Chapter 191: You’re Not Real

Mia's POV

I didn't wait to hear anything else.

The applause had barely begun when I turned and ran, desperate to get away before whatever was holding me together disappeared completely. I didn't care who saw me leave or what anyone thought. I had heard enough.

Liam and Glydel were husband and wife.

"Mia!"

Josh called after me, but I kept going until I reached the side of the estate. He caught up and grabbed my arm.

"Wait."

"Get me out of here, Josh. Please."

One look at my face was enough. He didn't ask what had happened because he already knew.

Josh slipped an arm around me and guided me toward the side gate just as Daniel and Leah hurried after us. Leah covered her mouth when she saw me.

"You didn't make it?"

I shook my head, unable to speak.

Daniel's jaw tightened. "Let's get her out of here."

We hurried toward Allen's car, and despite everything, gratitude tightened my chest.

Josh had planned for this.

The four of us had arrived by helicopter, but he had arranged for Allen to wait nearby because he knew there were only two possible endings. Either I stopped Liam's wedding, or I needed a fast escape after watching the man I loved marry someone else.

Allen's hopeful expression vanished the moment he saw me.

"Let's go," Josh said.

No one asked questions. Daniel took the front passenger seat while Leah, Josh, and I squeezed into the back. As soon as the doors closed, Allen drove away.

I stared through the window as the Alcaraz estate disappeared behind us.

Then the judge's words came back.

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

"He married her."

The car fell silent.

Leah took my hand while Josh pulled me against him.

"I heard the judge say it." My lips trembled. "I was too late."

The tears finally came.

I buried my face against Josh as Leah held my hand. Daniel turned toward me, and the sadness in his expression only made me cry harder.

"I finally found the courage to come back for him, and I was too late."

Josh stroked my hair. "Let it out, Mia."

"I don't want to cry anymore. I've cried enough over him."

I wiped my cheeks, but it was useless.

"This is the last time. Today is the last time I cry over Liam Alcaraz."

Nobody argued. Maybe they knew I needed to believe it even if they didn't.

I leaned against Josh and closed my eyes. "Where are we going?"

"My beach house. Seth is already there."

I lifted my head. "Seth too?"

"I planned ahead."

A broken laugh escaped me. "You really expected me to fail."

"No. I expected to be there for you if things went wrong."

Fresh tears filled my eyes, and I hit his chest weakly.

"You're making me cry again."

"Apparently that's my fault too."

Leah laughed, and even Daniel smiled.

"You're the best, Josh."

"I know."

I rolled my eyes and rested my head against him again.

No matter how far Allen drove, I could still hear the applause.

By the time we reached the beach house, my eyes were swollen and my head hurt. Seth was waiting outside and came down the steps as soon as I climbed out.

"Mia."

I held up a hand. "Don't hug me unless you want me crying all over your shirt."

Concern crossed his face, but he stepped aside.

I walked into the house and dropped my bag onto the couch. The ocean stretched beyond the glass doors, but tonight I barely noticed it.

I turned to Josh. "I need alcohol."

"No."

"Josh, I just watched Liam marry another woman. I want something strong enough to make me forget for a few hours."

"Definitely no."

"You're a terrible best friend."

"Because I won't help you poison yourself?"

"I'm not trying to poison myself. I'm trying to get drunk."

"Still no."

I looked around for support. "Daniel? Leah? Allen? Seth?"

Daniel shook his head. "Don't involve me."

"No," Leah added.

"I'm driving," Allen said.

Seth simply stared at me. "Seriously?"

I sighed. "Why did I surround myself with responsible people?"

That earned a few reluctant smiles.

Then I spotted the bar.

Josh followed my gaze. "Don't."

"Too late."

I hurried over and examined the bottles before picking up the tequila.

"Which works faster, this, whiskey, or vodka?"

"I'm not answering that."

"Fine. I'll experiment."

He tried to take the bottle, but I hugged it against my chest.

"Mia, you barely ate today, and alcohol won't make this hurt less."

"I know. Maybe it'll make me stop thinking." My smile faded. "I don't want to wonder what Liam and Glydel are doing now, whether he's holding her or kissing her."

My voice cracked, and I quickly wiped my cheeks.

"No. I'm done crying."

I poured the first shot.

"At least eat something first," Josh said.

"After this." I raised the glass. "To the happy couple."

Leah winced. "Mia."

"What? Newlyweds deserve congratulations."

I swallowed the tequila and immediately coughed as it burned my throat. Daniel offered me water, but I pushed it away.

"That defeats the purpose."

"It doesn't work like that."

"Tonight it does."

I poured two more shots before Josh could interfere. By the third, warmth had spread through my chest.

"That's enough," he warned.

"You're not my father."

"No, but I own the tequila."

"Fair point."

I drank it anyway.

Josh confiscated the bottle, but I eventually stole it back while Leah forced me to eat a few bites of food and Daniel kept offering me water.

