Silence and tension hung heavy between them.
“You never told us much about Garrett,” Megan said. “You were busy in law school. Libby was in graduate school. I was out in Seattle. All we knew was that you were dating this really awesome guy, and then he dumped you to play the field.”
Blair shrugged. “What more is there to say?”
“Surely there’s more to it.”
“What do you want me to say, Megs? That I must be a bad lay?”
“Blair!” Megan gasped. “No.”
“Look,” Libby said. “I think what Megan is trying to say is that the guy is still very interested in you. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you the entire evening.”
Blair tilted her head back and groaned. “He’s only acting like that because Neil’s my fiancé. They hate each other. Garrett Lowry doesn’t do relationships. Remove Neil from the equation and he’s gone.”
Megan looked into Blair’s eyes. “So remove Neil from the equation.”
Her body stiffened. What if she did remove Neil from the equation? What if she said to hell with it all? So, she’d lose her job. She’d earned a reputation she could use to her advantage. True, it wouldn’t be in Kansas City, which would mean she’d have to move. It wasn’t the end of the world. But the moment she let herself really consider it, paralyzing fear overcame her. To cancel the wedding now would humiliate her in front of everyone. And Blair couldn’t willingly risk humiliation.
This was beyond ridiculous. A week ago she was perfectly content with her life. Wasn’t that proof enough to leave things the way they were?
Her jaw tightened as she stared at her friends. “I’m getting married this weekend. My career depends on this wedding going smoothly. This is not up for discussion.”
“Your job depends on this wedding, not your career. You can go somewhere else, Blair,” Libby said, echoing her thoughts of a moment ago. “In fact, maybe you should. What kind of company forces their employees to get married in order to make partner?”
Blair took a step backward. “I know you two don’t understand, but I ask that you support my decision. Can you do that?”
Both women looked up at her with sadness and sympathy, which killed her even more. Sympathy meant they saw her as weak. Weak meant vulnerable. She couldn’t afford to be either.
“Yes,” they finally said in unison.
“We’re here for you, no matter what,” Megan added.
“Thank you.” Blair picked up the cake on the counter and headed for the back door. “Now it’s time to go back to the party.” And back to the nightmare that had become her life.
Chapter Seventeen
Garrett watched the three women practically run into the house. Maybe he’d gone too far.
Noah patted his arm and tilted his head toward the back door, chuckling. “That’s a good thing.”
Was it? He knew he had to knock Blair out of her comfort zone to reach her, but it killed him that he was hurting her in the process. If he only had more time . . . but he didn’t.
Lost in thought, it took him a moment to realize that Neil was standing in front of him, his eyes dark with anger. “We need to talk.”
Garrett rose from his chair and stood face to face with his cousin. “I agree.”
Josh and Noah got to their feet as well. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Josh said.
“No,” Nana Ruby barked. “You two go talk out your differences.”
“Oh, for goodness sake,” Dena groaned. “Please tell me that you two aren’t going to duke it out over that stupid ring.”
Neil’s eyes hardened. “We’re fighting over something, all right.”
Josh glanced around the yard, worried. “Maybe you should go in the front.”
“I think by the shed is good enough,” Neil said with a toothy grin. “I want to be here when Blair comes out.”
“Sounds good to me,” Garrett forced out, stomping over in that direction.
Neil followed him, and as soon as they rounded the corner, he lost all pretense of playing the nice guy. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Garrett?” he asked in a low voice. “What are you really doing here?”
“I already told you. Nana made me come.”
“Bull shit. Nana didn’t make you write that answer.”
“At least I was being truthful. And what would your answer be? That you saw her and got dollar signs in your eyes?”
Neil rolled his eyes. “There’s more to us than that.”
“You don’t love her, you prick. You don’t deserve her.”
Bewilderment covered Neil’s face. “And now you think you do? You’re only hurting her more.” He swallowed, his eyes turning cold. “What happened in the kitchen before I walked in, Garrett?”
“Why don’t you ask Blair?”
“Because I’m asking you.”
Garrett refused to answer.
Neil poked Garrett’s chest. “You keep your hands off my fiancée.”
“How would you notice? You’re too busy screwing other women to give her the attention she deserves.” He fisted his hands at his sides. “I intend to make sure she knows she has a choice.”
“With you?” Neil laughed. “You’re delusional if you think she’d go back to you.” He shrugged. “If you want to break us up so badly, why don’t you just tell her about Layla?”