They weren’t my friends.

He kept coming, but I stood my ground even though every muscle quaked with unease. Dash moved forward to stand in front of me, but I wouldn’t mistake it as the need to protect.

Sheldon, who still had not spoken a word, managed to intercept him. Keiran and Lake also moved forward, but their concern was also for Keenan.

I needed out so I could regroup.

When I unbounded the plane this afternoon, I didn’t expect any of this. I was thrown into a lion’s den, but at this point, I couldn’t tell which were the culprits and which the lions.

I was alone and would be forever if I didn’t do what I was told. I wasn’t the one at stake. My mother and brother were.

“Maybe I should go.” Because I wasn’t the bitch they all believed me to be, I met Sheldon’s stare and searched for the right words. Once upon a time, she was a best friend, and I ruined what would have been the best day of her life. “Sheldon, I’m—”

“What’s going on in here?” The Chambers burst through the library door, followed by a little girl with dark hair. I knew exactly who she was and who she belonged to. The resemblance was uncanny. “Your guests are worried.”

“Mommy, daddy, I throw flowers now.” The little girl held up her baskets of flowers, practically vibrating with excitement and innocence.

“Kennedy.” I hadn’t realized I’d spoken her name until she, along with everyone else, turned their attention to me once more. I knew Sheldon had gotten pregnant the night of prom, but I had never set eyes on her. I remembered Sheldon had favored the name Kennedy and only assumed she had gone through with it.

“Hi,” she cheerfully greeted. Her arm shot out and at the end of it was a hand full of orange flower petals.

“Oh—um… thank you.” I felt out of place and every bit the intruder, and though I never asked for any of this, I felt responsible.

I couldn’t allow guilt to overrule my judgment. I was without a choice, which also meant I was without a conscience.

“I’m sorry. Who are you?” the man I recognized as Dash’s father questioned.

“Dad, you remember Willow. She was Sheldon’s friend,” Dash offered.

Was.

As in not anymore.

Damn, that hurt.

What also hurt was the disregard he had not only for me but our previous relationship and the fact that once upon a time I was his friend, too.

And much more than that—I loved him.

Loving him, in fact, was never the issue. Being with him meant sacrificing more than I was sure I had to give. It meant taking a chance and believing that one day, he might not believe I was a mistake.

“Ah, yes,” he responded pleasantly, but the look in his eyes made it clear that he didn’t approve of my presence or remember me in the least. And why should he? I had been Dash’s dirty little secret and always would have been had I stuck around to fall for his lies as well as him.

“The wedding should have begun twenty minutes ago. Why are you all in here, and Sheldon, why aren’t you dressed?”

“There was a small hiccup that we are trying to straighten out.”

“Well, what is it?” their mother question while casting side glances of disapproval my way. It was clear to them that I was the culprit.

“Nothing for you to worry about. Make some excuse for the guests.”

“Oh, God. This isn’t one of Keenan’s problems, is it? What is it? Does she want money?”

“Mom, enough. This is nothing like that. Now, please give us some privacy.”

Their mother looked ready to protest, and since I couldn’t handle any more slights at my character, I decided to intervene. “It’s okay, really. I’m leaving anyway. I’m sorry to have intruded.”

I was able to escape the room without being stopped and made for the nearest exit as quickly as possible. Being thrown out of a moving van left me with aching muscles, but I ignored the pain and concentrated on getting out of dodge.

In the distance, I heard my name being called, and as his voice closed in, I moved faster.

“No,” he said simply as his hand closed around my arm. “If you’re leaving, I’m taking you wherever you need to go.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need your help. I can manage.”

“Clearly,” he snarled sarcastically. I didn’t get a chance to say anything further because he dragged me out behind him. This was all happening so fast that my head literally spun. There were two of him now, and I couldn’t figure out which one to plead to. My head pounded and my steps slowed until he really was all but dragging me.