Fighting for My Best Friend (Fated #4) (2 page)

My hand was shaking so bad I could barely do my eyeliner.

“You okay?”

I looked up to see Fiona standing in the doorway of my bedroom. “Yeah,”
I said. “I’m just a little nervous since I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“I know, but you shouldn’t be. You look beautiful.”

I rolled my eyes and leaned away from the mirror. “Maybe I
should just wear this then?” I said, stretching my arms out to flaunt my robe.
“If it looks so good.”

“You know what I mean,” she said, folding her arms. “So far so
good.”

I sighed. “I just hope my hand stops shaking before I get there.
If I fuck up Claire’s hair, the whole family will want to kill me.”

“You won’t fuck it up,” she said. “You could do an updo in your
sleep.”

I forced a smile.

“Isn’t that what she wants? Something simple?”

“Yeah.”

“So you have nothing to worry about.”

I nodded, wanting to believe her.

“What can I do to help you get ready?”

“Nothing,” I said. “Everything is pretty much under control.”

She walked behind me and sat on my bed.

“Thanks again for helping me with my hair,” I said into the
mirror.

“No problem.”

“I’ll definitely feel more comfortable around his family without
the purple streaks.”

“I’m glad I could help,” she said. “What else can I do?”

“Actually, I already put everything I need to style Claire’s hair
in that bag by the closet.” I turned and pointed with my eye pencil. “But if
you want to have a root through it and make sure I’m not missing anything, I
would really appreciate it.”

“Sure,” she said, sliding off my bed and kneeling down by the
bag.

I put the cap back on my eyeliner and picked up my eyelash
curler.

“He still hasn’t called, huh?” she asked, keeping her eyes on
the bag.

“Nope.” I clamped the curler down on the lashes of my right eye.
“Just the text saying when he would pick me up today.”

She shook her head. “That’s cold.”

“He’s embarrassed and ticked off with me,” I said, grabbing my
mascara. “I get it.”

“Yeah, but he hasn’t even given you a chance to explain.”

“I know, Fi, but what am I going to say when I have that chance
today?” I leaned forward and laid the mascara on thick, wiggling it from the
base of my lashes to the tips.

“Blame it on me,” she said. “Say I told you not to tell him.”

“That’s nice of you,” I said, picking up the curler and shifting
my focus to my left eye. “And trust me, the thought crossed my mind, but that
won’t cut it. He deserves an explanation.”

“You might have to admit that you’ve liked him all along.” She
looked up and shook the jumbo hairspray bottle next to her ear.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Otherwise, why wouldn’t you have told him?”

“I know.” I picked up the mascara again and swiveled it inside
the tube. “I just hope that’s good enough for him.”

“It will be,” she said. “It has to be. He’s not going to throw
your friendship away over the fact that you lied by omission one time.”

I shrugged. “I hope not,” I said. “But I’ve seen him cut people
loose for less.”

“You’re not people though. You’re Lucy Ryan.”

I rolled my eyes. “For whatever that’s worth.”

“I think you should bring more bobby pins.”

“Really? I thought I put a whole box in?”

“You did, but if the whole bridal party’s hair goes to shit,
it’s going to be on you to save the day.”

“Good call. Do you have some I can borrow?”

“Yeah,” she said. “And some extra hairspray is probably in
order, too.”

“If you say so.”

“I just can’t decide if you should take an extra curler in case
yours burns out or something-”

“Jesus, Fiona. Are you trying to send me into a panic? It’s not
going to burn out!”

“Do you want to bring mine just in case?”

I groaned. “Well now I have to say yes, don’t I? Otherwise it
will definitely blow and I’ll be up the creek.”

“Sorry,” she said. “I just want you to have a perfect day.”

“I know. Me too,” I said, screwing the lid tight on my mascara.
“But I keep forgetting that today isn’t about me. It’s about Claire.”

“It’s about you and Aiden, too.” She got to her feet. “This is
the day you have to fix this thing, this thing that is all my fault.”

“I hope I can,” I said. “Now grab those supplies before we
forget.”

“Right.”

I put one last sweep of powder on my nose and went to my closet.
I knew Aiden was expecting me to wear black like I always did, but after Fiona
and I discussed my options at length, we decided I needed a new dress.

I swallowed as I stared at it. I probably should’ve at least
gone with a dark color so as not to shock myself so bad, but it was too late.
Plus, the dress I liked was only available in a bright sunflower yellow.

But I kept reminding myself that the important thing wasn’t the
color. The important thing was that it was wedding appropriate and covered my
scars because it had one full sleeve. The other side of the short dress was
shoulder-less and sexy, without being over the top.

