Home > The Mission (Bad Bridesmaids #2)(2)

The Mission (Bad Bridesmaids #2)(2)
Author: Noelle Adams

She straightened up and met his eyes. “He’s been cheating on me.”

It was like a blow to the gut. It left him just as winded. “Wh-what?”

“With his dental hygienist.”

Her husband, Scott, had just finished dentistry school last year, and he’d moved right into his father’s thriving practice.

Keith fisted his hands beside his hips and tried to unclench his jaw. “He...”

“Cheated on me.” She burst into tears, hiding her face behind her hands as her body shook so hard Keith could feel it in the couch.

“I’m so sorry, Serena,” he gritted out. He felt like wringing someone’s neck, but his anger was not what she needed at the moment. So he balled it up into a tight little wad in the back of his mind and instead pulled her into a hug.

She cried against his shirt for what seemed like forever, and Keith held her the whole time.

When she finally controlled her tears, he went to get a roll of paper towels from the kitchen since he didn’t have any tissues in the house. He handed her a square, which she used to mop her face.

“I’m sorry to dump all this on you,” she said, clearing her throat and straightening up. “I’m sure it’s the last thing you want to deal with right now. It smells like you were in the middle of dinner.”

“I was finished with dinner. And even if I’d just started, I still wouldn’t have minded you coming over. You can come anytime. You should know that. You’re still as much my friend as you ever were.” He was pleased that he sounded mild and natural since he was feeling anything but.

“I know. You can’t possibly imagine how much that means to me. Lately it’s felt like the only people I can really trust are Eva and you. And I don’t even see you that much anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter how much you see me. I’ll always be your friend.”

“Thanks. I’m your friend too. I promise. So if you ever need me, I’ll be there. No matter what.”

Despite everything, that touched him. His throat felt a little tight. “Thanks. How is Eva, by the way? Is she upset by what’s been going on?”

“She’s been with my mom all afternoon. I didn’t think it was good for her to be around the house right now. It all blew up this afternoon.” She shook her head, staring down at her twisting hands. “It’s over now, Keith. Totally over. There’s no way to put this thing back together again.”

Maybe it shouldn’t have been such an immense relief, but it was. That there was no doubt in Serena’s tone. She had no more hope for her rocky marriage. After too many years of ups and downs and second chances (all given to Scott since Serena hadn’t needed any), she was finally calling it quits.

She’d be so much happier without that man. Keith knew it for sure.

“I have no idea what I’ll even do. The house belongs to his parents. And his parents paid for the cars. Nothing we have is really ours. Where am I even going to live?”

Keith gave her a light nudge with his elbow. “Don’t be melodramatic. You’ve got a good job, and that’s not going away just because you get divorced. You can afford a little place for you and Eva.” He paused, remembering something that seemed like it had fallen from heaven and right into their laps. “My neighbor is going to be moving out next month. Maybe you can take the apartment next door to me.”

Her eyes were big and almost excited—the first time they hadn’t been despairing since she’d arrived. “Really?”

“Sure. Why not? It’s a great building, and you’d really like that place. It’s got two bedrooms, a great kitchen, and a big bathtub. The rent should be in your range.”

“Maybe I could do that. I’d like to have you as a neighbor.”

He smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders. “I’d like that too.” His heart was hammering from so many things he couldn’t possibly sort them all out. But he liked the way his arm felt around her.

It felt right.

“What was I even thinking, getting married at eighteen? I must have been an idiot. I mean, how stupid can someone be?”

“You didn’t know what he’d do. You were in love with him, and you were only eighteen. You did the best you could with what you knew.”

She slumped against him, but at least she wasn’t sobbing now. “You’re smart. You didn’t get married.”

“I didn’t make a better decision than you did. I just haven’t found someone to marry yet.”

“I’m never going to get married again,” she mumbled against his shirt. “It’s just not worth all this.”

“Maybe you’ll change your mind eventually. Not every man is like Scott.”

“I know that.” She sniffed. “You’re not like Scott. You’ve always been... so great. I’m glad we’re friends.”

“I’m glad too.” He’d be the world’s biggest jackass if he tried to take advantage of this situation. She needed comfort from him right now and nothing else. He gave her one more squeeze with his arm and then withdrew it.

She straightened up. “I’m definitely never doing this again. The whole marriage was like running into a brick wall over and over again. And I just kept doing it.”

“I’m sure it felt like that, but you need to stop beating yourself up about it. You have Eva. You wouldn’t have had her if you’d made a different decision.”

He saw that process on her face. “Yeah. That’s true. I wouldn’t change having her for anything.” She closed her eyes and leaned back against the cushion. “But everything else was terrible. And everything that we’ve still got to get through is terrible. I wish it was all just over.”

He thought for a minute, trying to find the right thing to say. “It’s going to be tough. Divorce always is. But you’re strong, and you’re going to get through it. And I really think you’re going to be happier when you come out the other end of it.”

She sighed, long and gusty. But she whispered, “I think so too.”

 

 

one

 


Two years later

 

 

SERENA HOLLY WAS TRYING on a sleek, stylish bridesmaid dress when her phone buzzed with a text message. Without thinking, she reached down for it, causing the unzipped dress to slip off her shoulders.

Keith. He’d sent her a photo of him with her seven-year-old daughter, Eva. They were killing time while Serena was at the bridal shop, and in the picture they were posing with an old statue of a colonial soldier. They had their arms around him and were making silly faces.

Serena giggled at the image before she yanked the dress back up.

Keith was one of her best friends and a total lifesaver. When she’d worried about what Eva would do while she was busy with bridesmaid dresses, he’d volunteered to drive them forty-five minutes to the small town of Azalea, Virginia, and entertain Eva for a couple of hours.

It was just like Keith. Giving up half his Saturday because she needed him.

Fortunately, it looked like he and Eva were having a good time, so she didn’t have to worry about them too much. Another of her good friends—Amanda Griffin—was getting married in a few months, and Serena was one of her bridesmaids.

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