Not Your Bride Anymore

Chapter 2

Inside the restaurant, Derek and Megan automatically sat beside each other, leaving me the seat across from them.

I'd lost the right to sit beside him to Megan on our fifth bet.

A server brought out menus and handed them to Derek and Megan.

"Our dinner for two would be perfect for you. Would you like to try it?"

The fork in my hand slipped soundlessly onto the table.

I looked down at myself, then at Megan. Bet after bet, I'd lost everything that marked me as Derek's girlfriend. All I had left was the title. She looked far more like his girlfriend than I did.

Derek opened his mouth, but Megan linked her arm through his.

"Let's give it a try."

He fell silent, making no attempt to correct the server's assumption. As the server left, he added, "No cilantro, please."

Megan looked pleased with herself.

"Not bad, Derek. You remembered I don't eat cilantro."

He gave her nose a little squeeze.

My heart lurched. Once, that gesture had belonged to us alone.

"How could I forget what you like, Your Highness?"

He remembered that Megan didn't eat cilantro, but he'd forgotten I didn't eat scallions. I looked at the food on my plate, covered in them, and lost my appetite.

I was about to get up and leave when he called my name. For a moment, I thought he'd noticed something was wrong.

"Claire, swap drinks with Megan. She's on her period. She shouldn't be having anything cold."

Megan objected and guarded her drink.

"Hey, it's the middle of summer. Who wants a hot drink?"

Derek took it straight out of her hands and swapped it for mine.

"Then don't come complaining to me when you get cramps."

I looked at the drink full of ice in front of me. He seemed to have forgotten I was on my period, too.

A weary sense of defeat washed over me. I stood and sighed as I watched them bicker over the iced drink.

"Derek, let's break up."

I walked toward the door. He hurried to follow, but Megan let out a displeased huff behind him. His gaze shifted between us before he sat back down.

As I pushed the door open, I remembered our seventh bet. I'd lost the right to be the person Derek comforted first.

It didn't matter anymore.

I took out my phone and called my mother. The sunlight was so bright that it made my eyes water.

"Mom, I lost the bet."