Page 28 of Pretend Girlfriend

He stuck out his chin defiantly, then took a deep breath. “Relax. I’m going to make sure Phil picks you for the job. Sorry I was forceful.”

The sudden change of tone caught me off guard. “Just stop breathing down my neck. I’m doing everything you’ve asked, and then some. Your mom was being catty about the dress Marisa is wearing tonight.”

“Mom does love her gossip.”

I met everyone else in the wedding party except the Best Man, who was apparently running late and had missed the rehearsal, too. I got into a good groove answering questions. Landon and I had dated two months, and had so much in common. Yes, it was fun that we both had law degrees! No, we weren’t competitive about it. Yes, I sometimes picked his brain while working on defense cases.

Marisa hung on to me like I was her new best friend. “Honestly, I’m ready for the wedding to be over,” she confided in me. “It’s so much work and planning. I just want to get to the honeymoon and relax!”

“Tough to relax when all your friends and family are going with you,” I pointed out.

“Which is why I’m going to spend most of my time in Jamaica with a cocktail in my hand!”

“You should come along, Joanna,” Danicka told me. “Surely you can take the time off work.”

“And you said you work from home most of the time,” Marisa chimed in. “You can take your laptop and work from the resort in Jamaica!”

I laughed politely. “Oh, if only I could. But we have a lot of work to do next week. I’m probably going to be sleeping in the office.”

The disappointment on their faces was obvious, but I ignored it. After the wedding, I was done with Landon and his family. The last thing I wanted to do was extend this whole charade another week.

“Oh look, they’re beginning to serve the food,” Danicka said. “Everyone, take your seats. There are placards with your names on them to show you where to sit.”

Of the six large round tables in the room, I was seated with Landon, his family, and the bride and groom. There was one seat empty across from me; it probably belonged to the Best Man.

“You should go ahead and email Phil,” I whispered to Landon. “Because I’m absolutely crushing this assignment.”

Landon rested his arm across the back of my chair. “Not until after the wedding. But you’re doing great. The job is pretty much yours.”

Hell yes. Soon I would be able to say goodbye to the junior partners and their creepy comments.

Once the salads were brought out, Danicka stood up and clinked her glass a few times to get everyone’s attention. “Most of you know me: I’m Danicka Cozart, the mother of the groom.” She paused as family members on the groom’s side cheered and clapped. “Thank you for joining us tonight, and for the flawless rehearsal that took place this afternoon. If you look half as beautiful tomorrow as you did today, Marisa, then there won’t be a dry eye at the wedding.”

Marisa smiled happily, covering her mouth with her hands as tears welled in her eyes. If only she knew what Danicka was saying behind her back.

“I’m such a lucky mother,” Danicka went on. “I know the food is coming out, so I won’t hold you any longer. Thank you for joining us tonight!”

She started to sit down, but then looked across the room at something behind me. “And there’s the Best Man! Better late than never. Everyone welcome Teddy Manafort!”

Teddy Manafort? That’s funny. That name was almost like…

My jaw fell open as I twisted to look at the Best Man walking into the room.

It was Theo.

11

Austin

I loved weddings. How could you not? Weddings were the happiest moment in folks’ lives, the culmination of years of dates, courtship, and kisses. I’d played my guitar at hundreds of weddings, and every single one had felt special.

I felt the opposite about this one.

I swirled the ice around in my drink while nodding along to whatever Uncle Robert was saying. I was actually looking over his left shoulder, watching Marisa and Bradyn talk to another guest. What did she see in that guy? He was pudgy, and balding. His family had a lot of money, I guess. If that counted for anything.

“Absolutely,” I replied to whatever Uncle Robert had said. I raised my glass to my lips, but the ice was all stuck together, and when it finally became un-stuck a stream of vodka poured down my chin.

“That’s going to leave a mark!” Uncle Robert said with a chuckle.

---