Page 14 of Married With Lies

“I was just thinking how it reminds me of crumpled aluminum foil.”

She blinks. The superior smile evaporates. “What was that?”

Instead of answering, I pop a giant vegan white chocolate strawberry in my mouth and crush it between my teeth. Juice squirts out and trails down my chin, ruining the victory.

Then I turn around and things get a whole lot worse.

Grant Gallant, Despicable Ex, has slithered onto the scene.

We haven’t been face to face in two years. I really hoped things would stay that way for the rest of my natural life. His beastly arm is slung over the slim shoulders of a tall, stunning brunette who must be Francesca. She’s smiling and chatting with another woman, completely oblivious to the way her companion glowers in my direction.

A shiver skates from the base of my spine to my neck. I never saw Grant get violent and it’s unlikely he would grab me by the throat in my father’s house in front of a roomful of people. But the last words he spoke to me the day I returned his diamond ring have always been in the back of my mind.

“Have it your way, bitch. I can’t wait to see how hard you’ll regret this.”

He must still be waiting. I’ve never regretted ditching Grant. I never will. But the spiteful look in his eyes right now makes me wish I had something more substantial than some fat strawberries at hand to defend myself.

I’m trying to figure out the best escape route when an unlikely voice breaks my concentration. “Hello there, Scraps.”

My eyes veer from Grant’s seething face.

To my shock, the greeting came from Cale Connelly.

He’s at the table alone now and acting like we’re old friends, beckoning with a wave of his hand. At first it doesn’t even register that he’s using my old and very hated nickname.

Cale stands and pulls out the chair my brother was sitting in a minute ago. “Take a seat and let’s have a talk.”

Grant is watching.

Strawberry juice drips from my chin.

Cale waits expectantly, sure that I’ll obey his request, which is really closer to a command.

Normally I don’t obey commands.

And Cale is some sort of mafia prince, which doesn’t do anything for me no matter how broad-shouldered and virile and brooding he is.

However, I really would like to sit down. Another plus is that Grant is far too much of a coward to bother me if I’m in Cale’s company.

With nothing to lose, I plunk down in the waiting chair. Then I subtly wipe juice off my chin with the back of my hand while Cale casually steps around to the other side of the table to reclaim his seat.

I have no clue what we’ll talk about but I’m not worried. After all, Cale was once my brother’s best friend and we’re in the middle of a Christmas party with over a hundred people roaming around.

What could possibly go wrong?

4

SADIE

“It’s Sadie now,” I say to Cale. “Or you can stick to Mercedes if you prefer to be formal. No one has called me Scraps since my acne and braces era.”

Not entirely true. Hadley still calls me that every chance she gets. But she’s Hadley so there’s no reason to ever expect any better.

“Sadie,” says Cale. My name rolls off his tongue slowly, like he’s analyzing the way it tastes. His eyes are a startling shade of green and they study me carefully. I couldn’t begin to guess what’s going on behind them.

“Yup,” I say, slightly unnerved. “Sadie.”

The tortoiseshell clip that was tenuously securing my hair in a clumsy updo picks this second to spring open. Thick red curls that have been the bane of my existence since childhood tumble over my shoulders and the clip falls to the marble floor.

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