s wedding via text. He could be her purity-networking buddy. “We want to provide transport for the star players who are attending. And have you guys meet some of Dahlia’s sorority sisters like you promised.” They owed Dahlia. She didn’t know how to phrase the fact that the last time Dahlia had tried to introduce the players to her sorority sisters, the men had preferred self-pleasuring over purification. Plus, her text implied they shouldn’t bring their own dates. Mikah, there, single. She liked that idea.
“You’re going?” Mikah texted back.
“Yep.”
“I’ll let the guys know the plan.”
“Great, I’ll email further details.” A pleased shiver shifted through her. Not that she was feeling good because of Mikah, she’d simply come to terms with the fact that she was going to witness her ex’s wedded bliss and was comfortable with the thought. This was a great opportunity, in fact. She’d show all the concerned gossips that she was over Warren, that she was the bigger person. And if an earthquake opened a portal to hell during the ceremony, she’d have a pew-side seat as the charming bridal couple fell in.
* * *
Piper stood in the rehearsal dinner courtyard wearing a pretty plum-colored dress and a social smile. She was attending her cheating ex’s rehearsal cocktail hour. There wasn’t even a country song with pathetic enough lyrics to fit her decision. She kept her gaze neutral and moved closer to the gurgling fountain. The wedding coordinator had anchored two large red hearts in the center. The three hockey players she’d come to keep an eye on were nearby. They were a helpful distraction.
Kiernan flipped a coin into the water and took a selfie capturing the moment. He dictated into his phone, “Wish you were here.”
Pretty clever use of the dating app. Would be nice if a guy were sending that to her.
Liam elbowed Kiernan. “You can’t keep texting that supermodel with your every move. She doesn’t give a shit.”
“But she will,” Kiernan sing-songed.
Liam leaned over his shoulder to stare at his phone screen. “You can’t hog Elsie like that.”
“But I can.” Kiernan straightened his tie and snapped another photo of himself.