Taking Chances (Learning to Love) by LJ Baker Read Free Book Online

better, but the embarrassment hadn't faded. Even if Kat was right and my drunken scene went mostly unnoticed, I still had to face poor broken-faced Gary. Then there was Sebastian. I wasn't sure what I did to anger him in the first place or why he cared what happened with Gary in the bathroom, but I needed to know. Something about him, even with what little I could remember, drew me in.
    I wanted to scream and reach into my head to pull out the memories. My brain didn't care how frustrated I was, it was holding on to its secrets. I had to find a way to push everything aside and get through the rest of the wedding nonsense. I still had to go to the salon with the girls, and pick up dresses, not to mention the bachelorette party and the wedding itself. This wedding had turned into a three day event. Nothing like prolonged torture to celebrate a doomed union.
    This is going to be the longest weekend of my life.
    ***
    After two hours at the nail salon getting manicures, pedicures, and matching nail designs for the whole wedding party, I finally got a break. I found a nice cushy chair to lose myself in while I waited for the rest of the girls to finish. My head was still throbbing, but the nausea thankfully subsided.
    Jamie was next to finish and came straight over and sat on the small table directly in front of me.
    "What the hell happened last night?" Her eyes were wide, and I realized then that she had likely been holding in that question all morning.
    "I have no idea," I answered flatly, not really in the mood to rehash my humiliation even if I had the answer.
    "Don't you give me that, Lexi James. I know you know what I'm talking about," she demanded, pointing her perfectly manicured nail at me.
    "Seriously, Jamie, I don't really remember what happened. I drank too much tequila. There was a fight." I sighed. "I don't know."
    Jamie narrowed her eyes and assessed me critically. For a moment, I didn't think she would buy it, and I cringed at the thought of having to give her the play by play. Her face softened and I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding.
    "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry," she squeaked out and pulled me into an embrace.
    "Um…thanks?" I squeezed myself out of her death grip. I knew by her dramatic reaction that whatever she knew was bad.
    Jamie bit her lip and looked away.
    "Jamie? Please just tell me what you know," I sighed.
    "Well, I overheard Justin and his cousin talking…" Avoidance was unlike her. She was normally the biggest gossip I knew.
    "And?"
    "Well, Sebastian told Justin that you were coming on to him, but when he refused, you went out to the bar and threw yourself at Gary. He actually used the words, 'threw herself at him'. He tried to leave it at that, but he kept an eye on you because you were so wasted but then you disappeared with Gary when he turned his back to help Aunt Mary with her medication." She stopped there, giving me a minute to digest what she said.
    The throbbing in my head increased, and I could feel a wave of lightheadedness come over me. I had get up, move, do something. I almost walked out the door, but Jamie stopped me. She put her hand on my shoulder and led me away from the door toward an overstuffed sofa in the corner.
    I glanced at the other girls who were looking at us curiously. "Do they…"
    "No. They have no idea you were involved with the whole mess."
    She waited a minute to give me a chance to calm down a bit, but looked over at the others several times. They would be done and joining us soon. I knew she was dying to get out the rest of the story.
    I closed my eyes for a long moment, then turned to her. "You might as well tell me the rest."
    She sat up straight, looked at the girls one last time, and began in a hushed tone. "Sebastian said by the time he figured out you went into the bathroom, you were in your underwear, and Gary was about to score. I didn't even know anything was going on until the paramedics showed up and I saw Gary all bloody. By then, you