A World of Beauty Behind Me Chapter 2

Summer casually settled into the seat beside me. She pulled a bottle of perfume from her purse and offered it to me. “A wedding gift. This scent is incredibly sophisticated; I’ve worn it for seven or eight years.” She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

I had to admit, she was graceful and charming. Even her wedding gift was for me, not Mike. I accepted it and thanked her. Then she pulled out her phone to add me on social media.

“If anyone ever gives you trouble, remember to tell me. Even though Mike and I grew up together, I’m not playing the ‘family’ card. I’ll always have your back!”

The friends around us applauded. “Still our fearless leader, Summer! Always so sharp!”

Summer paused, then looked past me at Mike, who sat on my other side. “Hey, what’s up with you? Three years and you’ve become a man of so few words?”

The others were drinking, gossiping, their eyes glued to the three of us, desperate not to miss any juicy drama. Mike’s ears visibly flushed. He couldn’t even bring himself to turn and look at her. He just held his drink, trying for a lighthearted tone. “Not few words, just… we’re strangers now. Don’t know what to say.”

Summer laughed. “Is that my fault for not keeping in touch these past three years?” She raised her glass to him. “Then let’s keep in touch more often from now on?”

Mike glanced at me. “My wife keeps me on a tight leash. If you want to connect with me, you’ll have to go through her first.”

They exchanged smiles, a silent truce in the air, then clinked their glasses together. Everything was out in the open, no hidden meanings, just straightforward. But for some reason, sitting between them, my chest felt heavy. Maybe it was because, after three years together, I understood Mike’s body language intimately. Tonight, he was incredibly nervous.

Drinks flowed, songs were sung, and games were played. As the party wound down, everyone was a little tipsy. Mike lost a round of ‘truth or dare’ to Summer and chose ‘truth’. Summer, who’d been impeccably composed all night, suddenly indulged in a moment of playful mischief.

She tilted her head, a tipsy, coquettish glint in her eyes, and asked Mike: “If I showed up at your wedding to stop it, would you leave with me?”

The question electrified the already boisterous crowd.

“Oh, finally! You two aren’t pretending anymore!”

“Yeah, that’s more like it!”

“Tell us! Would you go with her?”

Mike’s eyes were bloodshot from drinking. He looked at her, emotions swirling within him. Then, with unnerving sincerity, he replied, “Yes.”

The crowd erupted.

“No way! I knew it!”

“Crash the wedding! Crash the wedding! Crash the wedding!”

The cheers drew everyone’s attention. I sat between them, feeling my breath catch in my throat, my hands trembling. I didn't know how to handle the awkwardness. Mumbling an excuse about the restroom, I fled the scene.

Holding back tears, I sent Lexie a message:

“Can you get me out of here, like, now?”

Lexie’s call came immediately. “What happened? Are those jerks bothering you?”

“No, just… don’t ask right now. Can you just come pick me up?” I felt on the verge of tears.

Lexie’s voice sharpened with urgency, loud as a battle cry. “You wait right there, I’m coming! Ten minutes! No, seven minutes!”

“It’s not that urgent, drive safely.”

“Don’t tell me what to do!”