Knight In Shining Armour (The Wedding Series #1.5)

Chapter Seventeen

After Abi's demand, I spilled my guts. I told her everything.

Some aspects she was already aware of, but now I had to tell her everything that happened from the hen party and beyond. When I got to the events of the previous night, I kept my voice down and made sure I didn't use names, just in case anyone overheard and I caused even more trouble. If this were a game or film, I would laugh at how seriously I took this, but now I was slap bang in the middle of this, I understood the rationale.

Although I was aware of the gravity of the situation, giddiness took over me as I relayed the events of the previous evening. I still found it hard to believe and if the circumstances were different, it would've been perfect. Abi remained quiet when I finished and I couldn't gauge her reaction.

"I'm not quite sure what to say." Eventually, Abi spoke. "I mean, on one hand, I'm happy for you. You got with the girl of your dreams... again. But, surely you could've done it at a better time than — oh, I don't know — the night before her wedding?"

"Hence why I've messed up." I nodded with a grimace at that very obvious piece of information. "But I can't rationalise how or why it happened last night. It just did. Now, I just need to see what happens."

"And what are you going to do if she marries him today?" Abi asked, playing devil's advocate. This much was obvious. Her pointedness was the main reason I phoned her.

"I'm not sure." I answered, honestly. "That would be twice that she chose him over me, if she did that. I mean, I know the first time was my fault, but who's to say it wouldn't have panned out the same way if I didn't push her away? But no. If she marries him today, I would have no choice but to get over her. Fool me once... and all that."

Abi merely nodded as she listened to my words. "Yeah, I get that. And you don't want to be a complete mug. It will take some time, but you will get over her. Although... There is also the other possibility."

"That she calls off the wedding and chooses me?" I asked, already thinking about every single outcome and perhaps that was the most like a fairytale. "Or she might call off the wedding and decide to remain alone. Or join a nunnery. Perhaps she'll move to Australia."

"So you've been thinking all rational thoughts, I take it?"

"Oh, nothing but." We shared a chuckle. "I guess I'm just going to take whatever comes and deal with it. I have no other choice."

"That's all you can do." Abi nodded.

"Thank you." I said. "Not just for picking up and helping me now. But thank you for not abandoning me when I abandoned you and all our friends all those years ago."

Abi grinned, a thin-lipped, reassuring smile. "Always. I mean, what kind of friend would I be if I ditched you when you were clearly going through something?"

"I appreciate it."

"Now, I'll let you go and figure everything out." Abi said. "But I expect details as soon as you know. I'll be on tenterhooks all day."

I laughed, and we hung up. Just as I slid the phone into my pocket, footsteps approached. My head whipped up at the sound, and I witnessed James thundering through the lobby and up to the reception desk, clad in a fancy tuxedo.

Shit.

Panicking, I stood up from the seat and whirled around to the back of it. Before I registered what I was doing, I crouched down behind it, hopefully hidden from view.

Wait, what was I doing? Why was I cowering like a child playing hide and seek?

Because if James saw me, then saw his fiancee and put two and two together, he would come back and punch me in the face, that's why. And I would deserve it entirely.