Baiting the Maid of Honor (Wedding Dare #2)(38)

He tried to tighten his hold, but it was too late. His irritated curse echoed through the woods. “You want to know who you are with me? Maybe you’re finally being yourself. You stop worrying about pleasing everyone else and finally focus on pleasing Julie.” He swiped an impatient hand through his hair. “Maybe you stop trying to be your sister for a goddamn minute.”

The words had barely left his mouth before Julie started backing away, gulping air into her lungs. It felt as though she’d been hit in the stomach with a two-by-four. She backed away, holding up a hand when he came toward her. “H-how dare…you? Who do you think you are?”

“I didn’t mean it to come out like that.”

“But you meant it,” she sputtered. “About me trying to be Serena.”

His next words were low and punctuated. “This people-pleasing bullshit…it’s going to take a toll on you, Julie. It’ll never be enough. You can’t live up to a memory. No one can.”

Her insides shook at his words. She refused to recognize the possible truth behind them. A truth that had never occurred to her. It hurt to think about it, so she struck back the only way she could to keep the thoughts at bay. “You don’t get to diagnose me. Not when you’re such a mess yourself. You flinch when I hug you. You hide in your dark corner, scaring everyone off who might actually talk to you.”

“You’re right.” He shrugged stiffly. “I’m f*cked up. At least I admit it.”

“And that makes it okay?” Needing to occupy her hands, she snatched the flashlight off the ground. “I’d rather make people happy. I’d rather people feel comfortable coming to me for help than alienate everyone. Keeping everyone at arm’s length because I’m terrified to be happy.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “I guess that’s where we differ.”

“Oh, I can think of at least a thousand ways we differ.” She felt the pressing need to lash out at him. To make him hurt as badly as she did in that moment. Not only had he taken the trust she’d shown him and used it to expose her as a fraud, but now he couldn’t be acting more coldhearted if he tried. Right when she needed him most, she could see him turning to stone in front of her eyes, and she wanted to watch that wall crumble to the ground. “Looks like I really did walk into the wrong room that first night, huh?”

His whole body jerked. “Take it back.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

Voices approached, shattering the strained silence. Loud, arguing voices. One of which Julie immediately recognized as Christine. Relief and disappointment warred within her. Relief that her friend was safe and unharmed. Disappointment that this scene between them still felt unfinished. What would he have said next? What would he have done to convince her to take the statement back? Ridiculous, pointless thoughts that wouldn’t matter now that he’d painted the forest with her insecurities. Told her how he really saw her. This bitter, unsatisfying ending had been inevitable. She’d just had a ton of bricks dropped on her head, having Serena’s ghost thrown in her face on today of all days. Perhaps it was best if they left the ending unspoken. She simply couldn’t suffer one more blow.

Julie turned in the direction of the voices and started walking. “I’m done talking about this.”

He laughed darkly. “We’re not done until you take back what you said.”

She scoffed. “I think your ego is large enough to survive one tiny blow.” Hearing him closing in on her, she picked up her pace. “This has been a god-awful waste of time.”

“Walked into the wrong room, Julie?” His arm snaked around her belly, stopping her in her tracks. When he pulled her back against his wall of strength, she felt herself begin to melt, but somehow kept her posture rigid. He only held her tighter, molding himself to her back. His breath fanned over her neck as he spoke. “How fast do you think I can prove you wrong?”

“Let me go,” she said through clenched teeth, struggling with enough effort that he had no choice but to free her or risk injuring her. As soon as she regained her balance, she whirled on him. “I have no doubt you could prove, once again, that I’m attracted to you. It’s what comes afterward. The nothing that comes afterward that matters. You’re not capable of anything more. So just…walk away, Reed.”

If she blinked, she would have missed the stricken look that flashed in his face. Just as quickly, though, it was gone and replaced with his signature granite countenance. It made her want to stomp and scream at him to get the first reaction back. At least it would prove this thing between them had meant something.

“Nothing was ever supposed to come afterward,” he said woodenly. “I never claimed I could give that to you.”

Christine came into view then, being carried down the path by Tyler. They both looked incredibly annoyed, leaves and forest debris clinging to their clothing and hair. When she saw Christine wince in pain, concern for her friend trumped all else and Julie walked away from Reed, who looked frozen to the spot.

“What happened?”

Christine opened her mouth to reply, but Tyler spoke first, his green eyes flashing angrily. “Ankle sprain.”

She ignored Reed’s weary sigh behind her and went into fix-it mode. Relief, she was ashamed to admit, spread in her belly at having something to focus on beside the man burning holes into her back. “Oh, you poor thing. Let’s get you back to the resort right now. Ice and elevation, that’s what you need. We’ll get it fixed up real good. Don’t you worry, sweetheart. I’m going to have room service bring you up a big old cup of coffee and some chocolate. Aunt Sylvie always said there’s nothing you can’t cure with chocolate and time.” She patted Tyler on the arm, but he didn’t take his eyes off Christine. “Can you carry her the rest of the way or should—”