The Grays have announced a dinner for tonight and as per Madeline's orders, we must attend and cannot drink because this is really important. 

I looked at all the dresses that I laid out in front of me. I was just going to wear the navy blue bodycon dress, but my eyes drifted to the red one. The last one. I pursed my lips while falling into thought. Nick was trying to flirt with me today, right? I'm the only one that saw what he was trying to do in the changing room. I acted dumb and kept commenting on the dress but it's not just me, right? 

"Let's see what I can do with you," I picked up the dress and took it into the bathroom with me. I showered, and then straightened my hair before putting makeup on and slipping into the dress. "Hair up or hair down? Hair up?" I asked while holding my hair up. "Or down?" I huffed. Nick didn't say if my hair looked better up or down with this dress. "Let's just do both," I shrugged, grabbing a hair tie and a few bobby pins, putting my hair up in a half up half down. 

"Heels. I don't have heels," I huffed while staring at my shoes. 

Sneakers. Wedges. Flip flops. Wedding heels. 

"Huh," I mumbled while kneeling and lifting my clothes. "I guess I was smart enough to bring another pair," shrugged, taking the silver heels and pulling them on. I sprayed perfume all over myself before my phone dinged. 

'See you downstairs, meet me in five- Mads' 

Until then, let's go check on Zoey. 

I grabbed my phone, slipping the key card in the case before heading out. I opened the door and walked over to Zoey, bumping into a few relatives occasionally. I knocked on her door and she answered as she struggled to zip up her dress. "Need a little help?" I chuckled while walking in. 

She turned around and I was surprised she managed to zip it halfway up. 

"There ya go," I said while zipping it up all the way. 

"Let's go," she sang while pulling me out with her. 

We walked to the elevators and saw the doors closing. "Wait, wait, wait!" I pressed the button, rushing over to the elevators. 

"Ow!" someone hissed before the doors opened. The doors opened and Liam, Landon, and Nick were all standing in there, more specifically, Nick holding his own hand, wincing. 

"Sorry," I said while Zoey and I stepped inside. "Are you okay?" I mumbled while standing between Liam and Nick. 

"Yeah, I'm fine," he nodded while shaking his hand. 

"Sorry," I mumbled. 

"It's fine, I- oh," he said slowly while checking me out. "Shit," he mumbled while leaning against the wall. 

I bit back a smile and kept my gaze on the floors to see how far we were. Soon enough, the doors dinged open and we stepped out. Liam and Nick led us to the hall and opened the doors. 

"Holy shit, this is not just guests, right?" I mumbled to Zoey as we walked in while I looked at the crowd. 

"Dinner is open to the entire hotel," she shrugged. 

It would have been nice to know that. 

I walked with Zoey, greeting guests of the family before heading over to the bar. "Can I get an iced tea, please?" I leaned against the counter, setting my phone down. I sat on the stool, watching the people walking around, the women seemed to be floating around, that's how big some dresses were. My dress was good. Flowed down to the floor, backless, sweetheart neckline, showed the right amount of cleavage according to Nick. I felt good, I didn't stick out like a sore thumb like I normally do at big, fancy parties. 

"Hey," Liam showed up and sat beside me. 

"Hey," I smiled. 

"Are you drinking?" he narrowed his eyes at me. 

"It's iced tea with nothing else in it. Staying sober," I lifted my glass before sipping from the straw. "So, where'd you go last night? You never showed up to the bar," I turned to him. 

"Well Dave wanted to go to a bar somewhere else so I just went along with them," he shrugged, "You should have come. You would have had fun with us," he nodded. 

I'm sure it couldn't have been more fun than taking care of a drunk giant baby. 

"I'm sure," I nodded while scrolling through my phone. It's a little hard to keep a conversation going with him without it leading to Nick. Let's see how we last. 

"So, is everything good with you and Nick?" 

Not even a minute. Cool. 

"Same shit, different day, right?" I shrugged. 

"Emma!" someone called out. 

I shot out of my seat and put on a smile. "Mrs. Heartwell, hi," I laughed awkwardly. I haven't had a conversation with her since before my breakup with Nick. 

