Something Borrowed by Louisa George Read Free Book Online Page A

Jason out of the mortgage and run her business against rumour and innuendo. While they all blissfully carried on, situation normal.
    Damn, it was just bloody unfair.
    Vaughn's chest puffed out just a little. ‘We just won the league.’
    ‘Yippee-bloody-daa. I’ll call up the papers, shall I?’ Something akin to a large lump of ice landed on her chest as she realised the ramifications of his previous statement. ‘Whoa, hang on... does that mean Jason is going to the wedding too? That I’m organising? For my friend.’
    ‘Yes. And Amy.’
    Chloe let that sit with her for a moment while a riot of emotions flitted across her heart.
    Of course.
    That was why Jane had been so reticent to talk about the seating plan. She’d invited her wedding planner’s ex, her ex-best friend and the best man from the wedding-that-never-happened.
    Jane had been her friend in the beginning, but that had been a long time ago. In fact, apart from the occasional wedding planning meeting, Chloe had hibernated and snubbed any social contact, licking her wounds and wallowing in her own pity party. So why wouldn’t Jane invite her and Tim’s current friends to their wedding? Her cheeks started to burn. ‘We… well, we haven’t gone over the guest list and seating plan yet.’
    Vaughn looked a little concerned. ‘You didn’t know about this?’
    ‘Yes… yes, of course. It just slipped my mind, that’s all.’
    ‘Are you okay? You look a little… upset.’ He took a step backwards. ‘Getting out of the way of your left hook, just in case.’
    And then, damn it, he smiled. If she hadn’t been about to self-combust with humiliation, she might have found that smile just a little bit interesting. But here, now, she saw it as pity for her messy life and, probably, a good comeuppance for what she did to him in that church.
    Chloe pressed a hand to her cheeks in an effort to cool the burning sensation down. ‘I’m absolutely fine. In fact, couldn’t be better.’
    For a fleeting moment, she considered not going to the wedding at all, but everyone knew that weddings begot weddings. The women became teary-eyed and hopeful, and the men got drunk and thought, why not? And they all remembered how fabulous the wedding had been, and now, who was that amazing planner with such careful attention to detail? And they all knew exactly who she was because she was sure to leave all her contact details in the small print on the favour bags and place cards, on the back of the order of service, and as a contact point for the well-wisher’s book. It was the prime place for a wedding planner to drum up more business, and that was what she needed more than anything.
    She had to go to that wedding and face them all, no matter what.
    By now Stacey and Mark had grown bored of waiting and were walking over, looking less than impressed. Vaughn smiled at their clients, then leaned in a little to Chloe’s ear. ‘I can talk to Jason if you want? Suggest he doesn’t go?’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘If it’s going to be awkward for you. It’s hard after a breakup. Apparently.’
    ‘Apparently?’ Which was it? That he’d never had a breakup, or he’d never found one hard? What the hell?
    There was a shrug of one shoulder. ‘Yes. He hurt you.’
    ‘I’m fine. I’ve totally forgotten all about Jason.’ It was even worse that Vaughn was trying to be nice to her. Why was he trying to be nice to her? Was that how it was going to be at the wedding? Everyone carefully choosing their words and tiptoeing around her as if she was the sad old aunt who smelt of wee. As if she was the one who had to be avoided at all costs. God, how awful that would be.
    She needed to prove to everyone that she really was okay, that she’d found the courage to move on. Suddenly, brain one step behind her mouth, she found herself blurting out, ‘I’m very good, actually. Great, in fact! I’m seeing someone.’
    Vaughn’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinised her face. ‘Oh? Who? Do I know