CHAPTER FOUR

MOLLY

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How is it possible to have a two-day hangover? Technically it's jetlag with a side of hangover. Still, I did my job creating a fun bachelorette party and Payton seemed to enjoy herself.

There were twelve of us in total at her pajama themed party. We dressed the bride in a ridiculous white toilet paper gown and made veils to wear with our pajamas.

After a ton more games, we told real-life stories about heartbreak and happily ever afters. Every time someone cried, we had to do a shot.

Except Payton, who is pregnant.

A brilliant idea...until the morning.

I pretty much cried at every single story.

And I made some story up about a guy who doesn't exist for mine, because there is no way I'm telling them about Steve.

I've lived through enough shame over it, thank you very much.

Wearing jeans, a beige cashmere sweater, black scarf, and matching coat, I dip my large unnecessary pair of sunglasses to take in the enormous black machine sitting on the lawn at Ward Montgomery's home.

A helicopter.

We're leaving our vehicles here for the long Thanksgiving weekend and flying to the Hamptons. It will be my first time flying in a chopper and I'm equal parts excited and nervous.

The glare from the cloudy sky burns my retinas and I nudge my glasses back down over my eyes. I'm pretty sure I will die without them. God I'm the worst hungover person in the world. I hate feeling sick.

I lift my suitcase out of the trunk and lay my bridesmaid dress over my arm. It's in a dress bag, so it's protected, but I don't want to drop it.

Locking my car, I turn and draw in a deep breath. I don't know what I'm worried about most. Vomiting in the chopper or seeing Atlas.

Or both—vomiting in front of Atlas.

Lord.

This is going to be a hellish weekend.

Bad bridesmaid.

Correction. This is going to be an amazing weekend watching my best friend marry the love of her life. The last time I saw them was at his brother's birthday party. They hadn't admitted how they felt about one another.

Now...

Honestly watching them together before Knox left us alone last night is almost enough to make me believe in love again. That there are men out there who are capable of honesty and commitment.

Almost.

I've kept my thoughts to myself. I know Payton is pregnant, but I don't see why she needs to rush into marriage.

Who knows what Knox is hiding.

He might be a gorgeous billionaire, but has she checked there aren't any other women knocked up who will one day raise their hands and say, He's my baby daddy too ?

Of course not.

Most people don't need to.

I was just the unlucky one.

The stupid one.

The naive one.

I have a dictionary full of adjectives I've accumulated over the years of judging myself.

"Ma'am, I'll take those for you," a staff member says as he walks toward me.

"Oh, thank you," I reply, releasing my suitcase and handing him my dress. "Please be careful. It's the bridesmaid dress."

"Yes, ma'am."

Ma'am?

I'm twenty-four. I was hoping to get at least another six years from life before being referred to as ma'am but that's what a hangover and jetlag bundled into one will do for you.

Payton steps out of the front door and waves.

I stride over and we hug.

"Can you believe this?" she whispers softly shaking her head.

"It's all happened fast." I say, gazing at the two helicopters and back at her.

Payton bites her lip and nods. "So fast."

Her dad appears behind her. "Payton, we're going to hit the road now as your mom wants to stop at a few places before we get to New York."

"Hi Judge Mills," I say and reluctantly remove my glasses.

"Molly, hello. Are you flying on one of those things?"

I smile and nod. "Yes, sir."

"Well you enjoy. We're spending the rest of Thanksgiving driving to New York to spend a few days with close friends. Then we'll join you kids in the Hamptons on Saturday night."

I know their plans. Payton told me everything, but I tell him that's exciting and listen to him share more about what they will be doing and eating.

Leftover turkey.

Like most of America.

Her mom walks out and winks at me.

"Drive carefully, Dad." Payton accepts his kiss on the cheek and then her mom does the same as she joins us.

"You girls have fun. We'll see you on Saturday," Mrs. Mills says.

I spent the first half of Thanksgiving Day with my Dad as Mom is still in England. Tomorrow I'll be joining Payton's new family—which includes the Montgomery's and the Dufort's—for a second one.

We wave her parents off and turn to one another.

"Finally. Thanksgiving lunch was weird." Payton explains. "Ward has only met them a few times and we thought it would be nice to have everyone together before the official wedding events this weekend. It's usually just the three of us but I guess my life has now changed."

