23
ATLANTA
PRESENT
To celebrate Lila’s engagement, we all got dolled up and went to a fancy bar in Buckhead. Even Derek joined us. I could see doubt in Lila’s eyes about telling him, knowing Ash was his best friend, but she was too excited to keep it quiet.
I glanced at Derek as Lila dragged Cole out onto the dance floor. “So …”
“I’m not telling him,” he said before I could say anything else.
“Someone is going to have to tell him,” Marley said. “He can’t find out some other way.”
“He doesn’t need to know,” Derek argued.
“I’m with Derek,” Maddox said. “Why the f**k should it matter? He’s enamored with Amelia anyway.”
“Yeah, except … it matters,” I said.
Derek sighed. “Yeah, it matters, but we can’t do it yet.”
“Why not?” I asked.
Marley rolled her eyes. “They’re going sailing to
