She snorted, dropping her head against the back of the sofa. “God, I wish it were that simple. I really do.”
“Would you really have gone through with the wedding?”
“Yes… No… I don’t know.” She sighed again. “I was planning to, but then Rafe showed me the photos. Next thing I knew, he had me up on the piano and you were there. Honestly, it’s like he scrambles my brain or something.”
I chuckled, thinking of Dom. “I know the feeling.”
She smiled gently. “So…you and the hot tattooed soldier?”
“Yeah.” I carded a hand through my hair. “I was coming here to tell you, I swear. I’m sorry I cheated on you, Kate. You deserve better than that.”
“Not sure that’s true, given what you walked in on.”
Curiosity got the better of me. “Why aren’t you with Rafe?”
“Isn’t that the million-pound question.” She blew out a breath. “Honestly? It’s complicated. He’s my stepbrother, for a start.”
“But not your actual brother.” I thought back to the little she’d told me about him. “You didn’t grow up together, right?”
“No, he moved in when I was eighteen,” she said, nervously rubbing her fingers together. “I thought things were different then.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Yeah. I know that feeling too.”
“Anyway.” Kate straightened briskly. “Enough about me. Tell me about Dominic.”
My lips twitched. Of all the ways I’d been expecting this conversation to go, this hadn’t been one of them. “Well…like you, it’s complicated. We had a whirlwind romance when we were eighteen, but it came to a screaming halt when I discovered he’d signed up for the army.”
“Did you not want to do long-distance?”
I gave her a tight smile. “He didn’t give me that option. Not at first. I didn’t find out he was leaving until pretty much the last minute. And not from him either, but from Max.”
Kate winced. “Ouch.”
“Indeed. Add in the fact that Max told me Dom was in love with him, that he was only with me because Max was straight, and…yeah. Safe to say, it didn’t end well.”
She gave a low whistle. “Christ. I can see why.”
“I didn’t see him for ten years. Not until my stag do. I swear, Kate, I didn’t propose thinking I’d ever cheat on you. When I got down on one knee and offered you forever, I meant it. If it had been anyone but Dominic…”
My voice trailed off, because while it was true, it didn’t make it right.
“It’s okay,” Kate said, her eyes kind. “I get it. You couldn’t give him up.”
His face flashed into my mind. His hurt as he left my flat two days ago. “No. I can’t. Not even for you. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she sighed. “As obviously shown, this isn’t all on you. I’m not sure I can give Rafe up either.”
Something odd itched at my brain. “Have you been with him this past week?”
She flushed. “Yes. I’m sorry I lied but?—”
“No.” I held up my hands. “That’s not what I meant, sorry. It’s just… I’m confused about the muffins and the card. If you were torn between us, why did you send that?”
Kate stared at me blankly for several long seconds, then she groaned. “Oh my god, yeah, I can see how that’d send mixed messages. I arranged for those to be delivered weeks ago—before the engagement party.”
When she’d been reunited with Rafe.Funny how we’d both been blindsided with our true loves at events meant to celebrate our future together.
Fate was clearly a comedian in a different universe.