Which was important because Aiden’s family was as classy as they
were conservative. Therefore, the goal was to look attractive without calling
attention to myself, even if that meant forgoing my default color choice. Nancy
probably wouldn’t even recognize me.

I took a deep breath and stood on my tiptoes so I could take the
dress down from where I’d hung it on the closet door. I’d been staring at it
all week in an effort to psych myself up to wear something so out of character.

I could hear Fiona rummaging in her room like a burglar so I
slipped my robe off and stepped into the dress, pulling it up over my one arm
and smoothing it down over my hips. Then I stepped in front of the full length
mirror beside my closet.

I didn’t even look like me. I looked like I’d raided Taylor
Swift’s closet or something. I was like a ray of pale sunshine. I had to admit,
though, there was something striking about the contrast between my dark hair
and the yellow dress. Best of all, it hugged me in all the right places.

“Oh my god, Lucy.”

I pursed my lips and turned towards the door.

Fiona was hugging the spare hair supplies to her chest. “You
look fucking gorgeous.”

I exhaled at the compliment, relieved that I didn’t look as
uncomfortable as I felt. “Zip me?”

“Of course.” She walked over and crouched down, dropping her
stuff on the floor.

I turned around and let her zip me up.

“Can I see it with the shoes?” she asked.

“Sure.” I bent over, picked up the shoe box, and set it on my
bed. When I removed the lid, I pulled out the first nude heels I’d ever owned.

“I am so borrowing those once you break them in.”

“Anytime,” I said, turning towards Fiona and the mirror.

“You are going to steal the freaking show.”

I saw myself blush in the mirror. “I don’t know about that,” I
said. “But I have to admit, these shoes make my legs look really long.”

“You’re a total smoke-show.”

“Don’t make me laugh right now. I’m so nervous I could pee
myself.”

“Well, you’re wearing the dress for it.”

“True.”

Fiona walked up and pushed my hair over my shoulders. Then she
pulled one piece forward. “There.”

When she stepped back, I could see the yellow streak we’d hidden
in my hair to match the dress.

“That’s better.”

I smiled. “Thanks for your help, Fi.”

“My pleasure, she said, bending over to load the extra stuff she
gathered into the bag. “I can’t wait to hear all about it. ” She stood up.
“Call me if you need anything.”

I nodded.

“Seriously, a band aid, an extra set of hands, anything at all.”

“I will.”

She put her hands on my shoulders. “I know you’re nervous, Luce,
but try and have a good time.”

I gave Fiona a hug and squeezed her too hard.

“Aiden will have no choice but to forgive you. You’re going to
be the belle of the ball, I promise.

I stepped back. “I wish you could come with me and boost my
confidence like that whenever I needed it.”

“I’m only a phone call away,” she said.

“I know.”

And then we heard a honk.

I regretted honking as soon as I did it.

What the fuck was I doing? Being pissed was no excuse to act
like a Neanderthal.

I got out of the car, walked to the door of Lucy’s apartment
building, and pressed the buzzer.

“Hello?”

“Fiona, it’s Aiden. Is Lucy ready?”

“Yeah, she’s on her way down.”

I stood back from the door and folded my arms. I wasn’t
expecting Fiona to buzz me in, but when I heard the latch click, I shoved the
door open.

When I looked up the stairs, my jaw dropped. Lucy- or someone
that looked suspiciously like her- was gliding down the stairs like a yellow
balloon. I swallowed.

From where I was standing, it felt like I could look up her legs
forever. And her face looked different, too. Lighter. Like she was wearing less
make up than usual.

I knew I should say something. I wanted to. But by the time she
got to the bottom of the stairs, I’d barely managed to pick my jaw up off the
floor.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi.”

“You look handsome.”

My eyes bounced between her glossy lips and her smooth, exposed
collarbone. “You, too.”

She smiled. “Tha-”

“Not handsome though,” I said. “You look- shit.”

Her eyes went wide.

“I mean, wow.” For a second I completely forgot what the heck I
was doing there.

She leaned down and grabbed the handle of the small duffel bag
by the door.

“I’ll get it,” I said. “You just-”

“Just what?” she said, tilting her head.

“You just stand back and tell me what you’ve done with my friend
Lucy.”

She rolled her eyes and stepped out the front door.

I looked after her, watching her shiny hair swing down her back
and pursed my lips. Then I closed the door behind us, hurried to the passenger
side, and opened it for her.

“Thanks,” she said, clutching her small purse in front of her as
she took a seat.

I waited for her to tuck her bare legs into the car and closed
the door. Then I opened the door behind her and set her stuff down on the floor
before walking around to the driver’s seat.

Once I sat down, I stuck the key in the ignition and turned
towards her. “I’m sorry I honked.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “Don’t worry about it.”

