Free Love Thy Neighbor by Sophie Wintner

the bed. “I gotta head out.” She gave Nikki a hug. “Have fun tonight, Cinderella. And I want a full report first thing tomorrow morning.”
    After she left, Nikki finished getting dressed. She dabbed on Matthew’s favorite perfume, the Bvulgari he’d given her for Valentine’s Day the year before. She adjusted her earrings, added her blusher and an extra coat of mascara. She puckered her lips and rolled on a thin sheer layer of glistening color.
    When Dallas knocked, she said, “You better not laugh at—” She opened the door and nearly lost her breath. “Dallas.” That was all she could manage to say.
    “Look at you,” he said, smiling. “Nikki Norris, you are so beautiful.”
    “Me? Look at you.” She thought he looked amazing before, but that was nothing compared to the man standing in her doorway. Dark suit, black shirt, and a gorgeous tie. His hair looked perfectly windblown. I can’t do this. I can’t walk into the wedding with this man. It’s going to crush Matthew. “I’m not sure this is such a great idea,” she said.
    “And why is that?”
    “It’s so over the top. I mean, you look like a model. No one’s going to believe you’re really my date. They’re going to think I paid for you or something.”
    “So you’re saying I look like a gigolo?”
    “God, no.” She laughed, shaking her head. “Absolutely not. It’s just that you’re too perfect.”
    “Hardly perfect.” He grinned.
    “I’m serious. No one is going to believe you’re my date.”
    He took a couple of steps closer, the scent of his shaving soap filling her scenes. “Hey, have you looked in the mirror lately? You are a stunning woman. I’m lucky to have you on my arm tonight.”
    She ran a finger along her brow. “I—I guess I’m scared to see Matthew with another woman.”
    “Would you rather not go?” he asked.
    It was tempting, but she sighed. “I can’t not go. I can’t do that to my friends. Not at the last minute like this.”
    “Well, your ex is going to kick himself when he sees you. I’m telling you, he’s gonna die a little when you walk in.”
    “And see, I think he’s gonna die a lot when he sees me walking in with you .”
    “Would you rather that I didn’t go with you?”
    Surprisingly enough, he almost sounded hurt that she wouldn’t want to go with him. The thought of attending that wedding alone was terrifying. She grabbed hold of his lapel and looked up into his intense, dark eyes. “No, I need you with me tonight. I’m sorry. I’m scared. It’s so weird. I mean the four of us—me and Matthew, Lori and Ned—used to do everything together. We all went to Italy last fall. Matthew and I even bought their wedding present together. And I haven’t been to a party or a celebration like this without him in five years.”
    Dallas held out his arm. “Well, you’re with me now. At least for tonight. Let’s show ’em what you’ve got.”
    When they arrived at the wedding, Nikki swore more people turned around to admire her date than the bride.
    “Quit looking around for him,” Dallas said when they sat down. “He’ll see you. Don’t worry. He won’t be able to take his eyes off you, trust me.”
    As he said that, Nikki saw Matthew coming inside the church with a petite blonde trailing behind him, sidestepping their way into the pew. Nikki couldn’t get a good look at her face. She had pretty hair the color of honey, but wore a ridiculous butterfly hairclip more befitting a six-year-old. Her beaded clutch looked like something out of Hello Kitty. But bad hairclip and clutch aside, Blondie did have the kind of slim, athletic figure Matthew had always liked. Why he’d ever been attracted to Nikki in the first place had always been a mystery to her.
    Nikki’s heart sank. She was doomed. She kept waiting for Matthew to turn around and scan the room looking for her, but he never did. He kept leaning in toward the blonde, smiling and nodding when she whispered something.