AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 1
SLOANE
The feels-like temp’s already hotter than hellfire and it’s only the beginning of May.
May 12th, to be exact.
The day I’m supposed to be getting married under the stars at a swanky, tulle-draped courtyard in the French Quarter.
Instead, sweat’s rolling down my back as I swat at flies the size of gumballs from a plastic lawn chair in my dad’s back yard.
All because my fiancé decided to ‘explore other options,’ as he so delicately put it.
And by ‘explore other options,’ he meant bang a busty paralegal doggy-style over the shiny mahogany desk at his law office downtown six months before our wedding. A gruesome sight permanently burned into my retinas.
After we planned—and paid for—the whole damn wedding, complete with two hundred already-invited guests, a five-tiered vanilla buttercreamcake from the fanciest bakery in New Orleans, and a sparkling champagne tower.
I really could have used that champagne to drown my sorrows, too.
Cool, cool. Instead, I have the option of embossed invitations as wallpaper in my childhood bedroom here in Thunder Creek, Georgia. I flove rose gold and blush on 120-lb cotton cardstock—it’s a vibe, am I right?
Splashing lukewarm water from a Yeti cup at my face, I tip my head toward the blinding sun and squeeze my eyes shut. This really isn’t how I envisioned spending my summer—living back home with my dad at almost thirty years old—but here we are. Both of us single as the day is long, watchingWheelofFortunetogether on the lumpy sofa every night.
I guess I should be grateful I had somewhere to go after moving out of the apartment I shared with the cheating rat for five years.
Even if the current living space is cramped and stuck in a time-warp. I swear my father’s changed nothing since I left for the University of Georgia, not even the worn paper coasters collected from Mustang’s, the local bar.
A hot breeze rustles the leaves of the sprawling oak at the far corner of the yard and I grab my cell to scroll through my email again. On the off-chance that Ratface remembers the date of our wedding-that-isn’t and penned me a Shakespearean sonnet of an apology.
Ha freaking ha.
I tap the glass and my phone blinks to life, a photo of me and my bestie flashing on the screen.
Gracelyn, another bright spot in this whole moving-back-home scenario. She’s been my ride-or-die since grade school and last night was no exception. In honor of mynot-happening-wedding eve, we hit up Mustang’s, drained tequila shots, and danced until midnight. Just like the old days, before I moved away.
My stomach roils as I blink down at the black-and-white messages; maybe I took one shot too many last night.
Oh god.
Make thatdefinitelytook one shot too many last night. I stare at the Sent messages, my chest tightening.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Hey, you!
Cringe.Hey, you! Seriously?For fuck’s sake, Sloane…
A wave of nausea rolls through me, but I force myself to keep reading the email I vaguely recall writing in a drunken tequila haze last night.
Hi Cam,
I was just thinking about you and wondering how you’ve been and what you’ve been up to these past few years. I don’t know if you heard, but I’m back home in Thunder Creek. In fact, I’m living with my dad. At least for the summer, anyway. Right now I’m lying in bed remembering how you used to throw pebbles at my bedroom window when it was past curfew and you wanted to talk out plays before a big game. Ha! How funny is that, a time before we had cell phones. So weird, right?
I always loved talking to you. You were so funny and cool. Also, hot, but I’m sure you know that. Every girl fawned all over you, so I’m positive you’re more than aware of how gorgeous you were. Are. I’ve seen pictures…
Did you know I was supposed to be getting married tomorrow? Probably not because why would you? It’s not like I’m famous and end up in the tabloids like you. Anyway, long story short, my ex is a cheating ratface and I called the wedding off. Hence, why I’m back home.
