HAPTER024:YouveBeenWarned CHAPTER 024 : Youve Been Warned Idontsmile.
Icantevenbringmyselfto.
NothingwouldhavepleasedmemorethantohaveDelilahthiscornered.ButwhenIthinkabouttheimplicationsofHursstatement,mylunchsuddenlydoesntsitrightinmystomach.Inevertoldhim.HowsitpossiblethatIneverdid? Iwalkacrossthehotellobbywithoutaword.
Huntersayssomethingbehindme,butIkeepgoing.IdontwanttoseehimorDelilahrightnow,thoughIcanfeelhergaburningthroughmyshoulderblades.ShesprobablywonderingwhenIplantoattack.
Thisisnotaboutyou,Delilah.Chill.
Oncewereoutside,Icrosstowheremycarisparkedatthe curb,openthedriversdoor,slipintotheseat,andturnjustenoughtotossasharplookovermyshoulder.
Letsgo,lovebirds,Isay,voiceflat.
Theyshufflein,thetwoofthemslidingintothebackseat.AsHunterfusseswithhiscoat,Delilahseyescatchmineinthrearviewmirror.Theresapleadingexpressionthere.
Ilookaway.
Engineon.Gearshift.Thenmusic.
Arocksongroarstolifethroughthespeakers,thekindwithscreamingvocalsandadirtyguitarsolothatperfectlymatchesmymood.
Nottoday,Knox,Huntergroans.Playlovesongs.
Inmycar? Todaysallaboutme.
Idontcare.IlldestroytheBluetoothspeakerifanyCelineDionshitcomesoutofit.
Hunterlaughs.Younevercompromiseforanyone.Youresoannoying.
Ishakemyheadbutsmirkanyway.ThenIsearchthroughmyplaylistuntilIfindoneapowerballadwithenoughguitarstokeepmydignityintactandjustenoughlyricsabouteternal lovetoshuthimup.
Hunterleansback,hummingalong.NowthisiswhatImtalking about.Itakeitback.Youdocompromise.Youreagoodfriend.
Whatever.Dont gosoft onmenow,Hunt.
Myeyesstaygluedto theroad.Imtryingnotto thinkaboutanythingandtoavoidDelilah,whosmercifullynolongerspeaking.Imgoingtoenjoy torturing herthroughoutthenightwiththepossibilityofmetellingHunterthetruth.ThisIlldbecauseifImnotdoingsomethingevil,Illstartthinkingofmyselfastheevil one.ThebadfriendwhokeptimportantsecretsfromHunter.

Thevenueispacked.
OnecanonlywonderhowmanypeopleHunter andDelilahknowtogathersomuchofacrowd.
Peoplearescatteredacrosstheballroom,laughinginsmallclusters,glassesclinking,waitersfloatingbywithtraysofchampagneandcanapés.
Delilahsfamilysurroundsher.Theyrealladmiringherjewelry,herhair,hergownorwhateverexpensiveshitHunterbought.Shesmilesthrough it,buteverynowandthen,sheturns inmydirection.ThenshelooksatHunter,whosbusyworkingtheroomlikeasenatorshakinghands,hugginguncles,posingforphotos.
Isipfrommyglassandkeepmyeyesontheentrance.
TheresonlyonepersonIwanttosee.
Hello,Knox,someonesaysbehindme.
Iturn.ItsCasper.Wewereteammatesonthelacrosseteaminhighschool,buthewasntmyfriend.Somehowsincetheworld isconstantlyprovingtobeasmallplace-heknowsHunterandisone ofthegroomsmen.
Casper,Isay.
Successfullyunlocked! Hesmiles.Ididntgettheopportunitytotalktoyouattherehearsal.
Youcansaywhateveryouwanttosayhere.
Hetuckshishandsintohispockets,tryingtolookcasual.Imean,itsalittleweird,dontyouthink? Vou 1/3 CHAPTER024:YouveBeenWarned thiswedding.
Iarchabrow.Didyouwantthe positionforyourself? Notexactly.Ijust…Delilahsthebride.Shesbasicallygonefullcircle.You,your brother,Hunter.Whosnext? Ifinishmydrinkinoneswallowandsettheglassonapassingtray.
Go giveitatry,Casper.Iknow youwanther.Youalwayshave.Maybethistimeshewontrejectyou.
HefrownsasIwalkaway.
Imovethroughtheroom,greetingpeopleIknow,noddingatoldacquaintances,dodgingafewwhostillholdgrudgesfrombackintheday.
Thedécorislavishlyoverthetop,justlikeDelilahwanted.Candlesinglassorbs.Rosesandeucalyptusliningthefrontofthehall.
ImmidsentencewithHuntersfatherwhenIfeelit.
Her.

