Page 60 of The Love Losers

“So youaredoing it for the money?”

“No, silly,” Rosie says with a smile. “I’m going to sign a prenup, of course. Didn’t you sign a prenup when you were engaged to him?”

Nina glowers at her. “I was going to.”

“See,” Rosie says, gesturing to Wilson. “I knew you two would get it. I don’t want Anthony to ever have a single doubt that I’m marrying him for the right reasons. It’s so much better when a person can avoid those awful questions hanging over their heads.”

Nina looks like she’d like to murder Rosie and not even bother to make it look like an accident.

“And, of course, the wedding was already all arranged,” Rosie continues. “Waste not, want not. I only care about being married to this remarkable man. The wedding itself means nothing to me, even if some of the choices you made are…” She pulls a face.

Nina begins, “I didn’t—"

“We should celebrate together,” Wilson says, cutting her off. He seems completely oblivious to the undertow of this conversation, which could easily drown a person. He wraps his arm around Nina, who looks stiff as a signpost.

“Yes,” Rosie says, “Iagree. That’s why my future mother-in-law sent you a wedding invitation. She’s the sweetest, most accommodating woman who ever lived. I can’twaitto call her mom.”

I hold back a laugh that makes me sound like my nose is about to explode, and Rosie brushes her fingers over my chest, tickling me.

I bite my lip and squeeze her hip.

This woman could talk her way out of a speeding ticket for someone going eighty in a fifty-five. But that thought brings doubts.

Is this all an act? And if it is, is it for my benefit or Nina’s?

I don’t want to question Rosie, but I’ve been wrong about people so many times. Nina was the last, not the first. And each time, it feels like something within me breaks. My ability to trust myself, or anyone else. But this is no time for a personal crisis.

“How interesting,” Nina says, watching us through narrowed eyes.

“Wewouldlike to be friends,” Rosie continues. “After all, if it weren’t for you, we might never have found our way to each other. In fact, if you’d like to get together before the wedding, there is this bar we just love.” She winks at Nina. “And they have women-drink-half-off-Wednesday, Nina. It’s called The Peanut Bar. Ever heard of it?”

She’s asking because she thinks Nina might have made that phone call to the police the other night. But there’s no sign of artifice on Nina’s face when she shakes her head and lifts her chin. “No.”

“You look like you can throw them back. What do you say? Shall we celebrate in an economical way?”

“That sounds fun, doesn’t it, hun?” Wilson says. “Wednesday is…that’s two days after Christmas. We’ll be back from the hog roast at my parents’ cabin by then. We can bring them a couple of leis.”

“Yes,” she says with a frozen smile. “I truly can’t wait.”

“Wonderful,” Rosie tells them, beaming. “Now, you two have averymerry Christmas.” Her smile widens. “I like to hide the mistletoe all around the house and catch my man off-guard.”

“And I’m never sorry for it,” I say, watching her.

“Should we go pretend there’s mistletoe?” she asks, smiling at me, and I’m left wondering where the story she’s painting forthem ends and reality begins. I know which version I’d prefer to live in.

“Maybe we can paint some,” I say, referring to our next bucket list date.

“It’s a date.” She lifts up on her toes, her hands perched on my shoulder and kisses my cheek. Then she sashays off toward the car, and it’s an easy decision to follow her. I’m smitten. Confused. And very turned on.

“Anthony,” Nina calls over my shoulder.

I glance back once, feeling whiplash. Because the woman I’m interested in couldn’t be more different from the one who cut me down two months ago.

I almostmarriedNina.

I almost let my father’s money convince me to do the stupidest thing a man could do—something I’d warn Wilson not to do if I didn’t find him to be equally despicable, and also incapable of listening.

Maybe you should let it go, I hear Emma saying in my mind.Maybe you should let it go…

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