The Better Man
Authors: Cerian Hebert
THE BETTER MAN
By
Cerian Hebert
COPYRIGHT 2012 by Cerian Hebert
All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Visit me at
www.cerianhebert.com
Published in the United States of America
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are
the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any
resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events,
or locales, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To everyone who’s dared to chase new dreams in the
wake of heartbreak.
ALSO
AVAILABLE BY CERIAN HEBERT
WRITING AS
CERI HEBERT
SWEET FOREVER
WHERE ONE ROAD LEADS
WRITING AS
CERIAN HEBERT
FINALLY HOME
THAT KIND OF MAGIC
NO GOING BACK
SWEET AND WILD
DO OVERS
GOING GOING GONE~
Coming Summer
2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
“…I hope
someday you’ll forgive me.”
The tears
rolling off Lorelei’s cheek fell onto the single sheet of paper, turning the
signature into a splotch of blue ink. She didn’t have to see the frigging
signature anyway. This was the second time she’d read the damned letter. The
bastard! The rotten, lousy, son of a bitch bastard! She leaned back against the
wall and slid down until she settled in a cloud of white tulle.
Her fist closed
around the letter. She crumpled it into a tight ball and threw it across the
floor. The paper ball bounced once and rolled up against the shiny black toe of
Will’s dress shoe.
“I’m really
sorry, Lori.” Will stepped over the crumpled note.
“It’s not your
fault, is it? Did you make it all happen?” Lori glared up at the man. He’d shed
the black tux jacket and tie.
“No, but I can
be sorry anyway, can’t I?”
Lori furrowed
her brows and dragged the wispy white veil from her hair.
It made her
head ache. She balled it up like she had the letter and tossed it as far away
as possible. Unfortunately, the light material didn’t go far. It parachuted
open and floated gracefully to the floor, pure white against the rich, dark-red
carpet.
“What are you
doing here anyway?” Angrily, she swiped at the tears in her eyes with her
pristine, white, elbow-length glove, ruining the material with an ugly black
smear of mascara.
“I’m concerned
about you.”
Lori continued
to glare. “Shouldn’t you be with him? After all, you are his best man.”
Will’s jaw
tensed and his eyes narrowed slightly, but otherwise he remained still, his
gaze firmly holding hers.
“I’m your
friend, too. More your friend than his. Don’t think I condone his choice.”
Deep down she
believed him, but for the moment, she kept him lumped in the same category as
her runaway groom, an easy target for her anger and disappointment. She didn’t
want pity from Will or anyone else. She couldn’t deal with the shame and
embarrassment she would encounter as a jilted bride. Her stomach churned at the
thought. She was tempted to curl up into a tight ball and wait for everyone to
leave.
“Is everyone
still out there?” She shifted her gaze down to the black mascara stain on her
glove. She peeled the glove off and let it drop onto her lap.
“Most of
Brian’s side left. His parents are still out there. I think they’re pretty
horrified over this and want to say something to you. Your bridesmaids are
ready to bust the door down to get to you and smother you with support, and I
think your parents and brother are plotting Brian’s demise.”
Always the
comic.
A smile tugged at her mouth but died before it could completely
form. The heartbreak pulled her down, along with the black anger.
Her fingers
tightened around the lacy skirt of her gown. If only it were Brian’s neck.
She leaned back
against the wall, closed her eyes, and relaxed her fists in a half-hearted
attempt to squash the fury simmering deep inside. She wanted to block out any
reminder of what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, like the
sight of the bouquet she’d hurled against the wall after reading Brian’s
letter. She had no idea where the one-carat diamond engagement ring she’d sent
flying across the room had gone. She didn’t give a good goddamn, either.
Slowly, in the silence broken by Will’s even breathing, Lori let her anger
recede, if only for a moment.
“Why did he do
this, Will? Why like this?”
“I have no
idea.”
His voice was
close. She opened her eyes and found him sitting on the floor next to her. “I
had no clue he was unhappy or even seeing someone else. I feel like such an
idiot.” Anger flashed hot in her belly again.
“Don’t, because
you’re not.”
“Easy for you
to say. You’re not in my place right now.” Despite the warmth in his gray eyes,
she didn’t want comfort. Misery raged inside, pushing at her chest, and stuck
in her throat until she thought she would choke on it.
