Page 48 of Pretend Girlfriend

“Yeah. I mean, no. Well… maybe? I don’t know. It’s early. I like him.”

Austin chuckled to himself. “This story gets better and better.”

“Oh yeah, it’s just hilarious. Are you going to be able to keep this all to yourself, or do I need to poison you?”

“I’ll keep your secret. But that doesn’t mean I won’t laugh about it.”

“Laugh as much as you want,” I said, “as long as you keep your lips sealed.”

He mimicked a zipper motion across his mouth.

Chloe walked into the room, saw me, and came hustling over. “Joanna? Someone said you’re needed in the parlor.”

Austin squinted at her. “Your boyfriend. The guy with the glasses.”

“Peter?” Chloe asked. “What about him?”

“Is he really your boyfriend, or are you two just faking it for the wedding?”

She gave him a confused look. “Why would someone lie about that?”

Austin gave me a small smile. “Why indeed.”

I glared at him and left the bar. Hopefully he got drunk enough to forget everything I had told him. If he got drunk enough to sloppily announce my secret to everyone at the wedding, then I really might poison him.

The parlor was down the hall, the same room where all the girls had gotten ready this morning. I wondered who needed me. Marisa had mentioned that she needed help pinning up her dress before the garter toss, so it was probably that.

The room seemed empty when I walked in. Then someone who was hiding behind the door closed it behind me. I whirled, caught off guard and slightly buzzed.

“Theo?”

He was wearing his tuxedo, minus the jacket, and had the sleeves rolled up to reveal his sculpted arms. He took me by the arms and threw me up against the door, leaning close enough that our noses were almost touching.

“This morning, when I wasted an Uber, you said you would make it up to me.” His mouth curled in a grin. “I’m cashing in that favor.”

20

Joanna

The Theo I had met last week was kind, sweet, and funny. Those were the qualities I liked in a man.

But when he took charge, closing the door and then shoving me up against it with enough strength to remind me that he could do whatever he wanted? It turned me on in a deep, primal way.

“I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off you all night,” he breathed between kisses.

“Yeah?”

“It should be illegal for a bridesmaid dress to look that good. All the other bridesmaid dresses are hideous, but you look like a goddamn Instagram fitness model.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Does this look like I’m exaggerating?” He dropped to his knees and buried his face in my cleavage, squeezing one and sliding his other hand up my inner thigh. “I couldn’t stand the thought of waiting until I got back from the honeymoon. I had to do this tonight.”

“You could’ve waited until after the reception,” I gritted out, widening my stance as he pulled my thong to the side and rubbed my drenched slit.

He rose, fingers still up under my dress. “That was my original plan. Sneak you back to my room tonight. But I couldn’t wait.”

Theo crushed his lips against mine, pressing me into the door with desire. Any protests I might have had died on my tongue, instead savoring the way his mouth tasted against mine. Then he was lifting me into his arms and carrying me across the room to a table. He roughly swept his free hand across the surface, knocking all of the contents—lamp, clock, notepads—to the floor.

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