Читать книгу Just Friends? - Allison Leigh - Страница 5

It didn’t turn out at all the way Evan had intended.

When it started out, it was just supposed to be a quick trip home during a break between classes. He’d known she’d be home, too, because he’d made a point of finding out. Subtly, of course. It had never paid to show one’s cards too easily where Leandra Clay was concerned. She was too quick. Too smart.

Too…everything.

Fool that he was, though, in his determination to appear anything but obvious, he’d invited his dorm-mate.

Jake sure in hell hadn’t worried about being subtle.

One look at Leandra and he’d been a goner.

Evan’s fault. If he’d told Jake he’d already staked out that territory, his buddy wouldn’t have trespassed.

Problem was, Leandra hadn’t been Evan’s territory. Never had been.

So what had Evan done?

Nothing.

And now what was Evan doing?

Nothing.

Nothing except stand there in his suit and a tie that felt like it was strangling him, and lift his champagne glass the way all the other wedding guests were lifting theirs.

“To the bride and groom,” he managed to say. “We wish them a lifetime of happiness.”

Jake wore a tux, too, and Leandra looked like some princess out of a storybook in filmy white stuff from head to toe. Their arms were slung around each other, giddy grins on their faces.

They’d hardly let go of each other in the year since Evan had introduced them.

The couple drank to the toast, and to the others that followed, kissed softly, sweetly, and Evan turned away, downing the rest of his champagne. But no amount of alcohol was going to deaden the pain inside him.

He hadn’t spoken his piece when he should have.

“Hey, you.” Leandra had untangled herself from Jake and touched Evan’s arm. “Don’t go running off now. You’ve got to promise me a dance after Jake and I do our thing.”

He had to steel himself against flinching. “I was just going to find more of your dad’s fine bubbly.”

Her gaze, as rich as the fudge pudding Evan’s mom had made since his childhood, was sparkling and that sparkle was all for her brand-spanking-new husband. “I’m not sure I ever said thank you. You know. For introducing Jake and me. If it hadn’t been for you, we’d have never met.”

“What are friends for?”

She missed the dark note in his voice. Nothing in her world right now was dark.

She was Leandra Clay and she’d just married the man of her dreams.

She suddenly reached out and hugged him. A quick dip into sweet perfume and soft, rustling white gown. “Thanks.” Then she was moving away again, heading back to Jake, never knowing that she was taking Evan’s heart along with her.

No, things definitely hadn’t turned out at all the way he’d planned.