He hadn’t been a monk during their time apart. She had even seen him with dates before he left Houston. But none of them were serious, and he’d sworn he had no girlfriend now. So how did Cami play into this?
Delaney wanted to hate Cami, but she was so damn nice, kind of like a Labrador retriever who just wanted to be friends with everyone. But Delaney drew the line at comparing their experiences of Ethan.
“He’s such a gentleman, isn’t he? So considerate and charming.” Cami leaned forward and spoke so only Delaney could hear.
After several such comments, Delaney, who had restrained herself from drawing any attention to the awkward situation, finally turned to her. “Cami, I know how great Ethan is. But I really don’t want to discuss this with you.”
“Finally,” Anna muttered next to her. “I wondered when you were going to put her in her place. But now you feel like you kicked a puppy, don’t you?”
Delaney glanced at Cami, who looked at her quizzically. “Is everything okay, Delaney? Kira told me you and Ethan were in the past, that I had nothing to worry about.”
The gel light clicked off, signifying her nails were done. Delaney stood and swung her bag over her shoulder. “Cami, you’re a nice person, so I’m going to give you a piece of advice. Don’t listen to Kira when it comes to Ethan. She has no influence over him. As for him and me, you need to talk to Ethan about that.”
She looked at the rest of the group. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a headache and think I’ll head back to the house for a nap.”
Anna jumped up. “I’ll join you.”
Delaney nodded and walked through the spa. “Wow, you must be pissed to voluntarily join me anywhere.”
“We made up, remember? And I couldn’t take that bullshit anymore. So, what happened between you and Ethan?”
“What happened between you and Wyatt?” Delaney countered.
Anna laughed. “Touché. Okay, so, no girl talk. Got it. Back to the house?”
“And a big glass of wine.”
“Or a shot of tequila.”
* * *
The rest of the day passed in a blur for Delaney. Everyone seemed in their own worlds, and no one seemed happy, least of all the bride, who should have been the happiest. But with all her plans imploding, it seemed the wedding might not be the happy, blissful event expected. Before the rehearsal dinner, Delaney was sipping a glass of wine when Anna joined her on the patio.
“Pass me a glass of that, please? Hell, forget the glass; I need an entire bottle.” Anna sighed and flopped into a chair next to Delaney. “God, things just went to shit. But I don’t need to tell you about that. Caroline should have left it alone. We were all happy the way we were.”
“Were we?” Delaney asked, eyebrow arching. “I wasn’t.”
“And are you happy now? Doubt it. I thought I was happy. And I was. Until I saw Wyatt again.” Anna sipped her wine and stared out over the ocean in the distance.
“Because you were all miserable.” Caroline stepped onto the stone patio, looking as miserable as they all felt, but dressed for the rehearsal dinner. “Maybe I was wrong to want to see my best friends happy with the men I thought were perfect for them. I guess being a happy bride went to my head.”
“It’s not that you wanted us to be happy, but you thought you knew what we needed better than we did. And look where that got us,” Delaney replied. “I may not have been happy, but I was doing okay and figuring things out. Anna and Brigid were climbing their careers. Who’s to say if Wyatt or Grady even fit into their plans?”
Caroline advanced farther. “But that’s the point. Love doesn’t happen according to a plan. Brigid, of all people, should have known that, with her lists and criteria and goals, who hasn’t had an actual date beyond Grady since college. And Anna, spending your days dating actors for better visibility. Oh, and Delaney, you didn’t even have a plan. You were just existing. How has that worked out for you?”
The women exchanged glances, like sullen schoolgirls caught doing something wrong.
Delaney faced Caroline. “Maybe that’s true, but who are you to decide how we should live our lives and with whom?”
Tears gathered in Caroline’s eyes. “I just wanted you all to be happy, and you were being too damned stubborn. Delaney, you belong with Ethan. Everyone knows that. You two were always meant to be.”
“Sometimes, what’s meant to be doesn’t happen. Life isn’t a fairy tale, Caroline. I know that better than anyone. Maybe you’re right, but too much has changed for us. Too much has happened. Maybe we should just cut our losses and move on.”
“Do you really think you can be happy without him?”
“Do I have a choice?” Delaney heaved a sigh. “Okay, ladies. We’re stronger than this. Let’s go out there, hold our heads high, and to hell with everything. Let’s make this wedding the best it can be, not the funeral it appears to be now.”
Caroline smiled. “Do you forgive me?”
Delaney hugged her. “Of course I do. It’s in the maid of honor handbook. The bride is always right, or at least must be indulged. Let’s go practice this wedding and make everything perfect for you.”
Her words were light and happy, but in her stomach, dread was a lodestone weighing her down. She had to face Ethan sometime. She’d been avoiding him all day, which was easy since he was at the hotel and she was at the spa, then the house. Physical separation certainly helped delay the inevitable. But they had to talk. She would not run away this time. She would fight instead.
If only she had confidence in how everything would turn out.