Page 9 of How to Break My Heart 1

I shake my head with a grin. Maddy is many things, but patient isnotone of them.

Billie joins us, and Maddy quickly announces her news. The ring is brought out again for display, and Billie gushes over the diamond. Since Maddy needs to go, she rushes through the upcoming plans while Billie listens attentively.

Before leaving to see the minister, Maddy hovers behind the counter and takes a glazed donut, shoving it in a brown paper take-out bag. Billie frowns but offers to make her a to-go coffee as well.

“Thanks, Billie.” Maddy sighs dejectedly. “I’ll need a strong one, too, if the minister brings up my virtue.”

“The virtue you gave away when we traveled to Europe that summer before senior year? I’m sorry… what was his name again?”

The summer traveling around Europe was the best time of our lives. We backpacked and met other people our age. It was just one big party and many drunk nights walking the cobblestone streets in uncomfortable heels in whatever country we were in at the time.

Maddy rolls her eyes. “Can we not bring him up, please? I shudder at the thought.”

“Okay, okay…” I raise my hands with a giggle. “I promise not to ruin your memorable day. See you tonight.”

She leans in, kissing me on the cheek before heading toward the door, where she pauses just shy of the couple and dramatically pretends to gag. They have progressed to kissing, and I’m almost certain I catch a glimpse of tongue.

That’s it! They need to take this elsewhere.

“Oh, shit,” Maddy says, turning back to me, “I just remembered, my brother can help you with all the wedding stuff, too. I still have to tell him, but I’ll do that after seeing the minister. Aston won’t say no since he knows I’ll annoy him until he caves. So don’t worry about having to do it all yourself. That’s if Myles’s mother doesn’t drive us all to the nuthouse. Did you know it’s bad luck seeing a nun or monk on your way to your wedding ceremony?”

What the…

My brain is jumping back and forth between the so-called help I’m to receive and the nun or monk just randomly appearing on a wedding day. Cinnamon Springs doesn’t have nuns or monks that I know of. God, this is so beside the point.

Her brother??

“Um, a nun, right…” I mumble.

“I know. Myles’s mother is a piece of work.” Maddy waves with a big smile. “Bye. Love you!”

And in a flash, she’s gone, leaving me completely speechless. The moment she dropped the wordbrother, my stomach twisted.

Thelast thingI want to do is spend one minute with Aston Beaumont.

It’s been eight years since I saw him. No, that’s a lie. Actually, he was passing through town once with his father, and I saw him across the street. It was summer break, and I’d decided to visit for a few days. When I spotted him, I freaked out and ran the other way, and afterward, I felt stupid. So much so, I did tequila shotswith some random tourists passing through town and ended up singing “It’s Raining Men” during karaoke hour onstage in front of the busy Friday-night crowd. It wasn’t my finest moment.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, alerting me to my appointment.

“Great,” I mutter under my breath. “What café owner books a doctor’s appointment to renew her birth control on Valentine’s Day?”

Billie’s warm smile is enough to calm my overwhelming thoughts.

“Go to your appointment. We close in an hour anyway, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nod with a forced smile, but deep inside, my resentment spreads by the second.

How can one guy—a jerk, to be precise—still make me feel this way years later? I’ve moved on, and I’m sure he’s moved on.

It was one stupid kiss.

A billion years ago.

We were kids.

End of story.

CHAPTER 2