Page 78 of Just One Moment

Mythroat grows tight, and a weight drops in my stomach so heavy, it could have me plummeting through the old parquet floor beneath our feet.

“Jenna.”Ikeep my voice neutral and gaze steady.

Hereyes flit between the two of us before finally settling on me. “Sorryto interrupt this—”Shewaves her hand at our table. “RalphandIwanted to come over and say hi before we left.”

Myfingers tense at her flippant tone.

Iglance over at where my cousin is standing a fair distance away, looking like he’d rather gouge his own eyes out than speak to us.

“Havea good night,”Isay tersely.

AlaughIonce found alluring but now sounds like nails ona chalkboard, drowns out the last of my sentence.Ichance a look atQuinn, worried this is making her uncomfortable but find her angry gaze trained solely onJenna. “Don’tbe like that,Gray.”

Gray.Everyonecalls meGray.Havedone so for as long asIcan remember.Fromher mouth, it sounds pitiful and holds a totally different meaning.Herparting words to me before she moved out tainted that name forever, yetIstill can’t bring myself to ask people to stop using it.

Iremain silent, hoping it draws this conversation to a close, but no such luck.

“Wehaven’t received yourRSVP.”

I’dlaugh if my vocabulary wasn’t slowly drying up.TheRSVPwas meant to be returned weeks ago.It’swhyQuinnagreed to our little scheme, but it seems there’s been other things on my mind.

“Thedeadline was last week,”Jennacontinues. “Weunderstand if you don’t want to come, considering?—”

“Consideringwhat?”

Ourheads turn towardQuinn, who looks ready to sharpen her pitchfork.

Jenna’sblindsided by the interruption but schools her features quickly. “I’llbe a second and then you can continue your business meeting.”Shebarely castsQuinna glance and dismisses her with a flick of her wrist, instantly making my blood boil.

“Theonly businessIhave is ordering dessert and then taking my boyfriend home.Ithink your brother is waiting for you.”Quinnlooks atRalph, andIhave to hold my breath to stop myself from snorting.

She’sgetting three orgasms tonight.

“B-boyfriend?”

“Yup.”Thelittle vixen reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers.

“Wait, no, that’s my fiancé.”Jenna’sface is crimson now.

“Oh, my bad.Youhave that sibling bond thing going on.”

Thatdread at hearingJenna’svoice has quickly morphed into pride at watchingQuinnput her in her place.

“Isthis new?”Jennaasks, her attention on me again.

“I’mnot sure what business it is of yours.”I’veknownJennafor half my life—we were together for over a decade—andI’venever sounded more confident when speaking to her thanIdo now.Butit’s short lived.

“Inever expected you to act so pathetic.I’vebeen home a week and no one has mentioned you’re seeing anyone.Ifthis is some ploy at making me jealous, you’re?—”

“Ithink you should go,”Quinncuts in.

TheprideIfelt moments earlier has quickly dimmed and humiliation takes a hold of me.Thisis the womanIwas happy to spend the rest of my life with, complacent in my feelings and ignoring how toxic and manipulative she was.

Itshouldn’t beQuinnstopping this conversation; it should be me.

I’msuddenly reminded why this thing betweenQuinnand me started off as fake, and why it’ll never work in real life.

Mymeek, muted exterior is exactly the reason my andJenna’srelationship broke down in the first place.Iwas never outspoken enough.Funenough.Manlyenough for her.Andnow those truths are out in the open forQuinnto look over and second guess everything about me.

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