Page 46 of Pretend Girlfriend

“You all right?” I whispered.

“I’m just so happy for my brother,” he replied, smiling through the tears. “Make fun of me all you want. I don’t care.”

“I wasn’t making fun of you.” I hesitated, then reached out and rubbed his back. I wanted to stay mad at him for everything, but he was making it hard by being so human.

He gave me a grateful smile as the dance continued.

After dinner was served, I got up and went to the bar in the next room. There was wine on all the tables, but I felt like something a little stronger.

I wasn’t the only one. There were a few other guests in line for on-tap beers, and a few others seated at the bar. A sad looking man in a black cowboy hat was one of them.

“Looks like your plan failed,” I said while taking the seat next to him.

Austin stared into a glass of dark liquor. “Seems to be the case.” He tossed it back, and the bartender immediately refilled it from a bottle of whiskey.

“I did my part,” I whispered to him. “I tried raising concerns before the ceremony. Marisa had a good cry, but it wasn’t enough to make her change her mind.”

“I know,” he drawled. “Heard all about it from Wanda.”

I waited for him to say more. When he didn’t, I leaned closer and hissed: “I did what you wanted. If you try to fuck me over…”

“Put your whip away,” Austin muttered, rolling his blue eyes. “I got some closure today.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.”

Austin stared into his glass like it contained all the answers. “When I saw her in that dress, looking up at Bradyn by the Altar… I realized how stupid I was being. She was happy. Any idiot could see that. And I was trying to fuck it up.”

“Yeah, you were,” I agreed.

“Been doin’ a lot of thinkin’ in the last hour,” Austin went on. The drunker he became, the more pronounced his accent was. “I was never in love with her. I was in love with the idea of her. I was ignoring all the faults and incompatibilities, and picturing a perfect relationship.” He snorted. “We didn’t work out when we dated ten years ago, and we wouldn’t have worked out now. I’ve accepted that. And I’ve accepted that she and Bradyn are right for each other. I’m ready to move on.”

His self-awareness caught me off guard. “That’s awfully big of you.”

Austin shrugged. “I feel like a horse’s ass. Coming here and throwing drama grenades all around. Threatening you if you didn’t help me poison the well. I just want Marisa to be happy. Even if it isn’t with me. Glad I realized it before I did something really stupid. And as my reward, I’m going to finish getting drunk and take an Uber home. I’m not good company tonight.” He raised his finger to the bartender. “Three shots of tequila. No chaser.”

“Easy there, cowboy,” I said while the bartender placed three shot glasses on the bar. “You’re going to regret this in the morning.”

“Good. Consider this the alcohol equivalent of self-flagellation.”

Maybe it was the romantic mood from the wedding, but I actually felt bad for Austin—despite everything. This felt like the real him, not the jealousy-fueled man who had blackmailed me earlier this morning.

He knocked back one shot, then reached for the second. Before he could, I grabbed it from him and held it out in a toast. “Better late than never.”

For a moment he looked offended that I had stolen his shot, but then he shrugged it off. “I’ll drink to that.”

We took the shot together. The tequila burned down my throat.

He tipped his cowboy hat to me and rose from his stool. “I’m gonna go call that Uber. Enjoy the rest of your evening, ma’am.”

Before he could leave, I grabbed his arm. It was like holding onto a thick tree branch; he was stronger than I expected. But he still allowed me to pull him back down onto his stool.

“If you’re really one of Marisa’s best friends, you’ll stick around,” I told him. “This is an important day for her. Maybe the most important day. She’ll want to see you.”

He chewed on that for a few moments, then nodded. “You’re probably right. Thanks for talkin’ sense into me.”

“I’m the wisest of all the bridesmaids,” I replied. “But only if you don’t count Carol. She seems like she’s got her shit together.”

“I’ve known Carol just as long as Marisa. She’s always had a good head on her shoulders.” Austin frowned over at me. “Can I ask you something?”

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