Will lifted her
hand in his and held it, his thumb stroking gently.
Reluctantly,
Lori allowed him the contact and concentrated on the soothing touch, letting it
sink into her skin. A long moment passed. Her heartbeat slowed from a rapid
hammer to a steadier rhythm.
“I guess I
can’t hide here all day. Won’t solve anything.” She drew in a breath and slowly
released it to disperse the tension that had her heart in a stranglehold.
“Gotta face all the people out there. It’s going to be horrible.”
Will squeezed
her hand and bumped her shoulder with his. “They love you and they’ll be fine.
You’ll be fine.”
She grimaced at
his promise. “I don’t want them to feel sorry for me.”
Will pushed
himself to his feet and held his hand out to her. She didn’t accept it for a
long moment, but regarded him with interest, wondering why he’d been able to
calm her. If one of her bridesmaids were here, no doubt she’d whip Lori into a
frenzy. Instead, Will managed to steady her. She accepted his hand, allowing
him to help her to her feet.
“First I’m
going to change out of this thing.” She fingered the skirt of the gown she’d
chosen for this day. Her dream gown. Her dream wedding and her dream man. What
a damned joke. “Tell everyone out there to stay put.”
He nodded and
leaned forward to kiss her gently on the cheek. Warmth filled her at the simple
gesture. Leave it to Will to help her get through. She knew she could count on
him. Silently, he left the room.
Hanging onto
the tenuous calm Will had instilled, she changed back into her own clothes and
shoved her wedding gown, veil, and shoes into the garbage can in the bathroom.
After a quick search, she discovered the engagement ring by the window and
stuffed it in her pocket. She sucked in a breath one last time to push back the
nerves that had begun to fray and left the security of the little dressing
room.
Head held high,
Lori marched down the quiet hall and into the church. When she got to the door,
about fifty people milled around. Cold little fingers of doubt and humiliation
poked at her belly. Maybe she could just sneak out the back way, go home, and
hope that Brian had packed his stuff so she could be by herself. Unfortunately,
her maid of honor caught sight of her and cried out her name before she could
make a move toward the back door.
Approximately
fifty heads turned together.
Lori wanted to
sink into the floor, never to be seen again. Instead, she pinned on her best
smile, prayed her eyes weren’t too red from crying, and marched out into the
church. Immediately, voices rose, surrounding her in a sea of concern.
“No, I’m all
right, really.” With a forced smile, she tried to back out of the huddle. She
needed air.
She looked at
the faces of her friends and family, thankful for the genuine concern, the
half-smiles and even a tear or two. She straightened her shoulders and gave
them a brighter smile. “Well, I guess the wedding is off. I’m going to be okay
but, at the moment, I’d rather not discuss it. However, unless someone called
and canceled it, there’s a reception waiting over at the Palmwood Inn. I don’t
see any point wasting all that food and music, so why don’t we just go over
there and have a party anyway.”
A murmur went
through the crowd, some nods of approval, some heads shaking. At the back of
the group, Lori caught Will’s eye. He didn’t smile. Just stared hard at her,
one eyebrow raised. He didn’t approve. Lori broke away from his gaze and
searched the room until she spotted a couple standing off to the side by
themselves, stiff, but fidgeting nervously like they were next in line for
execution. Compassion for her almost in-laws filled her, displacing some of the
anger and hurt. She smiled at them. After all, they’d treated her like family
over the past seven years. She honestly liked them, and they weren’t to blame
because their son turned out to be a cheating dog.
Lori turned away
from them and addressed the guests again. “So get into your cars and head over.
Bridesmaids, go hold the limo for me, I’ll be right out. And save me some
champagne.” She grinned to disguise her heartbreak.
She’d
concentrate on being pissed off tonight. Tomorrow, she’d worry about the
broken-hearted part. But first, she wanted to talk to Brian’s parents.
With her
attention back on them, she eased through the crowd. Phyllis Petrin seized Lori’s
hands in a chilly grip and regarded at her through red-rimmed eyes. Apparently,
Lori hadn’t been the only one crying over this fiasco.
“I can’t tell
you how shocked and mortified we are over this, Lorelei. There was no
indication that Brian even considered this.”
Obviously,
Brian’s deeds had hurt more than just her. Had he even taken his parent’s
feelings into consideration? Indignation for their hurt joined her own outrage.
