I was about to leave my seat and head

o kids with a third on the way and I only get to know about all of this just now? Is that what Ri

hand on top of mine to get me back into my seat. “A lot has changed, Kyr

left so I can understand. Why is Cathy married to Jordan? And if the

ere, especially not where everyone c

and get back to your hotel

shook my head as I removed my hand from

upid promise that I’d patch up with my parents before I married her? I don’t see my wedding get anywhere with the situation I am in.

r head, her voice trembling slightly. “We didn’t

k! But I didn’t

wanted to spend time with you like the old days.” Rika added. “Before everythin

, two kids and a pregnant belly and a heap ton

like him in the first place? But my brain was telling me to stay put and deal with the circumstances after I was full

however, it was a whole new st

potato salad with fresh lime soda.” The waiter placed our food

food had been placed in front of us. The med

ore getting back to me. “I’m so sorry ma’am, but your order is not listed here.

e ordered with the rest of us and the previous waiter even read our

e a deep, harsh voice from behind me. “So stop whining and

d in surprise when I spotted none other than Danny Romano stand

from my seat and turned to face

m here and acting hostile, I could already feel like

aring orange in the yellow overhead lights. But nothing could cover the hostility in his voice.

fensive position. “You do not have the right to call her a slut and n

She didn’t even think twice before leaving my best friend standing all alone at the

you l

an innocent face and protruding tummy but overall, he was a huge man with bulging muscles and toned legs. If a fight did break

eaving town in a couple week’s time but my friends will have to stay here where their homes were. I don’t

wallet out of my jeans pocket. “I’ll pay

side my pocket. “We’re not touching his food, nor will we ever return to this filth hole ever again. But I

bit

enough to grab the entire restauran

ut Danny’s gritty, mocking voic

like he would a fly. “Get out of my restaurant! Go

ny. Men like Danny were not above hitting a woman in front of others just to get a kick out of it. And since the town was alrea

s and we all turned away from Da

infamous ‘walk of shame’ down the aisle as hundreds of pairs of eyes watched my descent. But I knew in my heart that I had d

en I had been all alone and powerless. This was nothing! I could go through with this. It’ll get better. It has to.

ed Gabby wa

yr

pped me dead

restaurant. My best friend, or at least my former best friend and the current wife of the man I was supposed to mar

nth. There was a time when people used to call us twins. Not only because we had the

ed to dance, she had still always come to the classes to support me, just

ars, everything seems to

it a dark burgundy. Even her eyes looked more mature, aged, like she had t

the times that we had been there for each other. I wanted to see if she still smelled of honey and laven

d whip to the side and the sting of the slap burned my cheek