"I know right!" She chirped. "I am so happy." She sighed dreamily," Aiden is such a good man and caring lover, I''m so lucky to be getting married to him.


    "We will be getting married soon. Wait, gimme a second." She made a show of rummaging her designer bag for a while before her head came up with a frown.


    "I''m so sorry," she pouted with a sorry expression on her face. "I was going to give you the wedding invitation card but I didn''te with any. But don''t worry," she pped her hands, her eyes growing big with something akin to excitement. "I will make sure to invite you to the wedding as a VIP guest! Because you deserve it. I feel like you kindal shaped Aiden into the man he is today. It''s so sad that you two didn''t


    work out."


    I swallowed a huge lump down my throat. I had been it swallowing since she started talking. Fighting to hold back my tears and not break down here in public and in front of these woman. I just wanted to leave from there to go and cry all on my own, in my bed.


    "I''m not sure I''d be here again but if I am, I''de with an invitation. for you." She gasped, "Maybe you can even be one of my bridesmaids!"


    What?


    My facial muscles made a movement and I hope it was to form a smile. I wondered what my face must have looked like standing there, hearing all of that.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "Oh my god! This is so exciting. Anyway, if I won''t be here, I''d have Aiden get it across to you. I think I''d also take your number from him," she frowned and cocked her head, "I don''t think he has it, does he? It''s a shame I can''t take it now, I left my phone upstairs. Do you have a business card?"


    Chapter o


    "I don''t." I answer immediately, almost in a snap. But I do wish for a tornado to sweep me away from the face of this earth and probably sweep this woman to some deserted country so I wouldn''t have to see


    her face or be reminded that I lost Aiden to her.


    She sighed. "I''m sorry. I know I''m talking to much, talking about so many things all at once but I''m just so so happy to be with Aiden..."


    As she dronned on, taunting me about her wedding, about how perfect and caring Aiden was, punctuating each phrase and sentence with a dreamy sigh, I wondered if that fake enthusiasm at seeing me would still be there if I told her that her perfect husband-to-be and I shared a


    kiss.


    I contemted telling her and exining every bit of the sweet encounter to her. How her Aiden had held on tight and kissed me like I was the only wam he had ever wanted but instead, I smiled. There was definitely something wrong with their rtionship, else she wouldn''t have to be talking so much. I pushed back the tears that threatened toe up to the surface with that conclusion.


    But it still hurt. It hurt that Aiden had moved on. It''s been five years. I didn''t exactly me him but it still caused my heart to wring tight in my chest. I resisted the need to press my palm to my chest and ease the pain there.


    There was a ring on her finger, she knew I was Aiden''s ex and most of all, she was just in Aiden''s arms now. No matter how imperfect their rtionship was, it was ring that Aiden was really getting married


    her.


    Maybe that was why Aiden wanted us to talk about the past? Perhaps, he wanted to clear every expectations and announce his uing marriage. And thisdy right here, with her shark smile is obviously telling me to stay away from Aiden but with so many unnecessary


    70


    words and forced niceness.


    I zoned back into her bbering.


    She sighed. "I really hope we can be friends, Anastasia. You can tell me


    "We can not be friends," I blurted bluntly. There was no way I''d subject myself to the torture of being friends with anyone romantically involved with Aiden. Especially not after I discovered that our ruined rtionship was all my fault.


    "Have a nice day," she added and turned around. Even if she yelled at the tip of her voice, I was determined that nothing would make me turn back around.


    I walked away to board a taxi. Thankfully, one stopped in front of me, before I could break down right there.


    I entered the taxi, told the driver where I was headed. Then I turned to the window and rested my head against the ss, letting my tears fall freely, and silently.