Chapter 4

 

 

 

Afton

 

 

I attempt to climb out of the limo, dragging the short train of my dress behind me. Just as I’m about to topple onto the sidewalk, two large hands grab hold of my biceps, pulling me to my feet.

I look up and into Luke’s face.

“What are you doing?” I question as my gaze darts to the church behind him. “Did you stop Brooklyn’s wedding?”

I see the answer in his eyes before he opens his mouth. “No. It’s over.”

“Did you at least talk to her?”

He lets go of me to scrub one hand over the back of his neck. “The caretaker said everyone cleared out two hours ago. I even fucked up the time.”

I’m rarely at a loss for words, but I’ve got nothing to offer him except my hand. I dart that out when he stumbles forward half a step.

I grab hold of his forearm. “Did you eat anything today?”

His head shakes from side to side as his hand falls to his stomach. “I had some whiskey. Last night I think, or this morning. I didn’t sleep.”

“You need food.” I sigh, wanting to add that I have to find a place to crash for the night.

My problems don’t trump his, though.

I can’t leave him standing here alone.

As soon as Luke sprinted up the concrete steps to the church, the limo driver got a call from his boss demanding to know where he was.

He tossed me a sympathetic look as he lied and said he was across town.

Once the call ended, the driver admitted that he had to get the limo back to the warehouse where it’s stored.

He told me that my dad pulled the plug on my free limo ride.

“Can one of you close the door?” The limo driver asks from inside the car. “I’m sorry to dump you here, but I need the job, so…”

Luke leans forward. “No problem.”

As soon as he’s slammed the door shut, the driver takes off, seamlessly steering the car into traffic.

“I gotta go,” Luke announces as he stumbles to the left. “I need to find her.”

I watch as he turns in a circle, and then again, his steps wide and uneven.

“You need to go home,” I say quietly.

“I can’t.” He gazes down at me. “Brooklyn’s not there.”

I want to tell him that’s because she’s moved on with someone else who is now her husband. I keep it to myself because Luke is already in enough pain. Pointing out the obvious won’t help him.

His hands jump to his face. “I’ve got a screaming headache. Holy hell.”

I keep my eyes focused on him even though people are stopping to take pictures of us. A few call out their congratulations.

I rest a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Where do you live?”

He drops one hand to look at me. “At my apartment.”

I hold back a laugh. “Where is that?”

He jerks a thumb to the left. “That way.”

Feeling lost without my phone, I stick out my palm. “Give me your phone. I’ll get an Uber for you.”

He does as I ask, yanking his phone from his jacket pocket. “I’ll get them to take me to Brooklyn.”

“You know where the reception is?” I ask as I open the rideshare app.

“No,” he spits the word out. “It could be at Howerton House. Maybe it’s at a hotel. My brother got married. He had his reception at my grandma’s restaurant. I’ll look until I find her.”

He’s about to head out on a wild goose chase after a woman who is celebrating what is most likely the happiest day of her life.

“There’s our ride.” He lifts his arm in the air as a taxi approaches.

“Your ride,” I correct him as the car stops next to the curb.

He glances at me. “Where are you going?”

I don’t have an answer to that question, so I shrug. “I’m not sure.”

He swings the back door of the taxi open. “Let’s go. We’ll drop you at your place.”

I get in the car even though my place is the only place in this city I can’t go to.

 

***

 

We make it four blocks before Luke falls fast asleep with his head resting on my shoulder.

The driver was taking us to Howerton House. It’s one of the most in-demand reception venues in Manhattan.

I was grateful that Luke didn’t insist that I give the driver my address since I still need to map out a plan for tonight.

Sooner or later, I have to face my family and Warren, but I need time to sort out what I’m going to say before I do that.

“He’s out cold.” The driver laughs. “Do you want to take your husband home?”

I smile at her. “He’s not my husband.”

“Soon-to-be-husband?” she quizzes.

“I don’t know him,” I admit.

Her dark brows perk as she glances back at me. “That’s a story that I want to hear.”

She drives down Madison Avenue at a snail’s pace. Traffic is heavy tonight.

“I was getting married, he burst in to object, and then realized he was in the wrong church.” I take a much-needed breath.

Her eyes hone in on mine in the rearview mirror. “You dumped your fiancé for a stranger?”

I adjust myself to better bear the weight of Luke resting against me. “I dumped him for myself. I wasn’t sure about getting married, and when Luke came barreling down the aisle toward me, I saw it as a sign that I shouldn’t ignore.”

“Good for you.” Her face brightens with a broad smile. “I had a pit in my stomach the day I married my first husband. It lasted less than a year.”

The reassurance helps, but it doesn’t rid me of the guilt I’m feeling.

My parents must be furious. I can’t fathom what Warren is going through, and Joel and Nelson have to be confused and worried.

“I’m Mandy,” she says softly. “Tell me where I need to take you…”

“Afton,” I fill in the blank for her. “I think I need to take this man home.”

“Do you know where that is?”

I try to shrug, but Luke is still curled against me with his breath skirting over my neck. “I have no idea.”

“Give him a shake.”

I give it my best attempt, but the man is rock solid. “Luke, wake up. Wake up.”

His only response is a soft muttering of words I can’t make out, so I try again. “I need to take you home. Where do you live?”

“Rocco’s old apartment,” he mumbles. “I live there.”

Mandy laughs. “That’s no help.”

I lean back against the seat with Luke still resting against me. “We need a new plan.”

“He must have a wallet on him. Or his phone will hold some clues.” Mandy smiles at my reflection in the rearview mirror. “I’ll pull over, and we’ll figure it out together.”