“Oh, phone,” she said, coming back to him and holding out her hand.

He put it in her palm, and she began scrolling through as she headed into the dressing room.

She pulled the curtain closed, then popped her head out a second later.

“Clarke!” She held up the phone in exasperation. “You didn’t get a single shot of us kissing! That would have knocked Scandal Boy down a peg or two.”

“Sorry, babe,” he said off-handedly, pulling out his own phone as though he hadn’t a care in the world. As though he weren’t shaken to his core that his reasons for kissing her had nothing to do with Scandal Boy and everything to do with the fact that he wanted her naked. And he wanted her to want him back.

Chapter Twenty

TUESDAY, MARCH 3

Audrey shut her laptop and stood, pressing her hands to the small of her back and arching backward, as she wondered if it would be a good idea to do some yoga to loosen up after a full day of sitting at the computer.

She’d just launched a new wedding resources section on her website, her brain already bursting with ideas for its future, even after her own wedding. She could interview other brides and keep in touch with the Wedding Belles to promote new venues and vendors. The Pinterest possibilities alone were mind blowing.

Someone knocked at her door, and she went to answer it, fully expecting it to be Clarke with takeout.

But it wasn’t Clarke.

“Elizabeth,” Audrey said, surprised by the sight of Clarke’s ex-girlfriend standing on her front porch. “Come in.”

“Thanks,” Elizabeth said. “I’m really sorry to intrude like this. I got your address from Linda—”

“Clarke’s mom gave you my address?” That couldn’t be good.

Elizabeth nodded. “I should have called, but some things are best said in person. And I was afraid if I asked permission to come over, you’d tell me no, which would entirely be within your rights…”

Audrey’s eyebrows lifted. Elizabeth was floundering, something she didn’t imagine the cool, composed Elizabeth was accustomed to. “Here, let me get you a drink. Tea? Coffee? Wine?”

“No,” Elizabeth said quickly as Audrey moved toward the kitchen. “This will be quick. I just need two minutes.”

“All right.” Audrey clasped her fingers loosely in front of her and waited.

Elizabeth exhaled. “I wanted to say that I’m sorry. Truly, very sorry.”

“For…”

Audrey had a good idea what for, but she was curious about Elizabeth’s take on the past couple months.

Elizabeth’s smile was tight. “For trying to steal your fiancé.”

“Ah,” Audrey said lightly. “That.”

“I know this is no excuse,” Elizabeth said, rushing, “But to be honest, when I first moved back, when you and Clarke first announced you were engaged, I thought—”

“You thought it was a joke.”