"If he ever gives you trouble, you come to me. Cole and I go way back, but I won't take his side. I've got your back."
A few people around us clapped and cheered.
"That's our Sloane! Still has a flair for the dramatic!"
Sloane paused, then looked past me to Cole, who was sitting on my other side.
"Hey, what's with you? We haven't seen each other in three years. Why so quiet?"
The partygoers kept drinking and chatting, but their eyes were glued to the three of us, terrified of missing a single beat of the drama.
Cole's ears turned a tell-tale red.
He didn't even dare to look at her. He raised his glass, his tone straining to sound lighthearted. "I don't know what to say. We're not exactly close anymore."
Sloane let out a soft laugh. "So it's my fault we lost touch?" She raised her glass. "Well, we can fix that. Let's make a point to keep in touch."
Cole glanced at me before answering, "I'm on a tight leash now. If you want to find me, you'll have to go through my fiancée first."
They clinked their glasses and shared a smile, as if wiping the slate of the past clean.
Their words were simple and direct, with no hidden meaning I could decipher. And yet, sitting between them, I felt like I was suffocating.
Perhaps it was because after three years together, I knew Cole's body language all too well. And tonight, I could see he was wound far too tight.
The night devolved into a blur of drinking, singing, and party games, leaving most of the guests stumbling drunk by the end.
Cole lost to Sloane in a drinking game and had to choose Truth or Dare.
Sloane, who had been the picture of elegance all night, finally dropped the pretense. Tipsy, she tilted her head and asked playfully, "If I show up at your wedding, will you leave with me?"
Instantly, the already excited crowd went wild.
"Finally! The gloves are off!"
"Yeah, now this is the real show!"
"Come on, Cole, tell us! Would you leave with her?"
Cole's eyes were bloodshot from the alcohol. He stared at Sloane, his gaze a vortex of conflicting emotions. Then, with utmost seriousness, he uttered a single word, "I will."
The room erupted.
"I knew it!"
"This is going to be good! Someone's crashing the wedding!"
Their cheers drew the attention of everyone in the entire venue.
Sitting between them, I felt like the walls were closing in. I couldn't breathe, and my hands started to tremble.
I didn't know how to react. I mumbled something about needing fresh air and made my escape to the terrace.
I held back my tears and sent a text to my best friend, Chloe Montgomery.
"Can you come pick me up as soon as possible?"
Her call came through immediately. "What's wrong? Did someone mess with you?"
"No, just... don't ask. Can you just come, please?" My voice was trembling, and I was barely holding it together.
Chloe's tone turned urgent. "I'm on my way! Ten minutes—no, seven!"
"It's not that urgent. Drive safe."
"Shut up!"
...
Seven minutes later, Chloe's Lamborghini screeched to a halt, the tires smoking.
The moment I saw her, my defenses crumbled, and tears streamed down my face.
Chloe grabbed my hand, her voice a low growl. "What the hell did you do to her?" Her eyes snapped to Cole. "Are you blind? Can't you see she's upset? And you're just standing there?"
Chloe's family was ridiculously wealthy. She had always been cool and defiant, and right now, her presence was overwhelming. The entire room fell silent.
Her sharp gaze landed on Sloane. "Oh. It's you."
Sloane stood up and took my hand, smiling as if we were the best of friends. "We were just playing a game. Why so serious? I can be a bit oblivious and didn't realize you'd take it to heart. My bad."
Chloe pulled me behind her and snarled, "Get your hands off her. You're not oblivious. You're a venomous bitch."
