I shake my head, an image of Julian slapping my sister across the face popping into my mind. “I saw what you did to her that night and I saw the bruises. You can’t fool me.”
He laughs, a big booming sound that immediately puts me on edge. I just told him I know he’s beating my sister and he laughs?
“Oh, sweet Carly. You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do but that’s not what I’m here to talk about.”
“Then, by all means, get on with it.” The sooner I get this snake out of my office, the better.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t brought good news. Your sister was really upset by your behavior at dinner and she asked me to come speak to you.”
My brows knit together as I watch him. “And why wouldn’t she just talk to me herself?”
“Because she doesn’t want to speak to you ever again,” he says casually and it cuts deep. Ivy doesn’t want to speak to me ever again?
“What? No, that can’t be.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. She also asked me to inform you that your invitation to the wedding has been rescinded.”
His statement crashes down on me like a bomb and I plant my hands on the desk in front of me to keep from stumbling as I try to process his words. She’s cutting me out of her life completely?
“She wouldn’t do this,” I mutter, more to myself but Julian lets out a tsk from the doorway.
“I’m afraid she would. Her future is with me and she doesn’t want your negative energy destroying our relationship. She wants you gone and I support her decision so please don’t come around anymore.”
He flashes me a look of pity before spinning and walking out of my office like he didn’t just completely destroy me. I still can’t wrap my mind around everything he just said. Ivy wasn’t happy at the dinner, but she didn’t seem so upset that she’d kick me out of her life. And she doesn’t want me at her wedding? I was going to be her maid of honor and now I’m nothing? What is happening? I sink into my chair and slap my hand over my mouth as tears sting my eyes. Maybe it’s not coming from Ivy, though. Maybe this is all Julian’s doing.
Convinced this whole thing is a huge mistake, I grab my phone and dial Ivy’s number before pressing it to my ear. I wait, for what feels like forever, to hear a ring but instead, I get a disconnected notice. No, there must be some mistake. Shaking my head, I dial again. The same message as before plays in my ear and I toss the phone to my desk as I drop my head into my hands and the tears start to fall.
No.
No.
No.
“Carly, there was one…” Mercedes’ words cut off mid-sentence and I glance up at her. She covers her heart with her hand. “Sweetie, what happened?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry.” I wipe my eyes, trying to regain control of my emotions but it’s difficult. My thoughts keep drifting back to Ivy and the tears continue to fall. “It’s Julian.”
“Oh, no, did he break up with you or something?” she asks, a sympathetic look on her face.
Ew, no.
I shake my head. “He’s engaged to my sister and he just told me she doesn’t want me to come to the wedding. I tried calling her, but her phone is disconnected.”
“Oh, no. That’s terrible but it has to be some kind of mistake, right?” she asks and I wish my own optimism wasn’t shrinking so fast. “Take the rest of the day off and go figure this out. We can deal with all of this on Monday.”
“Are you sure?” I ask out of habit. I won’t be any good to her for the rest of the day and we both know it.
“Absolutely.”
I nod, grabbing my things as I rise to my feet and she walks around the desk and wraps her arms around me.
“Thank you.”
She nods. “Of course. I’m sure this will all work out and you’ll feel like a new woman on Monday.”
“I hope you’re right,” I say, forcing a smile to my face as she releases me before heading back to her office. Checking to make sure I have everything I need before walking out to my car, I try desperately to not lose it again. After I slip behind the wheel, I grab my phone out of the passenger seat and stare down at the screen as I scroll through my contacts, unsure of who I should call. The person I really want to talk to right now has a disconnected number and apparently doesn’t want me in their life. Without thinking, I dial my mother’s number and press the phone to my ear.
“Yes, Carly,” she answers and I break down in a sob. I can practically hear her roll her eyes through the phone. “What is going on?”
“It’s Ivy. Julian just came into my office and said they don’t want me coming to the wedding and Ivy doesn’t want me in her life.”
“And?”
“What do you mean “and”?”
She tsks through the phone and I regret dialing her number. “Well, what did you expect, Carly? Ivy told me all about you and Dottie ganging up on her and thinking Julian is some kind of monster.”
“Because he is, Mom. She has bruises on her body.”
“Oh, so what? People get bruises for all sorts of reasons. It means nothing and you are trying to ruin a perfectly good match based on your theories.”
My eyes widen. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You can’t be serious. I watched him hit her, Mother. Your daughter is in danger.”
“That’s enough, Carly Rae,” she snaps. “Julian Henshaw is a respected member of this community. He’s wealthy, comes from a good family, and is a perfect gentleman. I don’t want to hear another word about this. Am I clear?”
“Yes,” I whisper. What was I expecting? That she would become mother of the year all of the sudden? Of course, she loves Julian – he has boatloads of the one thing she cares about.
“Goodbye, Carly.” She hangs up before I can say another word and I drop my head as more tears fall. Now what? I look down at my phone again and sigh. I could call Dottie but this new information will only stress her out more.
As I scroll past Chance’s name, I pause. Closing my eyes, I picture him wrapping his arms around me and telling me everything will be okay and I’m dialing before I can stop myself.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he answers on the second ring and I suck in a stuttered breath – a clear sign I’ve been crying.
“Chance, listen, I’ve got to reschedule tonight,” I say and smack myself in the forehead. Why the hell can’t I just tell him the truth and say I need him right now?
“Is everything okay, Princess?” he asks and my lip wobbles as the tears start to build in my eyes again.
“Um, yeah,” I reply, hating the way my voice is shaking. “I just got some bad news and I’m heading home from work early. I just need to be alone right now.”
Jesus Christ.
Can I get out of my own damn way for once?
“Okay, baby. We can go out tomorrow night instead. It’s no big deal.” His words sting for some reason and I bite back more tears, forcing a smile to my face.
“That sounds good. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I hang up the phone before he can say anything else and a sob rips out of my mouth, amplified by the enclosed space of my car. I can’t decide if I should be angry at Ivy or worried about her but my heart aches and if this is really coming from her, I don’t know how I’m supposed to go on with my life. She’s been my best friend, glued to my hip, since we were babies and I never thought I’d be without her. She was my constant – the one thing I could always count on. Losing her just may ruin me.