Chapter 3 .

Caly sat across from her friend in the hotel suite seating area. She sat glaring at Roxy with her arms crossed over her chest while tapping her foot on the tile floor.

Maven and Roxy just sat looking at her with guilt written all over their faces. Maven was almost sure Caly wanted to kill them by the death glare she was giving them.

Finally, Maven tried to break the silence because the quiet was killing him. Reluctantly, he said. "Sooo. Are we...?"

Caly narrowed her brows at him, and Roxy nudged him in the ribs. "Shh!"

"Ouch, babe! What was that for?"

"Do you want her to beat the snot out of you? Hush up."

Suddenly Caly jumped to her feet, storming around the room. "I can't believe you two! How could you ambush me with that man showing up here? Thorn Freaking Prescot! You have got to be kidding me!"

Roxy cringed. "Sorry, honeybunch. We thought you would realize he was Maven's best man. They're best friends. We asked Gage to come to get you but --"

"And he said no, obviously."

Roxy looked over at Maven, confused. "No. The other guys wanted to go to the casino and Gage said he would come to have lunch with you."

"That's bullshit because Thorn said no one wanted to come. As usual. They all hate me."

"Well. They didn't exactly agree to come to meet you. But not for the reasons you think."

"Then why did Thorn show up here? Did he draw the short straw? Or maybe he lost a bet at the card tables down at the casino?"

Maven cleared his throat, trying to cover up a chuckle, and Roxy grunted at him. Caly's head wiped back to his direction, clearly ready to tear him to shreds.

"What? I didn't do anything? It's just funny to see you mad. You're never mad at anyone."

"Forget big mouth over here, Caly. Thorn didn't want any of the guys to come to talk to you."

"Becuase they hate me."

"No. That's not it."

"Okay smart girl. Then why did you let Thorn come here?"

"Well, because he was being an ass and refused to let them come. He's not entirely convinced that the other guys would treat you properly. You know how he can be. He's as stubborn as an ol' mule. He is just overprotective of you, baby girl."

Maven nuzzled Roxy's neck. "I love that cute accent."

"Hush, ya old fool. Don't you see my bestie is having an emotional crisis?"

Caly gave a half-hearted laugh. "It's not all that serious. I just can't bear seeing him again. I just know Thorn had something to do with what happened the night of the charity gala."

Maven looked confused asking, "You still think he planned that?"

Both girls glared at him. "Yes!"

"No way. I still am on Thorn's side with this one, and nothing will change my mind. Thorn is my best friend and he's not like that. I've never known him to do anything mean-spirited to anyone."

Caly flopped down and sat back in the chair, pouting. "You weren't there, Maven. You didn't see how they laughed at me. He just stood there, watching it, and didn't say a word. They had a man dressed in a freaking pig suit and a tuxedo for gosh sakes! It was humiliating. Then they..." Cally sucked back tears and covered her face as they started to flow.

Roxy rushed to her side to hold her in her arms. She looked at her fiancé with pity for her friend, hoping he could help make this better. "The guy in the pig suit ruined her dress by throwing a pie in her face. She had planned for weeks for that night. Everyone knew how special going to that gala was to her. Caly helped plan the whole thing and didn't even get to go."

Maven walked over to crouch in front of Caly, taking her hand in his. "I promise, I'll find out who was behind it. I swear Thorn and the guys were not involved. I think he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Caly sucked air, trying to talk through the tears. "H... he... just didn't want to go with me. He wanted to be with Slone."

"That's not true. Thorn was crazy about you, Cal."

"Why did he have to marry her?"

"That's something you will have to talk to him about. But I can tell you this, if he knew how you really felt about him back then, things would have been different." Maven wiped away a tear from her cheek.

"You're a good man, Maven. I'm glad you're marrying my best friend."

"Yeah. I'm pretty spectacular. I think they will eventually erect a statue of me," he said with a chuckle. "Maybe a picture in the dictionary next to the definition of the perfect man."

Roxy giggled, "You're also very humble, too, huh?"

"Absolutely, babe." Maven winked at Caly. "Feeling better now, sweet cheeks?"

"Ah-huh. I'll be okay."

"Good. Let's get down to planning my big day. I want a rock band and I get to wear my tennis shoes."

Roxy slapped her hand on her face, shaking her head. "Heavens to Betsy. No rock bands. I might go for the tennis shoes though if I can wear them too."

Caly giggled at the couple. They were too cute and two peas in a pod. "Why am I not surprised? Let's get to planning."