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“He’s not mine.” Was he ever?

Yes, once upon a time. But no longer. I went and married someone else, and he’s going to hold it against me forever.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. I was disloyal. In his eyes, he believes I gave myself to another man. Spence doesn’t know it was in name only. And I’m sure he’ll never give me the opportunity to explain myself either.

“He was,” Carolina reminds me. “I’ve heard the stories.”

“What stories?” I frown.

“Stories you told me, or did you forget? The two of you were very close when you were at Lancaster Prep.” A haze of something clouds Carolina’s eyes and I’m about to ask what’s wrong, when our father shouts our names.

We turn to look at him, hating how my gaze snags on Mother, who’s watching the conversation with curiosity lighting her eyes.

“Do either of you want to give a speech in honor of your brother and his new bride?” Our father smiles, looking rather pleased with his suggestion, his gaze never straying from Carolina. His favorite daughter.

Though he’d deny it until he took his last breath, I know it’s true.

Augustus Lancaster is a handsome man, and only seems to grow more distinguished looking as he ages. I’m sure my mother hates him for it. She hates him for everything he does.

“I don’t think they would approve if I gave a speech,” I say hesitantly, imagining the look on Summer’s face while I talk about love and promises kept. My abandonment still lingers in her mind, and yes, she already knows I was under the influence of my mother when it happened, but I don’t know if that’s a good enough answer.

I was only sixteen and highly impressionable. I couldn’t think for myself—I really didn’t know how. But I should’ve believed Summer, even though she hurt my feelings. I viewed her as the enemy once she abandoned me that week. I invited her to the house, not Whit. She was my friend, and Whit had no problem stealing her from me.

I suppose since I did it to him with Spence, he thought Summer was fair game. But look at the two of them now, madly in love and officially married. Spencer standing beside him as his best man.

Whit got everything, while I was left with nothing. Not even a scrap.

Typical.

Back then, when I was resentful and hurt, my mother ran my entire life. She had complete control of me, and I let her. I preferred it. I thought I was so strong, when I wasn’t at all.

No, I was weak. Pathetic.

Well, no longer.

“I’m afraid I don’t know Summer that well,” Carolina adds.

“Monty is giving a speech. I thought it would be nice if one of you did too.” The disappointment on my father’s face is obvious when his gaze lands on me.

“Monty and Summer are very close,” I remind him. “It makes sense, that he would give a toast.”

“Spence is giving a speech as best man.” Dad smiles. “I’m glad those two are still friends.”

My father is clueless. He never knew that Spence and I had a thing, and we were so obvious, especially during that one Thanksgiving week, when I begged Spencer to come here and spend it with me.

“Where is your date anyway?” Carolina asks me.

“Talking with Monty over at the bar.” We both glance over at where they’re standing, their heads bent close together. “I’m playing matchmaker.”

“That’s the sweetest thing.” Carolina’s gaze returns to mine. “And what about Spence?”

I frown. “What about him?”

“Do you still care about him?”

I wave a hand. “That was a long time ago.”

She arches a brow. “Not really.”


Tags: Monica Murphy Romance