Page 32 of Pretend Girlfriend

He shrugged again and gave me a cutting sideways glance. “Haven’t decided, yet. Figured I’d play it by ear.”

Okay, motherfucker. If you were going to be a coy bitch about it, then I could play the same game.

“Maybe we could make a deal,” I said.

“You want to buy my silence?”

“I’d rather play it like this: you keep your lips sealed, and I won’t tell the bride that you’re still in love with her.”

Alarm flashed behind Austin’s pale blue eyes. It only lasted a second before his calmness returned, but it was enough to confirm what I suspected.

“I’m not—”

“I saw the way you looked at her when she introduced you to me,” I said, acid dripping from every word. “And I noticed how you watched her and Bradyn all night before we sat down to eat. You’re in love with her.”

He furrowed his brow. I got the sense that my accusation was close, but not perfectly on the mark.

“Or,” I added, “you’re not still in love with her, but you’re hoping the wedding will fail.”

There it was. The acknowledgment in those calm eyes. That was what this was all about: he wanted the wedding to blow up.

And revealing that Landon’s girlfriend was cheating with the Best Man would definitely blow things up.

“Might be you’re in the neighborhood,” Austin said with another casual shrug. Too casual. “Doesn’t mean anyone’s going to believe you.”

“And nobody’s going to believe you if you start spouting off nonsense,” I shot back at him. “They’ll see the truth: that you’re just a jealous ex trying to ruin the wedding. So go ahead. Tell everyone. See if Marisa thanks you for creating all that drama, or hates you for it.”

I knocked back the rest of my tequila, slammed the glass down on the bar next to Austin, and walked away.

13

Theo

What the hell had I gotten myself into?

I was freaking the fuck out when I walked into the room and saw Joanna sitting with Landon, his arm resting possessively across the back of her chair. I hated cheaters. I never wanted to be the kind of guy who destroyed a relationship. Everyone here loved me because I was the opposite of that kind of guy!

It was a huge relief to find out it was all a scheme. A big, dumb scheme. I hadn’t caused Joanna to cheat on anyone.

And it meant she was still available.

She was looking extra hot tonight in that pencil skirt and blouse. The way she dragged her fingernails across my crotch had instantly made me hard. The only way to make myself soft before I returned to the rehearsal dinner room was to think about Bradyn’s grandma in lingerie.

“Here you go, Mrs. Cozart,” I said as I delivered the wine. “The finest Chardonnay in all of Chicago.”

She aimed a finger at me menacingly. “If you call me Mrs. Cozart one more time, I’ll jerk a knot in your tail.”

My phone buzzed with a text message as I sat down.

Joanna: Austin knows. He saw us together at the bar.

Me: Who the hell is Austin?

Joanna: Marisa’s best friend. Auburn hair, blue eyes, Texas accent. You’ll see him come back after me.

Me: What exactly does he know?

Joanna: He knows you and I are involved. He thinks I’m cheating on Landon. I threatened him though, so we should be good.

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