I looked in the rearview mirror and backed up so I could drive
out of the space. My guts felt so twisted I didn’t know what to do. On one
hand, Lucy looked stunning, and I could feel my body reacting to her little
yellow dress, her shiny hair, and her glossy lips.

On the other hand, I was still hurt. I wished I wasn’t. I wanted
to forget the whole thing, but the fact of the matter was that she’d lied to my
face and let me look like a fool.

And the conflict between those two realities was making me sick.

“Aiden, I owe you an-”

“Don’t,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road. “Just don’t.”

“But my whole day will be ruined if you don’t let me-”

I slammed on the brakes at the light. “Your day will be ruined?!
Your
day
will be ruined?! Well that’s a goddamn shame.”

“Aiden-”

“At least your reputation won’t be ruined. At least no one will
laugh at you behind your back while-”

“That’s not fair.”

“No,” I said. “What’s not fair is that I’m the one that looks
like a monster for being pissed when you’re the one that fucked me over.”

“I didn’t fuck you over!”

“You stood by while someone else did,” I said. “Which is
basically the same thing.”

“Look. I’m sorry, okay?”

“Sorry you got caught or sorry you aren’t the friend I thought
you were?”

“Both,” she said, looking out her window.

I exhaled through my nose.

She stared out the windshield and then turned to face me. “I
never meant to hurt you. You know me well enough to know that.”

“I thought I did.”

“I didn’t know how to tell you-”

“What do you mean you didn’t know how to tell me? You didn’t
even try.”

“I know but-”

“You must’ve had half a dozen opportunities to mention it.”

“And what if you didn’t believe me?”

“It wouldn’t have mattered! You would have done your job as my
friend.”

She sighed.

“Whether I refused to listen or not is irrelevant.”

“I know.”

“I don’t expect you to make decisions for me or tell me what to
do. I only ask that you don’t hide information from me.”

“You’re right.”

“I don’t want to be right. I want my friend back.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear.

I noticed her purple streak was missing. “How long did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That she was seeing other people. To put it politely.”

“Not that long.”

“Days? Weeks? Months?”

“No.”

“How long?”

“Maybe a few weeks.”

“Fuck me, Lucy.” I shook my head. “And it didn’t occur to you to
say something?”

“Of course it did! But you knew I didn’t like her, and I didn’t
want you to think I was just trying to break up your relationship out of
spite.”

“Why would I think that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Until this shit happened, I always thought you had my best
interests at heart.”

“I was confused.”

“I don’t know why. Seems like a straightforward problem with an
obvious solution to me.”

“Well, it wasn’t.”

I clenched my jaw.

“At first I wasn’t sure so I didn’t want to stir shit up for no
reason.”

“And when you were sure? When you and Alex saw her on fucking
Tinder?”

“I didn’t know what to do.”

I shook my head. “Not good enough.”

“It wasn’t easy to not tell you,” she said. “I lost sleep over
it, trying to figure out what to say.”

“You lost sleep, huh? Too bad it wasn’t cause you were actually
picking up the phone to call.”

“I know.”

“Does Alex think I’m some kind of tool now?”

“Of course not. I didn’t even tell him. I just swiped her away.
I didn’t say she was your girlfriend or anything.”

I felt my chest loosen a little bit. Knowing one less person knew
Chelsea dicked me around was a relief, albeit slight.

“Only Fiona knew, I swear. And that’s just cause she was with me
when we saw her out with a guy.”

“What guy?”

Lucy shrugged. “A guy I recognized from Tinder.”

I felt my neck start to get hot. “A guy you
recognized
?”

“Yeah,” she said, looking out her window.

I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. “You’re not even being
honest with me now!”

“What do you want me to say?”

“How is that not obvious?! I want the truth! That’s what this
whole argument is about! You lying to my face-”

“Fine,” she said, her voice shaking. “You want the truth? I
recognized the guy because I went on a date with him and had meaningless,
empty, unremarkable sex with him afterwards, and I thought I’d never see him
again until I saw him out with Chelsea across the street from where he fucked
me a week earlier! Okay? Are you happy now?! Is that what you wanted to hear?!”

“No,” I said, tightening my grip on the steering wheel.

Lucy wiped under her eyes with her fingertips, trying to keep
her tears from ruining her makeup.

I loosened my tie with one hand and kept my eyes on the road.
Five minutes earlier, the fact that Lucy knew Chelsea fucked around on me was
the most disturbing issue in my life. But the thought of Lucy fucking another
guy on top of that was like a living nightmare.

I didn’t know what to think. I knew she’d been with other guys.
We’d laughed about her shady dates and fallen princes a thousand times.

But that was before.

Before she was mine.