Page 38 of The Plus One Professional

“What a waste.” Trevor looked equal parts disgusted and disappointed in me as he shook his head and began spraying perfumes in the air and sniffing them before settling on one and adding it to my toiletries bag.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Olivia asked.

“I mean, he’s going to be here in thirty minutes. I think it’s a little late to cancel now.”

“I’m not talking about Cole. I’m talking about going to Simon’s wedding and working it.”

“I’m not working it.” The argument sounded pitiful even to my own ears.

“I still think Devin knew exactly what she was doing by hiring you,” Olivia maintained.

“Of course, Ms. Cameron Diaz knew exactly what she was doing,” Trevor insisted.

As soon as Trevor made the comparison, it clicked that that was exactly who Devin looked like. Cameron Diaz when she was a brunette. The smile. The eyes. The legs. All of it.

“How did you know Devin looked like Cameron Diaz?” I asked Trevor.

“I didn’t,” he gasped. “Does she?”

“She does,” I confirmed.

“Oh, I was referring to Ms. Diaz’s role in My Best Friend’s Wedding. She asks Julia Roberts to be her bridesmaid to keep her enemies close.”

It was strange how she’d just shown up because she was ‘in the neighborhood’ and that she’d followed my social media but didn’t know who I was. Still, that could be explained by Simon not telling her about me. Why would he? Yes, I was just his ‘oldest friend’ and ‘family’.

“I don’t think she’s doing that.” I closed my suitcase.

“She is,” Olivia and Trevor chorused.

“I’m not the enemy.” Clearly. Devin was not at all threatened by my relationship with Matty. Why would she be? She was wearing his ring. He’d asked her to spend the rest of his life with him.

“I’m just worried that you’re doing this to prove a point, but it’s not the healthiest thing for you to do.” I could see the genuine concern in Olivia’s eyes.

“It’s one weekend. It’s just another wedding. I’ll be fine,” I said aloud. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince Olivia or myself.

16

COLE

“So,she’s the wedding planner for her ex’s wedding?” Sara called out from the front room as I zipped up my garment bag. I’d chosen my favorite suit of Arthur’s. A black Armani that, of course, he had tailored to his exact measurements, which thankfully were mine as well. I’d only worn it on one other occasion. It was an awards show where I was the plus one of a media mogul.

“Yeah. She said her ex didn’t know his fiancée had hired her,” I explained as I walked into the front room.

“Really?” My sister’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know…That’s…weird, right?”

I shrugged. It might be weird, but it worked out well for me. I doubted that Bailey would have retained me under any other circumstances. Not that I was actually going to let her pay me. I wasn’t. Although, she didn’t know that.

There was no way that I could allow her to be my client. I might not know her well, but I cared about her. If nothing else, I would do this for her as a friend because, unfortunately, that was all that I could offer her. Friendship. Not that she wanted more. Although, if I’d gotten the right idea about the sneeze, she was attracted to me, so there was that.

“You should wear this blue tie. It matches your eyes.” Sara handed me the tie, and I placed it on the hanger in the garment bag.

“There’s a lasagna, a pot roast, and a stew in the fridge. You just have to warm them up. And there’s a fresh box of Hot Pockets in the freezer for the twins. It’s a twenty pack, so that should last through the weekend. There are?—”

“Hey, you don’t have to worry about us.” Sara interrupted me. “Just enjoy yourself.”

Yeah. That wasn’t going to happen. I wasdefinitelygoing to worry about them.

“Okay, fine, worry about us, but please, try to enjoy yourself.” Sara offered the compromise after seeing my expression.

---