It sure has.

Payton is a single child, so she's asked Bella, her soon-to-be sister-in-law, to be the other bridesmaid. Levi and Atlas will stand alongside Knox.

"Do they get along okay?" I ask, referring to Ward and her parents as we walk inside the house.

House is a little inaccurate.

It's a huge mansion. Enormous. The driveway took me nearly a full minute to drive down before I parked, and I hadn't even seen the second helicopter initially.

"Yes. Ward is amazing and you've met Atlas and Levi. They're easy to get along with."

I was the easy one but no need to go into that.

Even with my best friend.

"Great," I say, spinning around and around as I take in the huge entrance and stunning chandeliers hanging above us.

Holy hell it's incredible.

If I thought the outside was jaw dropping, it's nothing compared to the opulent wealth obvious on every single inch inside.

The lobby is spacious and there are two staircases which lead upstairs. I feel like I'm in a hotel, not home. But at the same time it feels inviting and warm.

This is where Atlas grew up.

Not that I should even be thinking about him.

Irrelevant.

We half had sex. That's all.

Moving on.

"Why do you ask?" Payton keeps walking through the house, clearly accustomed to the environment. Then again she's living with Knox now in his kabillion-dollar penthouse.

I could say I was just making conversation, but I missed the small engagement party they had—again, they've done things differently because she's pregnant and not feeling well—and when I compare it to my experience it's like reliving it.

Or how mine should've been.

Steve didn't want to have an engagement party for obvious reasons now and of course my family had never met his.

My parents had never met his. I didn't know his friends. He said they were all busy people, and we'd meet before the wedding.

There were so many signs.

So why did he propose? When I asked all he said was I shouldn't have done that. That's it. That's the entire explanation he gave me before leaving.

And has never answered my calls or messages to give me any kind of closure.

Just ghosted me.

Asshole.

I didn't even have an engagement ring to throw in the ocean or at a wall. I was just left with a broken heart and truckload of shame.

Having to face my parents in person was hard. My dad looked at me with pity and some kind of self-blame. As if he was responsible for my stupidity.

Mom told me all the things I already knew. "You should have insisted you meet his parents. Where does he really live? What about work. Did you go to his work?"

Thanks Mom. Make a girl who's already down feel worse.

I had gone to his workplace.

Once.

Steve ushered me into his office quickly, which in my naivety felt sexy and forbidden, and closed the door behind us. Then kissed me until I was buzzing.

I never asked why he didn't introduce me to his PA or anyone else. Then, when I left, his PA was at lunch.

Most of the time we hung out at my place. His paid-for apartment had very few personal items and I figured he was just a young bachelor who traveled for work.

Dumb.

Naive.

Never again.

Payton might've found love with Knox Montgomery, but I'm not stupid enough to think Atlas was messaging me for anything more than a do-over from his birthday night.

I shouldn't have done that.

His words triggered me, echoing Steve's regret and lies.

Well, I'm a business owner now and have different priorities. Something a trust fund baby wouldn't understand. Yes, fine, I inherited my grandpa's money, but it's tiny compared to the Montgomery wealth.

Clearly I'm preparing myself to come face-to-face with the gorgeous billionaire once more.

When I hear a noise behind me and turn, I realize nothing could have prepared me.

Holy hell.

My body flares to life, my heart pounding so hard it almost deafens me.

Atlas Montgomery drops his bag and lifts his sunglasses with calm confidence that makes my girly bits clench.

His deep blue jeans hug his body, and he wears a crisp white shirt under a navy blazer making him look like something out of a fashion catalog.

A really expensive one.

His skin is olive and tanned, and those powerful blue eyes lock with mine as his lips twitch.

I'm momentarily spellbound, held in place by how handsome he is.

Flashes of him lying over me, kissing me, lowering between my legs and pleasuring me until I called out his name come rushing back.

Shit.

"Molly," he purrs. "Welcome back."

"I keep forgetting you two know one another," Payton says casually, completely missing our chemistry.

Thankfully.

Knox calls out to her from upstairs, breaking the tension as we all glance up.

"Coming. Atlas, keep Molly company for me," she says, skipping up the stairs.

"It will be my pleasure," Atlas replies with far too much unsaid meaning for my liking.

I swallow and flush from head to toe.

How the hell am I going to survive the next few days?