For one wild second, I forgot how to breathe.
I turned my head slightly. “What?”
“Keep smiling,” he murmured. “I’ll explain later.”
I should have let go of his arm and demanded answers. I should have walked out right then and left all of them to their nonsense.
Instead, maybe because I was already there and too deep in, maybe because Adam still looked like he was seeing a ghost, I smiled.
And Adrian smiled.
And together we crossed the room like we had absolutely nothing to hide.
Adam met us halfway, moving too fast for a man trying to look casual.
“Nora,” he said. “You came.”
His eyes flicked to Adrian again, and I saw fear in them, something I had never seen before.
I gave him my best pleasant expression. “You invited me.”
Adrian, to his credit, looked almost amused.
Adam said, too evenly, “I didn’t realize you were bringing someone, or that you even knew Adrian.”
I tilted my head. “That’s funny. Your note made such a point of hoping I would come alone. As for Adrian, he is my boyfriend. Apparently, you know him. Tell me how.”
His jaw tightened.
The bride was at his shoulder now, staring openly at Adrian. “What is Adrian doing here? What is your ex doing here?”
Her questions came out sharper than she’d intended. A few nearby guests went quiet.
I looked at her. “You should ask your husband. He invited me.”
She turned to Adam, a look of betrayal on her face, “I thought we agreed we wouldn’t invite our exes.”
Adam looked apologetic and resorted to the fake apology voice he used to use on me, “I am sorry. I just wanted her to see that we were happy.”
“Is that what was more important? Us getting married should be enough. Does she have to know you are happy? Are you not over her?” the bride spiraled as Adrian and I looked on. A few guests were also listening in.
“No, no, that’s not it,” Adam struggled to explain himself, “I love you, and you are enough. I just…”
“Just selfish and caring about you only as usual,” I chimed in, glad to see that Adam had not changed.
The bride turned his attention to us, “And what are you doing with my ex-fiancé?”
Adrian pulled me closer by the waist as I replied, “Oh, you mean my boyfriend. We also just wanted you two to see that we are happy.”
“This is crazy,” the bride murmured.
She directed her steaming anger towards Adam, “Look at the drama that you invited to our wedding. And for what? Just to satisfy your ego.”
As more guests gathered to listen to the drama, I realized I had accomplished what I came to do here. This was not even a celebration of love. It was just my ex-husband showcasing his selfish nature to a larger audience.
“Let’s go,” I told Adrian, “There is no wedding here. Just the endless drama, the ego and selfishness Adam has tends to drag everywhere.”
Adrian nodded, taking that moment to kiss my cheek. We walked away as Adam was still asking his bride to forgive him, that he meant no harm.
Only a delusional man like him could say that after causing harm on a day that should be about their happiest.