The fourth shot went down easier, and the fifth made everything feel lighter. By the sixth, Leah was trying to take the glass away.

"Mia, stop."

"One more. Seven is my lucky number."

"Since when?"

"Since tonight."

I poured the seventh shot and raised it toward everyone.

"To never falling in love again."

Before anyone could stop me, I drank it.

Josh immediately took the bottle and placed it out of reach.

"That's it. Seven. You're done."

"You're bossy."

"And you're drunk."

"Not yet."

I stood, and the room shifted enough to make me grab the bar.

Everyone stared at me.

"Okay." I blinked. "Maybe a little."

Leah caught my arm. "Sit down."

"No, this is perfect."

I connected my phone to the speakers and chose the loudest, happiest song I could find.

No heartbreak songs. Definitely no love songs.

Josh frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Celebrating my freedom!"

Allen laughed while Josh muttered something under his breath.

"No more Liam Alcaraz," I announced. "No more waiting, crying, or wondering whether we'll ever get our happy ending. Tonight, we celebrate the new Mia Villaruiz."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "The drunk Mia Villaruiz?"

"Exactly."

I kicked off my shoes and started dancing. When nobody joined me, I grabbed Leah's hands.

"Mia—"

"Please."

She surrendered, and soon we were dancing together. I spun her around before pointing at Seth.

"Your turn."

"I'm not dancing."

"Then I'll tell everyone you peed your pants in third grade."

His eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."

"Try me."

Seth reluctantly joined us, making me cheer. Allen and Daniel followed, leaving Josh near the bar with his arms crossed.

I pointed at him. "You too."

"Someone has to supervise this disaster."

"Allen is sober."

"Unfortunately," Allen muttered.

I dragged Josh toward us until he finally gave in.

For a while, I laughed harder than I had in weeks, dancing badly and nearly falling more than once while Daniel kept catching me and Leah laughed beside me.

For a few minutes, the pain faded.

Then a love song started.

"No."

I hurried to my phone, almost tripped, and skipped it.

"Love is banned tonight."

But it was too late. The wedding flashed through my mind again, and a tear slipped down my cheek.

"Mia," Leah said softly.

"I'm fine." Another tear followed, and I laughed as I wiped them away. "Apparently I can cry and have fun at the same time. Multitasking."

That made her smile.

I started dancing again, but seven shots had only made me unsteady. My heart still hurt.

"This alcohol is useless."

Daniel smiled sadly. "Probably a good thing."

"No, it isn't. Seven shots, and this still hurts."

Josh gave me a look.

"Don't feel sorry for me. Tomorrow I'll be fine."

Seth raised an eyebrow. "What time tomorrow?"

I considered it seriously. "Afternoon."

Everyone laughed, and somehow I ended up laughing and crying at the same time.

"This is ridiculous."

"That's the tequila," Daniel said.

"No. This is Liam's fault."

Eventually, my legs gave up, and I dropped onto the couch beside Josh.

"If I ever tell you I'm in love again, slap me."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because knowing you, it'll probably be Liam again."

My smile faded. "Probably."

Josh put an arm around me as I stared toward the dark ocean.

"Liam is somebody else's husband now. I have to stop loving him."

Leah sat beside me while Daniel, Seth, and Allen stayed nearby. At least I had people willing to follow me into disaster, help me escape, hold me while I cried, and dance with me while I tried to survive losing Liam.

I closed my eyes. "This is the last time I cry over him."

Josh squeezed my shoulder. "Okay."

Neither of us believed it.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Ignore it. Nobody else is invited to my heartbreak party."

Josh got up, and a few seconds later, everyone went quiet.

I opened my eyes. "What?"

They were all staring toward the door, and when I followed their gazes, I saw Liam standing there.

He was still wearing the suit he had worn at the wedding, though it was rumpled now and his hair was slightly disheveled.

I blinked several times before laughing.

"Oh, wow."

"Mia?" Leah said carefully as I pushed myself up and swayed.

"I'm really drunk."

Of course Liam wasn't actually there. Seven shots of tequila and a broken heart had apparently created a very convincing hallucination.

At least my drunken brain had excellent taste.

"Mia," he said, and even his voice sounded right.

I laughed. "You're not real."

His expression changed as I walked toward him, stumbling when the floor tilted beneath my feet.

"Mia, careful," Josh warned, but I ignored him.

If my imagination was giving me Liam, I might as well enjoy him before he disappeared.

"You look exactly like him."

Liam stepped closer. "Mia."

"Don't say my name like that. You're imaginary."

Someone behind me seemed to laugh, but I didn't care. For a few seconds, this Liam was mine.

I quickened my steps and threw myself at him.

His arms immediately caught me around the waist, and I froze when my hands met a solid chest.

That wasn't supposed to happen.

I slowly pulled back and touched his cheek. Warm skin met my fingertips, and my laughter disappeared.

"You're real."

"Yes, my love. I'm here."