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"I'm ready," I murmured, even though I felt anything but ready.
Wilder leaned in again. "You know as well as I do that there are no guarantees in anything. Dive into this with Amelia, holding nothing back. I know you can do it. You've done it before. And although I've thankfully never crossed paths with your ex, I dare say that Amelia gives and means much more to you than she ever did. That's why you're afraid of messing it up because you see all the reasons she could leave. She probably sees them, too, and yet she's chosen to bare her heart to you. What sane person would do that if they weren't serious?"
"Right," I finally said, followed by a sigh. Wilder had said enough to knock some sense into me and show me that I had been on the right track all along but had stupidly let myself be swayed for reasons I didn't even fully understand myself.
Apparently, the past sometimes catches up with you at the most inconvenient times and tests you to see if you're up for new challenges.
"Thanks," I continued, standing up.
Wilder shrugged. "For what?"
"For not putting a drink in front of me, your words, and probably also for proving once again why you're actually my best friend."
"Just invite me to the wedding; that'll be thanks enough." He winked at me. Arrogant and way too involved in other people's lives. That's exactly how I liked him, even if I would never admit that to Wilder.
"Sure. You'll be my best man."
"I'll start looking at suits then."
Unbelievable. Amelia and I weren't even officially a couple yet; we'd only known each other for a few weeks, and Wilder was already planning a wedding as if it was set to happen within the next few months.
Maybe after I've made Amelia my wife, I should find one for him too.
31
GRAY
“Dude!"
Rooted to the spot, I stood still. The female voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. Not immediately, but as soon as I turned around, I knew who it was.
"Manon."
"Oh, at least you remember my name." She stormed toward me like a whirlwind. "What were you thinking?"
"I… Sorry?"
"Yes, you should be. Begging Amelia on your knees. And while you're down there, you might as well…" She stopped herself, waving her hand through the air. "You get the idea. So?"
If Amelia was a gentle breeze on a warm summer evening, Manon was the thunderstorm that followed the next night.
"So what?"
"She told me what a jerk you were. Well, those weren't her words. But they're definitely mine. How could you just disappear after she poured her heart out to you?"
"Believe it or not, my best friend already gave me a piece of his mind about it."
Manon scrunched her nose but simmered down. "Good man. And what are you going to do now to win her back?"
How did she even get here? I had only been gone a few hours, and Amelia's cavalry was already on the move?
"Amelia doesn't even know I'm here," Manon continued as if she had read my mind.
That made me raise an eyebrow in question.
"Well, given she hadn't responded yesterday and it's been a while since we last saw each other… I thought I'd visit. On my way here, she texted me and told me what happened."
"So you intended to ambush me and make sure?—"