Lori nodded solemnly and squeezed the other woman’s hands. “I understand.
Please don’t think I’m angry with you. If I’d known…well, I guess that doesn’t
matter now, does it? If you two would like to come over to the inn you’re more
than welcome.” Maybe they could comfort each other. God only knew she could use
someone to lean on.
Phyllis shook
her head.
“No, I think,
under the circumstances, it would be better if we just go home.” Brian’s
father, Ernie, eyed the door longingly.
She certainly
couldn’t blame them for wanting to bow out. Lori hugged them both and bid them
goodbye.
The church was
nearly empty. Apparently, her guests had taken her advice. Will, however, stood
at the door, watching her closely, the frown still on his face. She couldn’t
tell if it was from concern or disapproval. She went to him.
“You going to
the inn?”
Will nodded,
his jaw tight. “I’ll be there. I just wanted to make sure you really want to do
this.”
“Party?
Absolutely. We paid a lot of money for the reception hall and I’ll be damned if
it goes to waste. I plan to get stinking drunk tonight and deal with this in
the morning. I’d let you ride with us in the limo…” Lori looked the best man up
and down. Will had been her best friend for years now, nearly as long as she’d
known Brian. He was a good-looking man, tall, with a solid build, short brown
hair with a cowlick and serious gray eyes. He wasn’t as lighthearted as Brian,
not the life of the party, but there was something women found sexy about the
strong silent type. “But I don’t think you’d stand a chance against those
girls.”
Finally, he
smiled, a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. “I’m glad you still have a
sense of humor.” Will leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“I’ll see you
at the inn.”
With Will at
her side, Lori walked out of the deserted church. They parted company as she
climbed into the limo with her friends. Immediately her maid of honor pushed a
glass of champagne into her hand. Lori slumped back in the seat and sucked in a
deep breath, relieved to have the first step of this jilted bride fiasco out of
the way.
“Here’s to
being single,” Lori muttered and held up the tall flute of pale gold liquid.
Everyone
clinked
their glasses together in agreement.
“But let’s get
one thing straight. I do not want to discuss the status of my relationship with
Brian. Not one word. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me tonight. I just
want to have a good time.” The women in the car nodded with approval, raising
their glasses again. The car was filled with the sound of clinking glass. “I’ve
been granted a reprieve from what could’ve been the biggest mistake of my life
and I want to savor that. Agreed?”
Her maid of
honor, Tamara, filled Lori’s glass again and wrapped her arm around Lori’s
shoulders. “We promise not to invoke the name ‘Brian’ at all tonight.”
They proceeded
to polish off the bottle of champagne before the ten minute ride to the inn
ended. The alcohol provided a nice little buzz to start the evening and when Lori
entered the large reception hall, surrounded by an entourage of beautifully
dressed friends, a thunder of applause greeted her.
She paused at
the door and looked around at all the people who cared for and supported her.
Tears welled up, threatening to choke her with their intensity.
But given the choice
of either facing this evening bravely or hunting down and slugging Brian, she
chose the former, gave a lopsided grin and waved. Yes, she’d made the right
decision to carry on with the reception. After all, this was supposed to be
her
day, and she’d do it without Brian.
She stiffened her
back and walked into the crowd.
* * *
“You think
she’s all right?” Connie leaned against the bar next to Will, but she kept her
attention focused on the would-be bride who fumbled her way through the
Electric Slide. Lori was laughing with her maid of honor as she missed another
move.
“Give her a
little more time.” Will didn’t think she was fine, no matter how much she
smiled the night away. She covered her anguish well, but he doubted there was a
person in the room who thought she was okay. “Just let her have her fun.”
Connie sighed.
“She’s going to feel this in the morning.”
Whether Connie
meant the amount of alcohol Lori had consumed or Brian’s abandonment, Will
wasn’t sure. Both would probably slug her like a sledgehammer come daylight.
Over half the
guests had already left. Those who remained were from the bride’s half of the
party and some close friends who were more than happy to hold her up. Will
could’ve left long ago. He certainly hadn’t come to join in the fun, more to
watch over her.
Connie waved
toward the dancers but looked up at Will, her mouth in a tight line. “Maybe we
should try to call quits to this. She needs to sleep. She’s got a room here so
at least she doesn’t have to stay at their apartment.”