Chapter 10

"Soon to be ex-husband," Riley hastened to clarify, and managed to smile through gritted teeth.

She didn't know why Maya felt compelled to bring up her and Lucas' history now.

The bride-to-be's perfectly arched brows flew upward as she turned to the man at her side. "I didn't realize you'd been married."

"I am still married," Lucas said. "I wasn't lying when I told you that my relationship is complicated."

Lily lifted a hand to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. The action drew Riley's attention to the stunning—and enormous—diamond on the other woman's third finger.

She'd never had an engagement ring. When she'd married Lucas, they didn't even exchanged simple gold bands. Their wedding could best be termed brief and business–like. Two altar boys had stood up with them as their witness. They had not had their family or other friends. No fancy cake. No reception. A very sad wedding, now that she thought about it.

But he'd done what he thought was right.

Riley had been pregnant with his baby. He married her.

Riley wished now that they had rings to symbolized their legal union; a diamond like the one that flashed on Lily's finger symbolized so much more.

"I realized that this is an unusual situation but I am willing to overlook this hiccup and move forward. Everyone has their past and Ms. Matthews is obviously yours Lucas." Lily said.

"That's very astute of you," Maya lied, deliberately ignoring the look Riley was giving her. "But under the circumstances, I thinks it's best that you get someone else to help plan your wedding."

The other woman shook her head vehemently. "No. I want Perfect Moments to make the arrangements for my wedding. You're company had garnered positive reviews and I've seen pictures of the weddings you had planned and I liked what I saw."

"It's nice to hear that we are becoming popular but I have to be honest, majority of the planning, decorations and details that goes to each wedding we planned are done by Riley. Riley is the talent and heart of Perfect Moments," Maya admitted. "It's best that you hire another wedding planner for your wedding." Maya told Lily once again.

Lily frowned. "Miss Matthews do you agree with Miss Hart?"

"I do," Riley decided.

"That's too bad," Lily assured Riley. "But I guess I understand. Lucas and I hadn't—or even wanted—to fall in love. But when we met, it was like a bolt of lightning."

He's not usually impulsive, Riley said not realizing she said it out loud.

"Neither am I," Lily told her. "But when you meet the right person—" her smile was absolutely radiant "—you just know it's right."

Lucas looked over at Riley, curious about her reaction to Lily's announcement. Riley tilted her head slightly to one side as she studied him, and was that anger he saw move across her face? The quick glance she sent in his direction—quickly averted—revealed that she wasn't just angry, she's close to tears. Without saying a word she simply turned on her heel and marched off down the hall, away from him.

Not that he could blame her. Lucas had screwed up—there was no reason to sugarcoat that truth.

"That's very nice. We wish you all the best Miss Watson and Mister Friar," Maya cautioned, reaching for her clipboard. "I'm afraid we have to cut this meeting short since we have another consultation in about five minutes."

…

After showing Lily and Lucas out—and a long-overdue telephone conversation with Farkle—Maya had thrown herself into keeping Smackle up to date.

"How bad was it?"

"It was awful," Maya admitted edgily. "You should have seen her. She's hurt—more than hurt. I felt betrayed! So can you imagine how she feels? Smackle I wanted to punch his face."

"Why didn't you?" Smackle asked in a firm voice.

Maya grinned at her friend's comment. Isadora Smackle had come a long way from being a nerd. "Believe me, I so wanted to but you know Riley. If she can chastise us about swearing, what do you think she'll do if I physically hurt Huckleberry?"

"Send you to a corner," Smackle answered back.

"That's our Riles." Maya gripped her phone before continuing, "Smackle, I'm scared for her. This is a completely different Riley. She's eerily calm. I went to her office to check up on her and I found her on the phone talking to one of our vendors like nothing happened."

Maya waited ten minutes after hanging up on Smackle before making her way to Riley's office.

'How are you doing?' Stupid question, really. The poor woman looked devastated but was trying hard to be brave.

'Not so well, actually.' Riley looked up with red-rimmed eyes. 'I'm pretty damned angry right now. I need to think…work out what to do next.'

Riley said damn. Oh yeah, her friend is definitely mad. Maya can see that Riley is already going through a mental tick list of things that needed doing, regardless of how wretched she felt inside. 'You don't have to work anything out right now. You just need some time out and some space. Leave all the organizational things to me or Tara. Go visit your parents or call Farkle. Do something, anything Riley. Just whatever you do, do not go back to that dark place.'

Riley bit her bottom lip. 'I won't Maya. I promised you I would never do anything that stupid ever again didn't I? Have I ever broken a promise? '

'Never.' Maya shook her head then pasted on a bright smile. 'Come on, honey, let's sneak round the back and make a quick getaway. I think a huge drink is in order.'

"That's nice peaches…" Riley paused, eyes growing as she saw the person behind Maya. 'Oh, hello. You're back.'

Maya didn't need to turn to know who Riley was talking to. 'Yes, I would like a word with you Miss Matthews.'

Riley blinked, and when she spoke her voice was still raw. 'I don't think that's a good idea.'

Lily Watson's voice was smooth and cold. 'It may not be a good idea but it is necessary. You and I need to have an understanding. You were a part of Lucas' past and I would like to keep it that way. I don't want any complications and I've never been good at sharing. I am going to marry Lucas next month and nothing and no one is going to change that. Miss Matthews, I am Lucas' present and future and I don't want you to be a part of that.'

When Riley spoke she was calmer, but still pale. 'Look, I don't want to go over this with you. This is between me and Lucas. We were finished years ago.'

'Things have change.'

Riley's eyes brimmed with tears. 'Not for me, they haven't.'