“Yes,” Coralie said slowly before turning back to Shelby. “We decided to do it here in Harmony. My Asher adores this small town. It’s so quaint and sweet.” Her hand was back to resting on my chest, where she patted it a few times.
Then she paused like she was thinking about something, and suddenly, she jerked her hand away from my chest and pointed it in Shelby’s direction. “Why don’t you plan the wedding?” Coralie’s tone had risen an octave from excitement.
Shelby’s eyes widened. “What, me?”
“Oh, I would love that! I’m heading back to New York after this weekend to tie up some loose ends and find my dress. It would make me feel so much better to have you here, helping Asher with everything. After all, if you worked under Patricia, then you have to be good.” Coralie glanced up at me. “The woman has impeccable taste. Ooo, I’m so excited. I get a Patricia wedding without the Patricia cost.”
“I, um…” Shelby’s gaze was on Ella, who was blinking at a rapid pace. “What do you think, Ella?”
Ella startled as she turned to look at Shelby. I hated that she looked so blindsided. I wanted to fix this. I wanted to take away her pain. I wanted her to be happy. But I wasn’t sure how to do that. Especially since the last thing that Ella wanted was me.
It was torture to want to be with her. My soul ached to love her when I knew she wasn’t capable of returning that desire.
I’d lived too many years in a one-sided love story, and I was determined not to slip into that habit again. My union with Coralie was desired by so many people, and if I couldn’t be happy, then at least they could be.
“I think…” Ella paused before a smile spread across her lips. “I think that’s a great idea. Shelby will do an amazing job.” She cautiously raised her gaze to meet mine. “Asher deserves the best wedding.”
I studied her, my stomach sinking. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t secretly hoped that she would struggle with my engagement. I was looking for a spark of…something. Jealousy? Longing, maybe? But as I held her gaze, I saw nothing but the love of a best friend.
And that sucked.
I wrapped my arm tighter around Coralie’s shoulders, pulling her against my side. Coralie was my decision, and I was grateful for her in this moment.
Marrying Coralie was going to fundamentally change my relationship with Ella, and I hoped that, after the wedding, Ella and I could find a new normal. She would see me in a happy, healthy relationship, and hopefully the confession that I’d made to her would become a distant memory. One that we would laugh about for years to come.
“Thanks, Ella,” I said, giving her a genuine smile.
She held my gaze for a moment before she started to nod. “Of course. I’m happy for you, Asher.”
Her words shouldn’t have felt like a dagger to my heart, but they did. I just prayed that, over time, I would feel better about all of this.
I prayed my feelings for Ella would fade to a manageable, sustainable level. I definitely wasn’t there yet.
“So, you’ll do it?” Coralie had pulled away from me and was standing in front of Shelby with her hands clasped in front of her.
Shelby glanced from her to me and back again. “I…guess. I mean, I’ve been telling Miles that I want something for myself. Maybe this is it?” I could see her excitement in the way the edges of her lips began to tip up into a smile.
“Beautiful!” Coralie cheered as she crossed the space between her and Shelby. She wrapped her hand around Shelby’s elbow and almost dragged her to a newly vacated table.
Abigail and Juniper studied Ella. It was slight, but I saw Ella nod toward them. That’s when Abigail declared that she needed some stale pretzels and hooked her arm around Juniper’s as they walked away.
I was left alone with Ella.
Two months ago, this wouldn’t have felt weird. It would have felt as natural as breathing. Ella had been my home. Now, I felt like I was a stranger in a small town, and I wasn’t sure who I was or where I was going.
Ella paused before she glanced up at me and offered a weak smile. I hated that smile. It was the one she gave to people she didn’t know. I missed the smile she reserved only for me, and I feared that I was never going to see it again.
“So, engaged,” she said as she folded her arms in front of her chest.
I pushed my hand through my hair and stared down at my shoes. “Yeah,” I muttered, not knowing what to say.
“I’m happy for you, Asher.”
I glanced up to meet her gaze. “Really?”
I really hoped that she meant those words. All I wanted was for her to be happy. I wanted everyone in my life to be happy.
“Yes, Asher. I am happy for you.”
