Nash’s brow furrows, his mouth falling open. “What?” He gasps. “No, Murph. Of course not. Why would you even say that?”

Quite frankly, I don’t know why I asked that. But, stubbornly, I fold my arms over my chest, shaking my head as I turn, continuing along the path. Nash falls into step beside me as we walk in an overwrought silence, thick and heavy with tension until we come to a stop overlooking the lake. He’s still watching me. I can feel his eyes on me. But I choose to focus intently on the clubhouse as it glows in the darkness like a beacon in the distance.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he finally asks.

This time, it’s me gaping at him, wondering if he can even be serious. “Well, that’s fresh coming from you.” I laugh. “Mr. ‘Oh, by the way, here’s an invitation to my wedding in a week’…” I quirk one of my eyebrows.

“Okay.” Nash chuckles, obviously not missing the irony within his question. “I see your point.”

I’m still annoyed, but I manage to let it go, huffing out a sigh with a nonchalant shrug. “It’s no big deal, anyway.”

“Are you kidding me, Murph?” He laughs again, his eyes blazing beneath the glow of the moon, bluer than I’ve ever seen them. “My two best friends are together,” he continues with his hands in the air as if to further emphasize his point. “After everything we’ve been through, the three of us—” He stops himself, biting down on his bottom lip as he looks away a moment before recovering and offering me a smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “It’s a huge deal!”

I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. I’ve never lied to Nash, before. I know I need to come clean. I owe it to him, and to Harley as well. Harley doesn’t need to be dragged into my momentary lapse in judgment. It just isn’t right. But none of this is right. Only a few months ago, I was with Nash in New York City, and we shared the most loving, most romantic night together. Now, suddenly, he’s moved on, while I’ve been sitting around for five months waiting for him to come back to me, to profess his love for me, to give me the happily ever after I’ve been dreaming about since I was a 9-year-old girl. He’s supposed to be mine. He and I are meant for one another; we always have been. I’m hurt and I’m angry, and if Nash has moved on, then I want him to know that I have too. And, with his best friend of twenty years, nonetheless.

But it’s all a lie. And what am I supposed to say now? Oh yeah, about that whole Harley and me thing? I was just lying because I don’t want you thinking I’ve been sitting around waiting for you for the last five months. Well, the last five years, actually.

Thankfully, before I can even begin to explain or confess my lie, we’re interrupted by the sound of footsteps crunching over the loose pebbles on the path behind us. I breathe a sigh of relief, my shoulders sagging. But then I turn to see Harley walking toward us with his head bowed, his hands shoved deep into the front pockets of his pants, and my stomach twists. When he looks up, his eyes are full of an obvious trepidation as he tentatively approaches us. “Everything okay?” he asks, looking between the two of us as he rocks back and forth on his feet.