Page 89 of The Problem with Dating

“You hid your affair with him for a good while, so no need to be upfront with me now,” I bitterly replied.

“I get that you’re hurt because of what went down between Henry and me, but—”

“You cheated on me with him. That’s what went down. That was the end of it, so we need to leave it there.”

“It’s clear you’re not over it.”

Annoyance and anger built within me, but I knew I couldn’t showcase said annoyance and anger. The last thing Catie needed to know was that she still got under my skin.

“Listen, Alex. I understand you’re still hurt by what we did, and you still have feelings for me as you are trying to work through your emotions over the situation, but—”

“I don’t have feelings for you,” I told her. I meant that, too. “It’s been over a year. I’ve moved on.”

The condescending frown she shot my way made my nerves crawl. “I know that’s not true.”

“Why would it be possible for you to move on and not for me? Sure, you got a head start on your current relationship by screwing him during ours, but I have moved on.”

“Come on, Alex. My sister told me you haven’t dated since. I know that’s not—”

Before she could finish, Feliz and Yara came darting our way. Feliz collapsed at my feet, completely exhausted. So exhausted that he didn’t even realize it was my shoe that he was resting against, which meant he wasn’t trying to destroy it.

Yara smiled and laughed loudly because that was what Yara always did. If I could’ve recorded that sound for my morning alarm clock, I probably would’ve woken up in a better mood. That was if Feliz allowed me to actually sleep.

Yara paused beside me, out of breath. “I swear, if that dog doesn’t sleep through the night after that workout, then I don’t know what will work.”

Catie cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry, and you are?” she asked.

“This is Yara,” I cut in. I wrapped my arm around Yara’s waist and pulled her to my side. “My girlfriend.” Yara stared at me as if I’d grown three heads. I then cleared my throat. “Yara, this is my ex, Catie.”

Lucky for me, it didn’t take much more for Yara to catch up with what was going on. To my surprise, she leaned closer to my side, pressing her body to mine as if we were always meant to be molded with one another. It was almost ridiculous how well she fit against me.

“Nice to meet you, Catie. I’m Yara. Alex’s girlfriend,” she echoed, holding a hand toward Catie.

“Girlfriend,” Catie echoed before she reluctantly shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.” She didn’t mean that. Her grimace proved Yara’s existence bothered her.

Good.

“So you’re bringing a plus-one to the wedding, too?” Catie asked, warily.

“I am. We’re both looking forward to it,” I said as I dug a deeper and deeper hole for myself.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Yara chimed in, going along with my madness. “It’s going to be amazing.”

“We have to get going,” I said as I looked over at Yara, and for a moment, I couldn’t even understand why I was lucky enough to have her by my side. Sure, perhaps the situation at that moment was fake, but her touch, her warmth, her commitment to my lie… That felt real to me.

As we walked away, Yara on one side of me and Feliz on the other, I felt no pull of my heartstrings toward Catie. Oddly enough, that felt like closure. I was stepping into something new.

“It wasn’t a good breakup, was it?” Yara asked.

“No. She’s the one who cheated with an acquaintance of mine.”

“I hate her,” she replied, matter-of-factly.

I snickered. “You don’t know how to hate people, Goldie.”

“I can learn for you. Besides, even golden retrievers know how to bite,” she said, echoing my words.

“Touché.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “You do know what this means, though, right?”

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