"That's Jen to you," she gave me a pointed look, "This is-" she began introducing but oh shit. 

"Mr. Harrison? Hi," I looked at him in confusion. 

Is it normal for a teacher to be attending your friend's sister's wedding? 

"Oh, that's right. He's your Home Ec. teacher," she laughed, "He's here for the wedding. He's friends with Matt, so he's decided to join us." 

I see he's friends with Nick's dad. 

"It's nice to see you, Ms. Roberts," he nodded. 

"You too," I nodded before him and Jen disappeared. 

"Well, shit. Am I right?" 

I turned to see Nick sitting on the other stool beside mine. 

"Home Ec. teacher at a wedding that you're attending? Awkward?" he asked. 

"No?" I said in confusion, "He's fine, he's a good teacher. You're lucky you're joining our class, imagine have Mrs. Stephanie here," I gave him a pointed look.

"Fair enough," he nodded. 

I noticed Liam walking away with someone and now I'm alone with Nick again. Great. 

"I see you're wearing the dress," he checked me out again. 

"Maybe it doesn't show so much," I shrugged. 

"Or maybe you want to show someone?" He gave me a pointed look. 

Yeah, you. 

"I can show whoever I want," I shrugged while glancing at Liam who I caught staring at me. 

Nick's gaze followed mine before he clicked his tongue, "He's not a good guy, Emma. He's a player, you know?" he sighed. 

"So were you before you dated me," I shrugged, "Speaking of, are you really committing to Rachel or going back to your old ways?" I asked. That was a little bit of a jab. It just happened. "She's your girlfriend," I shrugged. 

"I don't care. I'm not gonna let you show yourself off to someone like him," he shrugged. 

"Who do I show then?" I questioned, arching an eyebrow at him. 

"Me," he nodded. 

"Why, Nick? You're not my boyfriend anymore," I stated. 

"I was," he huffed. 

"Now you're not. You're with Rachel. We're not the same, I don't have you anymore," I sighed. 

"Yes, you do," he stepped closer. 

"Not how I used to," I gave him a pointed look, "I can't be with you, I can't call you mine, I can't kiss you," I stared at him. 

"Kiss me anytime you want," he shrugged. 

"I can't. Not that I want to but Rachel can. I'm not one to be the homewrecker. I've seen what that does so I'm just gonna wish you the best and walk away," I began walking away but he pulled me back. 

"You don't want to do that," he huffed. 

"I don't," I nodded. He's right. "But it's the right thing to do. So I'm gonna do it anyway," I began walking away again but he only pulled me back and closer to him this time. 

"I'm not letting you walk away," he looked down at me. 

"Think of what you're doing, Nick. You have a girlfriend and whether you like it or not, it's not me. You already had that. And you blew it," I smirked. 

"You're a bridesmaid on this trip, not just my ex. Can we move past it?" he resisted a groan. 

"Bridesmaid or not, you're still my ex. The facts remain," I shrugged. 

"They don't have to change every little thing," he gave me a pointed look. 

"Kissing you would be a huge thing. And the wrong thing to do. Hence, I will not do it. And I would appreciate it if you flirt a little less," I arched an eyebrow at him. 

"I didn't flirt with you," he shook his head. 

"I'm not dumb. Just because I didn't acknowledge it doesn't mean I didn't realize you were flirting with me in the changing room," I smirked. 

"You're suddenly very confident. It's that goddamn dress," he shook his head with a smirk. 

"Maybe it is, you were right. I do look hot in it," I nodded while smoothing it out, my leg peeking out through the slit. "But listen to me, Nick. You have a girlfriend, you cannot flirt with me," I sighed. 

"I don't see her," he shrugged. 

"Are you even trying to?" I questioned. 

"No, because she's not my fucking girlfriend," he said, his voice low. 

I looked at him in confusion. 

"She might think she is, but she's not. I haven't kissed her since that stupid party." 

Since the party, where he cheated on me. 

"You haven't?" I asked in confusion. 

"No, and I don't intend to kiss her again. I have somebody else in mind for that," he checked me out one last time before walking away with a smirk.

I wear the seductive dress and he still wins. 

How the hell?

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Chapter thirteen