Isabel had seen Valerie upset about Alex many times since meeting her, but this was by far the worst. After years of speculating and assuming she knew what he was doing when she wasn’t around, she caught him with another girl at his place. Valerie knew all along he kept the company of other women when she wasn’t around but seeing it for herself was devastating.

Even after Valerie cried for hours and probably the entire night—Isabel finally left her alone in her room—Isabel still assumed that within days or perhaps weeks this time, Valerie would get back with him. But it didn’t happen. She finally decided she’d had enough.

As hard as Isabel knew this must be for Valerie, they both agreed it was for the best.

Valerie hadn’t dated anyone in months, so Isabel felt a little guilty when Lawrence, a guy from a few doors down, asked her out. He was a little older and a professor at UCSD. It seemed ideal. Valerie was excited for her.

Pat, of course, found reasons not to like him. “Why is he still living in an apartment at his age? He can obviously afford a house.”

“He says he’s comfortable here and he says being a real estate owner does not define you as a person.”

“That,” her sister said with a sneer, “is lack of ambition. I hope he doesn’t put those kinds of thoughts in your head.”

Isabel couldn’t muster up the energy to argue. Maybe if she actually liked Lawrence, she would. She’d dealt with his kind before plenty of times: know-it-all, brainy guys. What she couldn’t get past was how boring he was. She was so sick of boring. From her first boyfriend to Lawrence and every guy she dated in between—boring. But then how did she expect to attract anything different? It’s not like she was Ms. Excitement. Just about anything she’d ever done in her life that was remotely exciting had been thanks to Valerie. She sighed. She was doomed to be with a boring guy. Just like her sister’s husband and she hated to say it, as much as she loved him, just like her dad.

CHAPTER 4

First impressions

“You’re kidding me with this shit, right?” Romero glared at Angel.

Angel didn’t even look at him. “Nope, it’s not happening.” He shot the basketball into the hoop.

Eric caught the rebound and bounced the ball. “Why what happened?”

“Nothing happened.” Angel held his hands up for Eric to throw him the ball. “I just don’t want a bachelor party. What’s the big deal?” He shot the ball again.

“The big deal is,” Romero grabbed the ball as it bounced off the rim. “we had this whole Vegas thing set up—an entire weekend, Angel. You can’t just rank out on us like that.”

Angel shrugged. “Well, I appreciate it, but cancel it. It’s not happening.”

“You’re f**king serious?”

Angel laughed. “Yeah, I’m serious. You guys can still go if you want. Celebrate for me.”

Romero knew it had something to do with his fiancée, Sarah. Angel was so damn whipped it was a joke. She either told him not to have one or worse, threatened to have one of her own. Romero had been looking forward to this, too. He’d finally reached his goal of starting his own security firm. All the goals he’d set for himself in the last few years had finally come together. It was a little rocky at first but things had started taking off in the last couple of months. He’d just received his P.I. license, had two employees now, was already looking to hire more, and the money was finally rolling in. What better way to celebrate than partying his ass off in Vegas? Now Angel had pulled the rug out from under him. “We gotta do something for you, man. Even if we don’t go out of town we can do something around here.”

“Nah, I don’t want shit. We got all kinds of showers and other crap my parents are planning. I don’t need anything else.” Angel stopped to take a swig from his water bottle.

Romero shook his head as he watched Eric take another shot. “Damn shame. I’ll think of something.”

“Drop it, Romero. I don’t want anything. So let it go.”

Sarah, his fiancée had definitely pulled a fast one on him. There was no way he’d be this adamant about it. This was bullshit. He’d never understand how a girl could have such a hold on a guy. Romero stood there baffled about Angel’s refusal to give in.

***

“Let’s go over this again,” Isabel said, as Valerie glossed her lips, looking into the visor on the passenger side. “Remember, indifference is key. You’ve been over Alex now for a year. That’s proof enough you can live without him.”

Valerie nodded. They were on their way to Valerie’s cousin’s wedding shower. She was marrying Alex’s younger brother and Valerie was the maid of honor. This was a disaster. Valerie exceeded Isabel’s expectations this past year. She actually managed to stay away from him for that long. But now she had to be there for all the wedding events. And so would he.

“I got this, Isabel. I’m so over him. You’re being silly right now.”

Isabel took a deep breath. “Okay, I hope so, but if anything comes up, remember I’ll be right there for you.”

Valerie laughed. “I’ll be fine.”

They walked into the elaborate set up in Alex’s family’s backyard. Valerie had told her that their family was big on gatherings and parties, but this was outrageous. The entire backyard was transformed into this outdoor wedding heaven.

After saying hello to her cousin Sarah and her fiancé Angel, they made their way to the outdoor bar. Alex and few other guys were huddled there already. Valerie squeezed Isabel’s arm when Alex came into view. The jerk looked hotter than ever and Isabel had a bad feeling Valerie would be a goner.