Or to renege and just go with Cal.

She could always make some excuse to her mom that Xavier couldn’t attend. Why did it feel like such a big deal to have her mother choose her companion for the wedding, anyway? Losing control of her life for just one day shouldn’t be a big deal.

Yet that one day loomed like an eternity of hell on earth. Xavier seemed like the cure to all her problems. Her friend that she’d just thrown under the bus.

Too sick at her lie to eat, she threw on her sandals and grabbed her purse before realizing she hadn’t put on any makeup. But did it matter?

Of course, because if she went without, she’d no doubt run into a bazillion people she knew. And if she put it on, she’d end up seeing no one.

With a sigh, she decided on a quick swipe of mascara and eye liner just as someone knocked.

Startled, she hurried to the front door and looked through the peephole to see Xavier.

Her heart raced, and nerves flooded her.

The universe had apparently decided she should confront the victim of her ugly lies.

She opened the door to see him holding coffee and pastries, like the last time he’d come to visit.

With a groan, she welcomed him inside. “Hey, Xavier.”

“Oh boy. You sound terrible. But you’re up and dressed. What happened?”

She plunked herself at her kitchen table and sunk her head into her hands. “I have to apologize for something, and I’m so sorry. I just need you to hear me out.”

He sat with her and took one of her hands in his. “Hey, you can tell me anything.”

“You’re making this so much harder.” She sighed. Truthfully, what she’d done wasn’t that terrible. But she felt as if she’d stepped over some line, perhaps harming their fragile trust with each other in some way. “My mom just called me.”

“Uh-oh,” he joked. He stroked her hand, and a shiver of pleasure stole through her. When he shifted, she smelled his cologne, a subtle scent that had her body waking up when she really needed it to stay asleep.

“Look, there’s no easy way to say this.” She stared him in the eyes, aware his were so incredibly pretty, a light brown ringed by a darker brown, filled with care and affection. She swallowed. “I lied to my mom and told her you were my plus-one when she said she’d decided I’d go with Cal.”

He didn’t falter in any way. “So you were ‘assigned’ someone else and decided to take me instead.”

“Well, I lied. I, ah, kind of told my mom I’d met someone.” She tried to tug her hand from his, but he didn’t relax his grip, so she stilled. “I told her your name. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want any entanglement with Cal. He’s nice, but I don’t want a date I didn’t choose. And really, I should just be able to go alone so—”