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EvenbeforeIturn,Iknow.
Ilookupandtheresheis.
Sloane.
ThedressfitsherbetterthananythingIimagined.Black,slinky,cuttingjustbelowthecollarbone,huggingherinalltherightplaces.ThefurcoatsheswearingonlymakesitworseteasingatwhatIknowitscovering.
Her eyesscantheroomandfindme.
Iexcusemyselfwithoutfinishingmysentence.
Myeyesareonheralltheway.IdontgiveanythoughttoFinn,whowalkedinbesideher,lookingaroundtheroomforDelilah.
Imhalfwaytoherwhensomeonestepsintomypath.Irecognizethescent.
Mom? Knox,darling,shesays.Youcouldnteventrytoputonasuitforyourfriend? Isigh.Imonlywearingonesuitthisweekend,anditstheoneIvepreparedfortomorrow.Thatsthebestyouallaregettingfromme.Welcometothepartyanyway,Mom.
Itrytosidestepher,butsheblocksmeagain,wavingthediamondbraceletIboughtforherinmyface.
Thebraceletlooksdivine,Knox.Thankyou.
Yourewelcome.Nowifyoullexcuseme,Ineedto- Sheloopsherarmthroughmine.
Beadear,Knox,andfindyourmotheraseat.Thesearthriticfeetarebeingbitchytonight.
Mysuspicionsarepilingup.Issheuptosomething?AtfirstIthoughtitwas theexcitementofmebeinginAshevilleaftermonthsaway,buttherescertainlyapatternemerging.
Whatsyourplanhere,Mom?Iask.
Myplan?shesayssweetly.
Youreactingsuspicious.
Shedoesntanswer.Justpullsmetowardthefarsideoftheroomandintoaseatbesideher.
Imnot goingtolietoyou,shesays.Youvealwaysbeenasmartone.Ihavewaitedforthisdayformonths,andyourenotruiningitforme.

Whatareyoutalkingabout?Whyareyouevenhere? Delilahsparentsinvitedme.
Theyveinvitedyoutoadozenotherevents,andyounevershowedup.
Iknowyouvegotyoureyesonyourbrothersfriend.Imaskingyou,asyourmother,toletitgo.Finndeserveshappiness,andImheretomakesurehegetsitcomerain orfire.Delilahwillmarryyourfriend.Finnwillfinallyfocusonwhatsrightinfrontofhim.AndSloanewillhelphimdothat.Ifyoudistractherwithyour…seductiveways,shewontbeabletostophimfromselfdestructing.Iwontletthathappen,Knox.Yourenotleavingthisseat.Youllstayrightherewithme.
Imtryingtowrapmyheadaroundthewordscomingoutofhermouth.
YouwanttouseSloanetodistractFinn? Isthereaproblemwiththat? 2/3 CHAPTER024:YouveBeenWarned The emceetapsthemic,andpeoplebegintotaketheirseats.
Ileanin,whisperinglow.Theyvebeenfriendsforyears.IfFinnhadfeelingsforher,dontyouthinktheydhavedatedalready? Hejustneedstherightpush.OnceDelilahsgone,Finnwillseeclearly* IhavethisgnawingfeelingthatyouapproachedSloane.Didyoutalktoheraboutthis?? Idid.Ievenofferedhermoney.
Youdidwhat? Dontlookatmelikethat.Yourenotasainteither.
Oh,yeah?Youreplayingonheremotions,Mom.Forwhat?Finn? Isntthatwhatyouredoing?Yourenotgenuinely interestedinher.YoujustwanttoprovokeFinn.Imaskingyoutostaoutofit.
Iglareather,andshereturnsit.
TheonlyreasonImstillsittinghere,Isay,isbecausethereisnoemptyseatbesideSloane.Andyourewrong.IwantibecauseIwanther.Sowhatevergamesyoureplaying,leavemeoutofthem.Imdonesacrificing anythingforFinn.Ifyotrytokeepmefromher,Illruinthisweddingsofasttheflameswonthavetimetospread.Andtrustme,IllmakeabsolutelysureFinngetsbackwithDelilah.
Shedrawsback,quiet.
Inthebackground,theemceeiscrackingjokesandcausingtheroomtoburstintolaughter.
Youusedto beabetterson,shesays.Youenlistedinthearmy,cameback,andnowyouresomeoneelse.Selfish.Heartless.
TheboyDadsentawaydidntcomeback.Yougottheupgradedversion.
Sheshakesherhead.Well,Imsorryyouwanttoruinyourbrothershappinessoversomethingthat happenedyearsago.Butluckisnotonyoursidethistime.Sloanedoesntwantyou.ShewantsFinn.Itsbestyousaveyourselfanotherheartbreakandstopnow.
IglancetowardSloane.
Sheliftsherhead,likeshesbeenwaiting formetolook.Shesmiles.Sosoft.Sobeautiful.
Ismileback.Mychestbeatsfaster,and,asisbecomingahabit,mypantstightenatthegroin.
Yourewrong,Mom,Isay.Shewantsme,andIintendtomakehermine.Takethisasaformalnoticethatyouvebeenwarned.